Souls of Chronos

All in all, Souls of Chronos is a fun ride. It combines polished action with an unpolished translation, but the bones of the story are still engaging. It explores the cycle of poverty, betrayal, and desperation. I don’t think it will be anyone’s game of the year. But if you’re a fan of nice action and RPGs, you should check this title out.

Souls of Chronos is a fair JRPG in a small package, with a good story and detailed writing. Unfortunately, due to the size of the game, almost all of the systems seem a little sketchy, and it's hard to say which part shines.

Souls of Chronos delivers a mixed bag of an experience. While I’m intrigued by the world and charmed by its main duo, lackluster combat and a narrative that felt at odds with its visual tone and star’s personality never allowed the game to truly come together in a way that feels satisfying.

Souls of Chronos is a sloppy and in some ways surprisingly wane little thing, a bunch of ideas that don’t ever fully coalesce into a satisfying whole, but there is a value in that. If dodgy translation, somewhat bland combat, and an erratic art style don’t dissuade you? You’re going to have fun with it. I had fun with it. But I also had fun with it while wishing it were just a little more cohesive, a little more polished. I don’t regret giving Souls of Chronos my time, exactly, but I wish it had been a little more appreciative in turn.

Souls of Chronos is in desperate need of quality updates. However, the core of its RPG tabletop narrative design is the highlight of the adventure. Still, the entire gameplay experience becomes a chore, and you’ll find it hard to care during the late-game plot twists because you likely stopped reading hours before the credits rolled. Hopefully, the developers refocus on what they do well, which happens to be storytelling. Drop the action and give us a murder mystery visual novel.