Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Beta Impression
Murayama's magnum opus feels like it's going to be special.
The wait for Rabbit & Bear Studio's flagship RPG, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, is almost over. A beta version that covers the opening hours of the game is available on PC for Kickstarter backers. After watching the opening video and playing through the first section of the game it was clear: Yoshitaka Murayama's magnus opus feels like it's going to be special.
Sadly Yoshitaka Murayama will not be able to enjoy Eiyuden's success, as he passed away in early 2024. The founder of Rabbit & Bear Studios and the creative force behind the game's script, Murayama leaves behind both grateful fans and a legacy of cherished RPGs. Murayama was also responsible for creating the Suikoden franchise, as he worked on the first three mainline games, a Suikoden card game, and the two Suikogaiden side-stories.
Speaking of Suikoden, the similarities and homage seen within Eiyuden Chronicle is clear and evident in almost every aspect. From the six-party member battles, to running sprite seen during loading screens, to recruiting a large assortment of unique and colorful characters, Eiyuden Chronicle channels Murayama's Suikoden in everything except the name. Eiyuden Chronicle benefits greatly from the quality of life improvements that have become commonplace since Suikoden's run, such as auto advance dialogue, fully voiced English or Japanese language options, difficulty options, and map markers, among other niceties. Eiyuden Chronicle blends the best elements from old and new-school style RPGs into a brand new adventure.
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