Chained Echoes

''Chained Echoes'' is a 2022 role-playing video game created by Matthias Linda and published by Deck13 Spotlight for Linux, macOS, Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. The game is inspired by classic Japanese role-playing games from the 1990s, featuring turn-based combat, 16-bit-style visuals, and a multi-character narrative. Linda was influenced by games such as ''Xenogears'', ''Terranigma'', ''Secret of Mana'', '' Suikoden 2'', ''Breath of Fire'', ''The Legend of Dragoon'', ''Chrono Trigger'' and ''Final Fantasy VI''. The game has been praised by several reviewers as living up to the quality of its inspiration while offering modern advancements.

Gameplay

''Chained Echoes'' is a role-playing video game featuring pixel art visuals inspired by the 16-bit era and turn-based combat. Unlike most older role-playing games that feature random encounters, enemies are visible on the map and trigger encounters on the same screen, similar to ''Chrono Trigger''. Battles are turn-based, and each character in the player's party has a standard attack, several special abilities, items, and a defensive stance. In combat, party members use attacks and abilities that raise the "overdrive" meter, which reaches an optimal green zone where abilities are more effective. However, the overdrive meter can overheat, and the party must discharge some of the excess by using specific abilities, such as defenses and "Ultra Moves". Unlike other role-playing games, characters in ''Chained Echoes'' do not level-up, instead leveling up skills automatically through battle, with added skill point rewards. The player controls a party of up to 8 characters. The game's estimated length is up to 30 or 40 hours.

Plot

Setting and characters

''Chained Echoes'' is set on the continent of Valandis during the time of a multi-generational war between three kingdoms, Taryn, Gravos and Escanya. After a great catastrophe caused by the Grand Grimoire shakes the continent, the kingdoms agree to sign a peace treaty. One year later, an unknown force strives to begin a new war. Group of unlikely heroes join forces and eventually become the clan of Crimson Wings in order to stop it.

Valandis itself is a small continent in the much larger world of Eldrea, where aesthetic resembles the Middle Ages with fantasy elements such as magic, dragons and mechs referred to as sky armor. Human is blanket term for all sapient races which includes anthropomorphic animals (lizards, pigs, birds, big cats, etc.), while normal humans are called "hyoms". Another recurring element is an "Echo", person's soul, which reincarnates into a new body and carries over some residual memories. The Grand Grimoire, which drives the main conflict of the story, is a magic crystal that, when shattered, absorbs all life within a thousand meters into itself to repair itself, with the exception of the person responsible for breaking it.

* Glenn, sky armor pilot and the central protagonist.
* Kylian, ambitious mercenary working alongside Glenn.
* Lenne, the princess of Taryn, who ran away from home to see more of the world and sister of Frederik.
* Robb, Lenne's childhood friend and bodyguard.
* Victor, long lived, world famous playwright who has strong connection to Glenn and Lenne.
* Sienna, the "red succubus", infamous thief, former knight of the church and the owner of an airship, Himmelskaiser.
* Ba'Thraz, lizard man mercenary with an ability to summon weapons from thin air.
* Amalia, princess of Escanya and the leader of rebellion with the power of healing, who's accompanied by a dog named Cres.
* Egyl, bird knight who eagerly fights for justice and honor.
* Tomke, elderly goat sailor with short term memory loss and Mikah's honorary uncle.
* Mikah, martial artist who lost her family while searching for the ingredients to the Great Gratin.
* Magnolia, the Radiant Diva of Equilibrium, soulseer and former queen of the fairies.
* Cameron, beastman friend of Victor who`s formulating a method of nullifying the Grand Grimoire.
* Frederik, ruler of Taryn, Lenne's brother and the central antagonist.
* Gwayn, Frederik's advisor, with ulterior motives.
* June, Gwayn's enigmatic female partner.
* Matthye, Godfrey, Kennrich, Alena and Guston, generals of the Taryn.
* Markas, Head of the Gandebrath Society, which funds the Church.
* Whyatt, The most powerful of the Church's inquisitors.
* Eva, An inquisitor of the church knowns as "the Boar of the Northern Sky" and Sienna`s wife.
* Raphael, An inquisitor of the Church, who upon discovering the truth behind the organization's actions leads him to doubt its cause.
* Black Sun Gang, quartet of thieves that forces Sienna into pulling a heist for them, and end up repeatedly crossing paths with her.
* Vaen, A group of god-like beings and the ultimate antagonists of the game.
* The Harbinger, An ancient, powerful being that tried to destroy the world millennia ago before being sealed away inside the Maelstrom.
* White Wolf, new playable character in the upcoming DLC, Ashes of Elrant.

Development

The game was made by the German developer Matthias Linda, who grew up making fan games with RPG Maker. His favorite games included ''Xenogears'', ''Terranigma'', ''Secret of Mana'', '' Suikoden 2'', ''Breath of Fire'', ''The Legend of Dragoon'' and ''Final Fantasy VI'', all of which influenced his development of ''Chained Echoes''. He was mindful not to copy them, instead trying to capture his experience of playing them, which he remembers as "in my head, all these games look and play better than they actually did."

The game's development nearly took 7 years, beginning in 2016 after a year of considering the story concept. The game had a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2019. The game was published by Deck13.

The music was developed over 4 years by Eddie Marianukroh and includes 50 tracks at 2 hours in length.

DLC, Ashes of Elrant was announced on December 9, 2024 for a August 7 2025 release, which adds a new playable character, new areas, over 40 new enemies and bosses, over 15 new music tracks, mini-games, new items and equipment.

Reception

The PC and Switch versions of ''Chained Echoes'' have received "universal acclaim", while the PlayStation 4 version has received "generally favorable" reviews on Metacritic.

''Rock Paper Shotgun'' said that "''Chained Echoes'' has taken all the right lessons from its 16-bit inspirations... eelingmodern and nostalgic at the same time". ''Siliconera'' praised the game because " e 16-bit art feels right for the style of the game, everyone in the large cast of characters feels distinct, the story is engaging, and the battle system feels familiar and unique at the same time." ''Nintendo Life'' called it one of the best role-playing games of the year and "a wonderful mash-up of '90s JRPG tropes, masterfully woven together to produce an experience that feels simultaneously nostalgic and fresh". ''Windows Central'' spoke positively about the combat system and story, saying that "for those players with ingrained nostalgia for classic SNES JRPGs, ''Chained Echoes'' is an absolute must have title". ''Digitally Downloaded'' said that the game would reach the quality of the best classic Japanese role-playing games since "''Chained Echoes'' not only meets that standard, but if it was released back on the SNES when ''Final Fantasy IV'', ''V'', and ''VI'' were flying high, people would have considered them comparable." ''Screen Rant'' called the game "a must-play", because it is "a fresh, smart adventure that celebrates classic JRPGs while not being afraid to push into new directions".

References

External links

* {{Official website, https://spotlight.deck13.com/chained-echoes/

2022 video games
Deck13 games
Indie games
Kickstarter-funded video games
Linux games
MacOS games
Nintendo Switch games
PlayStation 4 games
PlayStation 5 games
Retro-style video games
Role-playing video games
Single-player video games
Turn-based role-playing video games
Video games developed in Germany
Windows games
Xbox Cloud Gaming games
Xbox One games
Xbox Series X and Series S games