Bringing with them memories of past adventures from one of the most beloved Japanese role-playing game series ever created, the development team behind Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes sought to recapture that magic. Through a massively successful Kickstarter campaign that raised over $4.5 million, they endeavored to craft “a true spiritual successor to the Suikoden series.”
In the words of developer Yoshitaka Murayama, they would build “a gigantic game that gives players a really long, epic quest.” With over 100 characters to recruit and assist in battling injustice across a sprawling, gorgeously realized world, Hundred Heroes aimed to surpass even its inspirations by offering “a long, emotional story” to immerse players in for 60 hours or more. Now, RPG fans both old and new can beginning experiencing for themselves whether this modern homage to JRPG classics delivers on its ambitious pledge to transport them on the epic quest of a lifetime.
Heroic Encounters
Turn-based battles lie at the heart of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes’ gameplay. Up to six characters stand ready in your party formation, lined up across the front and back ranks like actors waiting for their cue. Strong melee fighters defend the front, while ranged attackers and mages ply their trade from safety behind. Each hero occupies their own slot in the turn order, displayed above for easy reference. When their moment arrives, you select attacks and spells, watching the colorful animations play out.
Teamwork factors heavily in combat. Character combinations unleash powerful duo attacks, with animations showcasing friendship and unity against the threat. Strategic placement lets your spearman weaken foes for the rogue’s finishing strike. Healers revive from the brink of defeat, keeping hope alive. Victory relies on this band of adventurers supporting one another through every challenge.
Recruiting new comrades adds fresh talent to your repertoire. Over one hundred heroes inhabit the world, each with unique personalities and styles revealed through story vignettes. Finding them rewards careful exploration of bustling towns and hidden glades. Welcome new allies by fulfilling modest favors or besting them in sparring matches. Their cheerful introduction scenes spark curiosity about their backgrounds and how they’ll contribute to the cause.
Beyond battles, your growing community transforms a modest refuge into a thriving stronghold. Assign recruits to shops and facilities to boost resources. Watch the castle expand room by room, a testament to your allies’ collaboration. Between quests, they relax through mini-games like fantasy sports or a competition to spin propeller toys. Smiles and laughter soften the trials ahead, reminding us that even in the direst hours, hope and friendship strengthen our resolve to persevere together.
The Hero’s Quest
Nowa finds themselves embroiled in a plot that threatens to engulf the entire land of Allraan. As a member of a band of mercenaries, they get drawn into opposing Duke Alric’s sinister plans to dominate the continent using the power of ancient magical relics known as Rune Lenses. Alric seeks to harness the Lenses’ power for domination, leaving Nowa no choice but to stand against the tyrannical ruler if they wish to prevent war from consuming Allraan.
To have any hope of defeating Alric, Nowa must journey across the diverse regions of Allraan recruiting allies to their cause. From bustling towns filled with wonders of the East to icy villages nestled deep in snowy valleys, the varied cultures of Allraan come to life in gorgeous vivid detail. Ancient forests shelter strange beings and lost ruins hold long-forgotten secrets, ripe for Nowa and their new allies to uncover. Behind it all towers the lush mountain realm of Verda, a place shrouded in mystery where the truth about the Rune Lenses may yet be found.
As Nowa rallies the forces of good to their banner, these recruits come from all walks of life. Farmers stand shoulder to shoulder with nobles, while mystical Guardians from the woodlands pledge their aid alongside hardened desert warriors. Forming bonds and learning each hero’s unique abilities will aid Nowa as plans are laid to finally face Alric on the fields of battle. But with deceit and betrayal possibly lurking around every corner, can even an army of 100 heroes stand against the darkness threatening to consume Allraan? Nowa’s epic quest has only just begun.
Journey of Heroes
In Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, players will meet a memorable cast of characters rallying to take down a corrupt ruler. Protagonist Nowa leads the charge as a recruit of a local army tasked with cooperating with the empire’s special forces. He forms an early bond with team leader Seign that sets the tone for their collaboration.
A diverse range of recruits can join your party along the way. There’s a two-faced healer with a brutish side along with more expected allies like a magical girl possessing heroic spirit. Recruiting these heroes is only the start as developing their skills becomes just as important.
Combat relies on a six-member party where positioning grants strategic advantages.Characters fill different combat lengths from short to long that influence their attack ranges. Specifying individual instructions through an auto-combat mode allows focusing stats to shine. Heroes also pair with compatible allies to perform powerful combination moves, so experimenting finds valuable synergies.
While some recruits join immediately, others issue quests to prove your group’s strength. Finding elusive members invites exploration of the rich world. Their diverse designs emerge from all walks of life too, like guardians that protect sacred areas. Once part of your battalion, further growth happens naturally through battles. Weaker members catch up quickly to take part in climactic fights.
Just as classics of the genre aimed to, Hundred Heroes strives to craft depth within its sprawling cast. Personal struggles and obligations emerge among shifting allegiances. Developing camaraderie between former foes brings the epic conflict to life. This Journey of Heroes promises attachment to bold personalities all fighting for justice in a corrupt land.
Visual Storytelling in Eiyuden Chronicle
The vibrant world of Eiyuden Chronicle is brought to life through bold artistic choices. A hand-drawn style gives environments and characters warmth and personality while paying homage to retro classics. Intricate backgrounds showcase inspiring vistas across the land of Allraan, from bustling streets lined with terracotta roofs to snowy forests and glimmering deserts under the stars. Towns feel lively through lively crowds and inventive structures.
Equal attention has gone into each of the over one hundred recruitable heroes. Diverse designs ensue you’ll find someone to favorite whether drawn to mages, monks or rogues. Subtle expressions enhance their stories, and striking Super Combos unleash their bond. Nowa himself exudes courage through confident stances addressing allies large and small.
A fully orchestrated soundtrack matches each region’s vibes. Strings swell during emotional moments while woodwinds accompany travels. Combat themes start simply but evolve as the tide turns. During clashes, music motivates just as skills do. Maps receive whimsical accompaniment respecting their laidback nature.
Technical limitations are outshone by heart. Character models switch between intricate portraits and animated 3D forms. Though environments lack interactivity, their hand-built quality transports players. Long loads between areas become occasions to appreciate the view changing outside. Through visual and auditory storytelling, Eiyuden Chronicle reminds of adventures past while forging its own identity. Its heartwarms all it touches.
Taking the Journey Again
When the curtains finally fall on Nowa’s quest, Hundred Heroes leaves you wanting more. Thankfully, there’s reason to dive back into its rich world.
New Game Plus offers a chance to replay the adventure with your high-level party. Enemy stats are scaled up to match, and you can try advanced classes or challenge modes. “Overlimit” battles intensify with larger foe groups. Every skirmish becomes a calculated dance, exploiting hero combos and strategic swaps to whittle down toughened opponents. If you thrive on testing your mettle, these options satisfy.
But Hundred Heroes lays foundations for even more. Its sprawling cast and locales set a broad stage, ripe for expansion. I could easily see DLC unfolding new sagas with other notable icons. Perhaps a story pack focusing on Seign’s rise in the empire. Or a generation later, with your descendants taking up the torch. With a world this vibrant and a campaign that immerses you so fully, revisiting Allraan seems a sure pleasure down the line.
Most of all, Hundred Heroes delivers on its promise as a heartfelt tribute. It stamps Murayama’s blueprint with modern enhancements, crafting an epic JRPG for a new era that honors all adored before it. Nowa’s adventure may have concluded, but the journey lives on in spirit. Fans both fresh and nostalgic will find much to treasure for stories yet to be told.
Chronicles of a Hundred Heroes
Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes offers fans of classic JRPGs a treat, transporting them to a richly detailed world rife with political intrigue, sprawling adventure and depth of character. Across its 50 hour story, nowa undertakes an epic quest, amassing new comrades from all corners of Allraan to join the fight against an invading empire. While some pacing issues arise and combat proves repetitive at times, the game succeeds in weaving personal tales of loyalty, duty and redemption amongst its diverse cast.
For those longing for the glory days of Suikoden, Hundred Heroes delivers in spades. Its deep roster invites experimentation, fine-tuning different party makeups to overcome varied challenges. Strong voice acting and visuals bring the world and its people to life. Best of all, building your stronghold sees your expanding forces gradually liberating new lands.
With loose plot threads left by the credits, more stories clearly beg to be told. With fan passion helping realize its ambitious beginnings, might Hundred Heroes someday spawn sequels developing its themes of unity over division? Only time will tell. But for any seeking an old-school JRPG itch to scratch, this saga of assembled heroes makes for a memorable quest indeed.
The Review
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
While not without its flaws, Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes succeeds in capturing much of the magic that made its spiritual predecessor, Suikoden, a beloved classic. Its sprawling tale of political intrigue and war and deeply engaging turn-based combat create an experience that transportation players to another world for dozens of hours. Some uneven pacing and repetitive elements hold it back at times, but Rabbit & Bear Studios is to be commended for their ambitious efforts in crafting a passionate homage to the genre. For fans of classic JRPGs willing to overlook minor shortcomings, this hero-gathering epic delivers a memorable adventure well worth the journey.
PROS
- Richly detailed world to explore with diverse locales
- Deep turn-based combat system allowing various party compositions
- Over 100 recruitable characters to experiment with
- Engaging main narrative with quality voice acting
- Character stories that provide dimensionality to the world and conflict
- Reference and homage to classic JRPG genre pioneer Suikoden
CONS
- Some pacing issues in main story progression
- Repetitive and grindy random encounter combat
- Difficultly balancing character levels for optimal party
- Limited insight into strategy battle mechanics
