Chained Echoes Review (PC, also on PS4, Switch, XB1) | Backlog Battle
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- čas přidán 2. 06. 2024
- Chained Echoes not only truly captures the spirit of classic 16-bit JRPGs, but also creates a strong foundation thanks to its unique battle and progression systems that will keep you playing for hours on end, all at the fraction of the cost of other games! Find out more in my review!
Thanks to Deck 13 for providing me with a review code!
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0:00 - A little bit of context
2:01 - Meta info
2:24 - Combat and Progression: A Fresh Take
8:07 - Story (spoiler-free) and Presentation
12:45 - Closing
For an even deeper dive, watch this video:
• Chained Echoes In-Dept...
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Hi. WHERE'S the physical?😄
@@shatteredglass233 I think it’s done through a third party. I don’t have the details
@Shatteredglass 23 here you go
There are physical copys for Ps4 and switch.
Why is it rated M?
@@shatteredglass233 Right now this is the only source for physical copies firstpressgames.com/collections/chained-echoes they aren't releasing until Q3 or Q4 2023 though.
Something important about the combat system it's that at the end of each battle your hp and tp are restored. So you can really launch all your different attack without fearing missing some TP point. 😁
I know modern JRPGs are being designed like that, but I don't like that approach. It's similar to those first person shooters of the 2010s, in which, if the enemies were winning, you simply go a little away and your health would restore automatically. Not exactly the same because combat is totally different between both styles, but the feeling is the same, and it's a feeling of the game being easy, or the adventure not really dangerous. Nothing's at stake.
@@vagabundorkchaosmagick-use2898 The game is clearly not easy lol. Anyway, we always have too much potion in jrpg .
@@vagabundorkchaosmagick-use2898 have you played saga games? hp restored at the end of battle, but all turn based FF games are easier than any of the saga games. hp/mp restored at every battle doesn't necessarily mean it's easy, depending on how the devs balance enemy's stats. it just will require different kind of resource management.
I prefer games that operate this way, makes the combat way more fun imo, this usually puts the focus on combat making it more challenging, and less on resource management. I don't mind resource management in say resident evil games, but rpgs not so much.
@@Terranigma23 Yeah, I'm sure it's not an easy game, and that both auto-healing and initiative reel are designed to give the player a chance, since the game was designed in a way you will need both.
35 hours in, and I am still amazed by the story and gameplay
The characters' development in this game is amazing, with each character having a distinctive background and their own tragic past
YEEEEEES. I KNEW you'd review this game! I've been so freaking excited for this one. I checked literally every day after they had that "Release Date ____EMBER" trailer.
This is coming out at the start of my weekend, too. Can't wait to play it on my Steam Deck.
I played it exclusively on PC and I've no doubt it'll run great on Steam Deck!
Big thanks for the amount of confidence you've placed in me! I'm really happy I'm able to share my experiences with the game!
Such a beautiful review from you (as always!). To be honest, it wasn't on my radar at all before watching this- but I'm absolutely going to pick it up later today, if only to support the developer. It looks fantastic and wonderfully nostalgic!
I figured people would appreciate the parallels that I showed in the video! It really is truly nostalgic!
I hate jrpgs. And I like this game.
Great review :). I backed this promising game on Kickstarter so I was really looking forward to its release.
I'm glad to see it in its final form and I will play it ASAP. :D
That's so cool! I didn't even know it was Kickstarted until I did some research on it! Glad to see that you all are in good hands with this one!
Love the captions at the bottom telling us what the gameplay being featured is from. Nice touch.
Thanks for the video Alex! Got the game a few days ago. What got me hooked was the storytelling. Also, the movement speed of the character while exploring is just so right. Exploring doesnt feel like a chore even if you need to backtrack to some places. Battle mechanics wise, its so creative. I love the "oil, dry, wet, heavy" debuff to create enemy weakness. Anyhow, cant wait to sink my teeth into the game more. Thanks again!
No problem! It’s as you said: it nails the game feel just right! Hope you’re enjoying it!
Thanks so much for this video! Love your channel and thoughts on games. I love JRGP games and one of the biggest things that keeps me playing is a challenging combat system that pushes me to think and strategize. So often I find myself getting bored if battles are too easy. I have had my eye on this game for a bit and can't wait to jump in :D
I hope you enjoy it! Every battle is such a blast, and it was fun exploring the world too!
Great review. I will absolutely be picking this up to play over the holiday.
I'm definitely getting this one , I love that you tackled the strategy aspect. thanks !
You’re welcome!
This game is truly incredible. Something special that the JRPG genre has been missing for a very long time. 9/10.
you rate it as 9/10,
what needs to be improved though?
just curious.,
@@00139arwin overdrive combat system sucks and no game can really be a 10 imo, 9 seems fair
I'm glad I found your channel, this is a game that would've flown under my radar
Always happy to help you discover new and interesting games to play!
Love your review,I was able to check it out on PS5 myself and I agree with you completely.
I'm a few hours in and this game is AMAZING so far. It really gives you nostalgia and there's so much side stuff to do and interesting twists and turns
This game, is a modern jewel. its a 10/10 story and the combat is amazing.
Best turn-based RPG I’ve played since FFIX. Incredible story, great combat, side content; it’s got it all.
My Game of the 90s is Secret of Mana (1) . Chrono Trigger and "Zelda - A Link to the Past" are just right behind it.
great review ! glad i backed it on kickstarter
This game is good...like.really good. And surprisingly dark. The writing is amazing. Combat has been not to easy not to hard. I like that I had to put thought into things..just such a good game.
Glad to see you're enjoying it! Certainly a big surprise this year!
I am so unbelievably excited for this game. I do have to be honest though, I didn't know about the no XP or leveling thing....thats a huge thing for me especially in JRPGs. If they have a good weapon/armor system then I know that can be a great alternative, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that's the first thing I've heard that worried me.
There's a lot of ways to tweak things to make it a much more lax experience if you don't want to engage with the strategy developing and what not. I'm planning to make a guide for the game tomorrow, so I'm hoping people can use the tips based on my experience!
@@BacklogBattle Oh no, I'm all about strategy and all so it's not about that. I just generally need a good leveling system to feel a good reason to battle. If I'm just battling and not getting rewarded with some sweet, sweet XP and level increases unlocking new abilities then I find I lose interest in wanting to battle a ton because I don't feel I'm getting anything from it. But if it gets money to buy a lot of interesting gear with stats and special skills then I'm still interested.
@@fullmetalb5241 That's a good point! There is a psychological effect that triggers whenever we level up in games, so this is a reasonable concern!
Oh, no reason to be worried, you get grimoire shards after boss battles which work like level ups. unlocking an active or passive skill with them generally also gives bonus stats, and then you can use these grimoires to level up some stats anyway.
The weapon/armor system is akind to FF7 materia system. Not only you can use gold and resources to upgrade weapons and armor,it also upgrades the amount of slots on items.
Then whatever gems you picked can be combined for more powerful versions and put into either weapons or armor.
There is no number telling you how strong your party is, but it's the beauty of it, you'll get a feel for it instead.
@@NoName-md6fd thanks for the elaboration
I'm dying to play this. I'm hoping to buy it next time I get paid. It wasn't even on my radar till my favorite JRPG and Switch channels started talking about it a couple of weeks ago. Everything I've heard about it makes me want it more. It's such an amazing time to be a JRPG fan! Thank you for the detailed review. I'm so intrigued to try the battle system and experiment with it.
Thank you so much! If you want to know more, I released a guide that details some of its systems!
The other day I was trying to pick between this and sea of stars, I picked this, ZERO regrets so far, incredible game. It's really a shame that more people won't open their minds to try a game like this, I feel.
Golden era of gaming, really.
thanks for the review alex! 30+ hours is a huge win! another one to add in the backlog!
Such a great experience! I’m playing through it again on Switch!
That gameplay review really sold me on this. I love turn based combat and this is very interesting.
I hope it sells really well, so the devs can go on and make more good games.
It's only one Dev :D
Yeah the funny thing is, its only one dev xD
Just one dev :D
I will check this out. Thanks for the recommendation.
This game looks amazing and I can't wait to try it out! Thanks for the review!
Great review! Looking forward to this one. Also, penultimate means “next to last,” not “super ultimate.” ;)
Oh crap! Thanks for letting me know!
It's almost perfect! There you go, review done! Go and buy if you haven't already-
Yay! So glad this is actually good! Having only just started SMTV last month (hello, backlog) I probably won’t be playing this for a bit, but it looks like another great JRPG in a year that has been rife with them. Good times, good times.
Good times indeed!
Best indie rpg I've played in a long time. It's really amazing.
crystal project is much better
Best JRPG I've played in a long time. MUST play if you're a fan of the genre.
I reviewed this one too! The score in the flower field of perpetua omg omg
That place was hauntingly creepy!
Thanks for the review. I'd love an explanation video on some of the things that don't seem to be explained unless I missed it. Like I don't know what "canned" refers to on enemies. Or what the MND stat affects.
I think you already got the answer from the Discord, but I am making a guide to release today!
This is definitely something I have been looking for. I am so glad that it has recaptured the magic of JRPG
This game should have been at least nominated for best RPG of 2022 and personally it's good enough to be a nominee for GOTY as well.
It's really sad because everyone's cut off point (this channel included) is November for a variety of good reasons. I hope people remember this game when the Awards season comes around next year!
Outstanding video, I can't wait to play this game!
Hope you enjoy it!
I saw this for free on Game Pass so I gave it a shot, and man, I'm so glad I did...it's a heck of a fun RPG. It's crazy that it was made by one guy. It's so good I might double dip and get the Switch version as well.
That’s what I did!
Was going to play this on Game Pass, but I'm super impressed one guy made. May buy it on my Switch, so I have an excuse to actually take it out.
Runs great on Switch too!
@@BacklogBattle Sweet. This and Sea of Stars have been my most enticapted indie jrpgs. I also need to try the recent game from the devs that did Ara Fell (which I really enjoyed), Rise of the Third Power.
Very interesting! I'll have to check it out. Thank you for the review. ^___^
It's rare a JRPG misses my radar but this one certainly has. Remarkable work from a single developer, off to steam i go....
This review is 100% accurate nice job
Thanks! This game is on my radar now
Great Review. Subscribed.
Been waiting for this game to drop looks amazing
Sounds great! Word is there should be a physical next year, although it may be limited.
Yea, it's done through a third party. I don't have any more details than that, unfortunately.
Physical edition is being done by First Press games. Preorders are already up on their website.
Rarely has a game ever captured me like this one. I could not stop playing and I already hope for a sequel. The rich world of this game definitely has more to offer.
The only problems I have is the volatility of the combat system and the lack of information. Overheat punishes you fourfold and you cannot read up on what stats and status conditions mean. You have to rely on your already existing RPG knowledge. You also get tutorial texts only once with no options to reread those in the menu.
And those are literally the only problems I have with this game. It's damn close to perfect.
Great review!
I’m glad I watched this. I’m gonna have to check this one out. Although it does bug me a bit, naming a main character “Glenn” is a little too on the nose. Like yeah we get it, the dev loved Chrono Trigger.
such a fabulous game! can’t put it down!
After seeing what indie develops accomplished with the metroidvania genre, I said that the JRPG genre would be next. And it looks like it's finally happening with Chained Echoes, Sea of Stars and Eiyuden Chronicles.
I love the art direction.
Just preordered for my switch, game looks fantastic. Question about the skills system though. You mention you can't grind but is it possible to grind sp at all? And can you use sp to power up skills?
You can! I actually cover it in much more detail in the video I linked in the description!
I found that grinding for SP is a little bit less impactful though when compared to grinding for weapon/armor upgrades. That said, all skills gain SP IN ADDITION to the SP each character gets after battle!
I may make a guide for the game and release it tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled!
This game is definitely going to be on my wishlist. Great review. You have convinced me to buy the game. Although not now since i'm still playing another jrpg. But rest assured chained echoes is a game i'm willing to support the developer.
I was playing other games alongside this one and it's just really easy to pick up and play alongside any other game imo. Still can't believe this is all made by one guy.
Thumbnail has already sold me on game
Game is great! Was a little disappointed with the ending, but the over all experience was a good one!
wow this game came out of nowhere - didn't even know it existed until i saw this video.
thanks for sharing!
I’m really looking forward to checking this game out. The trailer had me sold but this review certainly solidifies that itch
Thank you for watching it!
Even though this game is on Game Pass, I am still considering buying it for my Switch in order to support the small group of people who made this. It looks fantastic!
Absolutely, especially for the asking price!
Great review. I was already planning to get/play after FF7 CC Reunion.
That’s next for me! Currently playing it on PS5!
Just taking a moment to appreciate that Chrono Trigger wipe transition. 0:47
Thanks! Took me an hour to get right! LOL
this games looks incredible!
Great review as always.
Thanks a ton! I appreciate it!
@@BacklogBattle thank you for covering this hidden gem.
@@BacklogBattle here you can buy the physical copy for Ps4 and Switch.
Seems solid and it's been getting a lot of praise. Nice review, so I think I'll give this a shot tomorrow . It's 15 percent off for a week on GOG or Steam. So 21 bucks for a jrpg seems more than a reasonable price.
That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing!
What pulled me in was the gorgeous pixel art, but reviews like this and from David have convinced me to buy this game. Also, it says a lot when an indie RPG created by one guy is more well-made than more recent RPGs made by teams of professionals. Star Ocean: TDF & Pokémon Scarlet/Violet I can think of.
Well, I was curious but not set on getting this. This review has convinced me to give it a shot
the deal shop system is amazing...sometimes I dont know what to sell & what to keep...Mathias Linda be like "here's a loot tab you dont need to keep this stuff oh btw if you sell new loot you will unlock a great deal you can buy"
Amazing review as always. 👏👏👏
I just bought the physical edition from First Press Games here in Europe, but don't know when it will be shipped.
I think the estimate is Summer 2023, so it's a long ways to go! That said, if you have Game Pass, it's on there too!
@@BacklogBattle well, hope I don't forget about it (or move to another place) hahahahah
Don't have Game Pass, but my jrpg backlog is so big I don't mind it coming out next summer 😂
Just finished it last night, amazing game, right up there with classics like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy, Wild Arms and Suikoden.
Game of the Year 2022. Best JRPG in a long time.
I am legally obligated to support any German dev, so I knew I'm gonna have to get this at some point - I'm glad that it turned out well!xD
All jokes aside, thanks for the review! I'm very intrigued now, and will definitely get this at some point. I'm also curious how the writing works in German, if I understood you correctly, it's lacking a bit of personality in English?
You're correct. I'm not sure if there's going to be any attempt to improve the writing, but I'm guessing that due to its sheer size that it probably won't happen.
great review
I've been playing the recently, I'm enjoying it a lot, played on the hardest difficulty setting cause I just enjoyed a bit of challenge, so far it's decently challenging altough I found some mobs battle a little overtune (especially mob fights with 3-4 opponent that all have AoE attacks), the story is also interesting and I'm curious as to how it's gonna go, very solid game so far.
Definitely looking forward to grabbing this one soon! I also find it hilarious that it has an M rating xD
As I said in the review, it's got some dark overtones that it touches upon, so it's a fitting rating!
@@BacklogBattle I have no doubt, but it's always a jarring thing to see on a colorful, throwback pixel game
Ow man, as a long time lover of old 16bit rpgs that is currently playing old ps1 games on an emulator at work, can't wait.
I'm so glad this game is getting traction. It deserves all the praise. Here's hoping it gets popular enough to merit a sequel. We definitely have places to go in that world and I SO hope we get to.
Thanks. I might check it out. Though I hope there is more to progression than buy more gear
There’s a lot! I just covered it in a previous video and didn’t want to go over the same things! I’ll go over those again in detail tomorrow when my guide’s released!
Looks fantastic. I didnt even know this existed and Ill be buying this shortly.
Not to nitpick, but Im guessing you meant to say that Chrono Trigger was the ultimate RPG and not the penultimate. Unless thats some sort of Chrono Cross commentary.
Yep! Fixing that soon! Thank you!
It's incredible. I don't say that often.
Great review for a great game. Those ghosts in the early part of the game beat the heck out of me too 😂
Damn, thank you CZcams autoplay. This game looks great and fits the type of games I enjoy on the Switch and PC. More likely Switch though. Cheers for the review.
Downloading this on the Xbox. Hope I can get to it before my vacation
Should be small enough to download! Enjoy!
Basically no leveling is very similar to trails or suikoden. Sure they got levels but it's very on rails as eventually you get super low experience battle if you try to overgrind and super high if you don't grind enough. Always thought it was a bit silly and should just remove them
Gamepass? whoooah I didn't know that! perfect. just perfect!
i loved this game i only had one issue with the overdrive. battles with 4 or more enemies can just keep the bar in the red and there was nothing i could do to keep it down in some cases frustrating but still one of the best i've played in 30 or so years
may i ask what the sixth game from the right on the banner is? to the left of chained echoes
Harvestella!
You'll find a playlist on this channel called "Ribbon Ranked" that has a list of all the reviews of the games on this banner!
@@BacklogBattle thank you so much, ive been considering trying more rpgs recently and the videos have been great
@@shiina4826 That's great to hear! I love nothing more than to introduce you to new games, some you might've not even heard of!
And in case you want to know how the rankings work, you can watch this short video too! czcams.com/video/TtpMu9vTP1A/video.html
Hope you enjoy whatever it is you decide to check out!
@@BacklogBattle I plan to give chained echoes a shot soon, and will probably be referring to your guide for some help, thank you
Alot of poeple seem to think this game is easy due your party being fully restored after battle, this isn't true at all. The battles themselves are overall more challenging, hence you have all skills available to use in every fight. Lots of successfully rpgs do this (xenoblade chronicles)
Restoring health between fights manually is tedious and just an artificial difficulty people buy in to. Auto-heal is great for the games paceing and saves you from having to pop to a town constantly.
Not to mention a lot of modern RPGs have it too. It’s tedious to just have to do it every single time and makes sense to just have it done automatically.
i got a RUSTY SWORD from a side quest. Does anyone know what to do wit it? Also on another side quest do you know where to find the critters/monsters in BASIL?
Your reviews are so great that i bought the game! so far it is beautifull
Thank you for watching! Hope you enjoy!
@@BacklogBattle i'll for sure do. Will you do a guide for this one?
@@fertyndrembaby yes! Planning on getting it done tomorrow!
Thank you so much, this was on my radar and the release date slipped my mind completely. I really want to support the developers (or developer) so we can hopefully get bigger and better sequels. Now should I get it for PS4, Xbox or Switch? 🤔
If you pick it up, be sure to check out the guide as well! :)
I've got 30 hours almost and I'm still enjoying trying to 100% the game on my first playthrough, it's an amazing adventure for sure!
I really liked this game. But the dialogue was amateurish often than not. If that‘d be resolved in a potential sequel then this game would be a top game imo
I watched this video yesterday and it convinced me to give this game a shot, especially since I've been hearing the name popping up a lot lately.
Problem is I couldn't find it on the Switch. I guess it just isn't available on the Austrailia/New Zealand e-shop? Which is a little poopy. I could still get it on Playstation or steam I guess, but it seems like the sort of game I'd like to play handheld sometimes. Oh well.
I was actually surprised as soon as I got to farnsport in act 2, I won't spoil what happens, but to those who know, you know exactly what I'm talking about
Roughly how far into the game do you have to get to unlock the full party?
I’d estimate more than 70%, if by full party you mean all 8 slots filled. Otherwise, to just have four at a time, that depends as it changes depending on what’s happening in the story.
10/10...this game make me played it 5days staright
I was wondering, is there a lot of character customisation, diverse builds etc... ?
Yes, especially when you get to unlock more active and passive skills than you’re allowed to carry, plus the classes you can equip!
@@BacklogBattle Thanks a lot !
Amazing Game, engaging & refreshing combat system & tv series like story telling.. very engaging I gotta admit 10/10
i never played these types of games before but it has always appealed to me.. is it literally worth my time and is it that good even for newcomers to this genre?
Do weapons change appearance?
I don't think so