Before Eiyuden Chronicle proper, people will be able to explore a part of its world and meet some of its characters with Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising. Granted, it’s a very different sort of game. This one is an action-RPG focused on exploring areas and acquiring resources. However, even after only a few hours with it, it is clear both pacing and character development will be important.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising begins with CJ. She’s a Scavenger looking to prove herself during her rite of passage. Which brings her to New Nevaeh to explore its Runebarrows. After saving Hogan from some bandits, she learns its Barrows do indeed contain Rune-Lenses, and he brings her into town. While acting mayor Isha requires everyone who enters to get a 100,000 baqua explorer’s license and takes a 30% artifact tax, there is another option. Filling a stamp card lets CJ earn a license so she achieve her goal. So, she heads off to help fill her card and earn her license, so she can eventually explore the Barrows, help build up the dilapidated town, aid its residents, and perhaps uncover the secrets behind its mysteries and earthquakes.
What really helps Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising after starting is how it works to establish its characters. We meet CJ right off, and get a sense of her determination and personality. She’s extremely eager, and her turn of phrase helps establish her casual nature. We get an idea of the trader Hogan’s resourcefulness, as well as his frustration dealing with bandits and Isha, shortly after meeting him. Likewise, Squash the accessory shop owner and artifact appraiser and he both help establish Isha’s attitude before we meet her. (You will know the meaning of the word “rapacious” by the end of the introduction.) However, locals portray Isha and her plans in a different way, with the stamp card offer being a means to help the needy in town while getting prospective adventurers to do their part in an unexpected way. Before we even know Garoo’s name, we know his reputation as a warrior and that his presence is helping to keep the town safe. (Even if it also comes at a price.)
Likewise, that pacing extends to the quests. It begins with the lowest of stakes. That is to say, you go looking for a lost cat in the first dungeon, The Great Forest. But eventually, as CJ proves herself, you get to do more and explore more. You’ll get an axe to help gather wood to build a house, teaching you about resource acquisition in the process. Another main quest involves learning more about signposts and how to deal with dungeon bosses.
As for the battling, the early build of Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising reminded me of a simpler version of Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin. It’s a similar sort of action. Each character has their own sort of style and attack. CJ is a fast, close-range attacker. Garoo has a larger sword that is still a melee item, but offers a larger arc and range. Isha is the mage of the group and only ranged attacker. You have one dedicated attack button, and another for the active character’s unique skill. (You can also of course move around and jump during fights.) It works and, like Sakuna, relies on swapping to build combos to really hurt foes. (Though, I mean, there’s less zipping around since there’s no celestial reinment.) It didn’t strike me as being too complex in the time spent with the build I played. Granted, I did only see some very general, easy enemies and early bosses. But there could be potential here as you lean into certain characters’ roles.
Speaking of said characters, the designs looked rather good in this early Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising build. The thing is, I felt it looked like it used 2D character designs and riggings that looked similar to the kind used for characters in mobile games like Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space. You know the sort. It doesn’t look bad and developers can do a lot with these kinds of puppets. It is just a distinct look.
It isn’t just the Eiyuden Chronicles: Rising characters that reminded me of Another Eden. Town structure and dungeon layouts did as well. You have interconnected spaces, which you explore by moving up, down, left, and right. There is also a fast travel option that lets you jump to important areas when not in a dungeon. Also, in town I did have a map I could turn to. When inside a dungeon, signposts are your fast travel points, and you need to be at one to quickly teleport somewhere else.
Even at this early phase, the sense of progression in Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising feels very natural and the characters’ development seems to be a priority. You’re gradually learning more about everyone both in your interactions with them and people who know them. You see them grow more interesting as you spend more time with them. You come to see New Neveah as a hub and respite, with excursions into the dungeons proving as challenges and resource havens. We’ll have to see how things all tie together once it debuts.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is in development for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC. It is expected to release in Spring 2022.
