Chained Echoes is an unexpected RPG gem
The tale of Chained Echoes' development a story we've heard a few times in recent years, as a single passionate fan of an overlooked genre decides to spend nearly a decade crafting their dream game all by themselves. The most notable example of this would have to be Stardew Valley, but now Matthias Linda has done the same for the JRPG genre with his seven-year passion project Chained Echoes, and he knocks it out of the park.
The vibe and world design of Chained Echoes is so in-tune with the Western medieval fantasy flair of so many of the brightest and best SNES-era RPGs. The continent of Valandis is split in thirds and locked in a brutal war, but when a pair of mercenaries accidentally set off a devastating magical bomb and no country comes forward as the minds behind the attack, the nations form an uneasy peace treaty out of fear for further mysterious attacks. Years later, while peace continues to flourish on the surface, secretive groups and mysterious creatures begin to take action and risk setting off another huge war.
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Summary
Chained Echoes is an exciting blend of familiar JRPG style and impressive evolutions of that same genre. Simple twists to the flow of combat add massive layers of strategy and excitement to every battle, and the unique character progression system ensures that grind is never an issue. JRPG fans itching for something new with a hint of nostalgia need to treat themselves to Chained Echoes as soon as possible.
