The worst factor about The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is its identify, so we’re off to a fairly constructive begin.
Sq. Enix’s newest HD-2D jaunt is an motion RPG, with its general construction resembling basic The Legend of Zelda and Mana video games.
In that sense, it seems like a little bit of a throwback, regardless of having the entire fashionable conveniences you’d count on from a 2026 title. It is a charming mixture of outdated and new.
I have not completed The Adventures of Elliot but — that is why it is a Evaluate in Progress — however I am undoubtedly trying ahead to seeing how the story wraps up.
That is as a result of the plot, whereas initially stacked with cliche characters and motives, does department into some fascinating territory because it progresses. Its core forged has actually grown on me because the hours have ticked away, and there are just a few narrative twists that deliver a stunning quantity of spice to the principle quest.
You play because the titular Elliot — an already skilled adventurer who’s comfortable to courageous the monster-filled wilds looking for treasure.
On this world, mankind is principally on the brink. Folks conceal behind a magical barrier that repels the violent beast-like tribes that inhabit the remainder of the continent, and so explorers like Elliot are the lifeblood of human discovery.
The sport’s first couple of hours see Elliot tackle a royal request, and naturally, the seemingly easy job rapidly takes a flip. It isn’t lengthy till the title’s central idea of time journey is launched.
Basically, the entire journey takes place over a single map, however you get to traverse mentioned map throughout 4 completely different time intervals.
On a mechanical stage, it really works simply as you would possibly count on. Dungeons and different explorable places change based mostly in your place in historical past; some outdated, principally inaccessible ruins in Elliot’s current could also be remodeled right into a technologically superior labyrinth prior to now, again earlier than civilisation fell off a cliff.
The quick journey system really covers time journey as effectively, so leaping between eras is an easy course of — you simply have to have unlocked the related quick journey factors within the interval that you just’re visiting.
Initially, it is a pretty linear affair. The story will information you between particular cut-off dates and take you thru key places, like cities and dungeons — however development turns into extra complicated as you proceed to unlock new weapons and magical talents.
Some locations can, in fact, solely be accessed by the usage of these unlockables, and so backtracking begins to creep into the expertise.
For probably the most half, the backtracking is not too dangerous, as a result of sure obstacles are marked in your map — however there’s nonetheless lots to maintain monitor of as a result of all the pieces’s break up between the 4 time intervals. Leaping forwards and backwards can develop into slightly too tedious, particularly in the direction of the top of the sport.
However the rewards are sometimes worthwhile. Between weapon upgrades, gameplay-altering equipment, and easy well being boosts, The Adventures of Elliot does an awesome job of stringing you together with a continuing promise of significant development.
Certainly, I feel the sport’s pacing is mostly unbelievable, which makes the aforementioned backtracking stick out slightly greater than it ought to. The writing is essentially characterful and succinct, whereas the world itself feels completely sized; I’ve by no means grown uninterested in exploring, and there is at all times one thing to behold round each nook.
The general really feel of gameplay is high notch, too. Responsive controls and fast-paced motion — and moment-to-moment fight — make really taking part in The Adventures of Elliot a delight.
And talking of fight, there’s a great deal of it to go round. The overworld is virtually swamped in creatures that should be taken care of, and so it is easy to sink into the satisfying rhythm of battle.
Elliot’s assaults have a stunning weight to them, and a quickly increasing arsenal retains fight feeling recent. It additionally helps that there are many distinctive enemy sorts to take care of, whereas artistic boss fights stay a spotlight all through your entire recreation.
Mechanically, fight is easy however efficient. Elliot can equip two completely different weapons at a time, however you’ll be able to swap between his full repertoire through a radial menu that pauses the motion. There is a good quantity of tactical range on show, significantly throughout our hero’s later outings.
Elliot’s additionally outfitted along with his trusty defend, which, outdoors of merely working away from an incoming assault, is your predominant type of defence. You’ll be able to block absolutely anything, however tank too many hits and your bulwark will crumble, leaving Elliot utterly weak for a short while.
The motion is undoubtedly at its greatest if you’re being pressured to make full use of your gear. There are some surprisingly difficult, and truthfully, downright dastardly battles within the latter half of the sport, the place you will actually need to lock in with the proper weapons and defensive timing.
The fight system’s an awesome instance of what may be achieved with comparatively easy mechanics in the event that they’re allowed to breathe throughout a variety of numerous encounters. I did not essentially count on the motion to be one in every of my favorite issues about The Adventures of Elliot, however it actually does click on on a basically gratifying stage.
Conclusion
The Adventures of Elliot is not going to blow anybody’s thoughts with its mixture of classics-inspired exploration and fight design, however its general high quality when it comes to gameplay really feel and presentation is constantly spectacular. It is typically only a delight to play by.
Assuming the sport’s story sticks the touchdown, and its latter trials stay partaking, this has the potential to be one thing of a standout motion RPG. I must be again with a completed evaluation very quickly.
