RPG Site reviewed Chained Echoes:

Chained Echoes Review

Chained Echoes is clearly created by someone who has a high level of literacy in the RPG genre, especially regarding classics from the SNES and PSX catalog, though not limited to that. Many independent RPG creators are inspired by the classics, but few succeed in their genre aspirations in the same way that Mattias Linda has.

As someone who has been with RPG Site for a decade, I've seen plenty of indie RPGs that wear inspirations on their sleeves. Some of these games are praiseworthy, but for various reasons, many are not. I was first introduced to Chained Echoes about three years ago, which was a bit after its crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. At first, it seemed like Just Another Throwback Indie RPG. But the closer the game came to release, the more promise and polish I saw. I wasn't able to check it out at release, but with the great word-of-mouth, I knew I had to check out Chained Echoes sooner or later, and I'm very glad I did.

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Chained Echoes is an extremely impressive game, especially considering the bulk of the game's creation came from just a few people, led by Mattias. As trite as it might be to say, this isn't just a pale imitation of great RPGs, Chained Echoes is a great RPG in its own right. A few small quibbles won't stop me from recommending this game to anyone, especially those fond of the golden era of RPGs.

Score: 9/10

Mortismal Gaming reviewed Chained Echoes:

Chained Echoes - Review After 100%

Hell Fire RPGs reviewed the J-RPG Chained Echoes:

Chained Echoes - Review [Do NOT miss out on this instant classic RPG!]

RPGamer reviewed the J-RPG Chained Echoes:

Chained Echoes Review

Echoes of Greatness

Chained Echoes is a game that evokes superlatives. It lovingly embraces its 16-bit JRPG inspirations while never feeling derivative in the slightest. It successfully sets out to reinvigorate the well-worn turn-based combat formula found in many games of that era while adding many smart and well-considered elements to the mix, ultimately creating a bold and involving combat experience that feels classic and fresh at the same time. A crisp pixel-art style and stellar musical compositions wow the eye and ear as it weaves an involved and lengthy narrative full of twists and turns. In short, developer Matthias Linda has tapped into a very specific niche, setting a high-water mark of quality in the process.

Chained Echoes takes place on the war-torn continent of Valandis, a place constantly embroiled in conflicts between its three dominant kingdoms. War has been a way of life for its citizens for hundreds of years, with entire generations living and dying never knowing any other way of life. The game follows an ensemble cast of characters of various fantasy races from all over the continent, brought together for various reasons but ultimately looking for a way to bring the constant hostilities to an end.

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It’d be easy to simply compare Chained Echoes to some of the classics that clearly inspired it and call it a day. But the game brings to the table a lot more than simple callbacks to Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy, or Suikoden. It builds on the impressive groundwork set by these household names in such impressive ways that it easily establishes its own identity. Even those who have never played any of the above titans will be able to get into Chained Echoes without any trouble, and all that take the plunge are sure to be quite happy they did so.

Score: 4.5/5

TSA checked out the J-RPG Chained Echoes:

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.

[...]

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.

Gamerant has reviewed the indie J-RPG Chained Echoes:

Chained Echoes Review

Indie JRPG Chained Echoes brings together classic touchstone inspirations of the genre while creating an incredible, well-crafted original experience.

A red-haired thief looks out over a vista of a dense medieval city in the game Chained Echoes.
Attempting to harness the nostalgia of past generations to craft a gaming experience that feels familiar yet new is a monumental task. Many developers have tried in recent years but few so rarely stack up. Though much of Matthias Linda's early development came from cutting his teeth on unfinished RPG Maker homages, roughly 4,600 people put their faith in the developer. His project raised €163,222 (about $174,219 as of this writing) for the promise of a pixelated JRPG that captures everything people love from the best the SNES and PlayStation era of the genre has to offer. Since the fundraising campaign for Chained Echoes wrapped up in May 2019, Linda and his assembled team have been toiling away to deliver on that promise, and now gamers finally see the fruits of that labor pay off.

[...]

Considering the hubris of Chained Echoes, it should not work, but it does, and beautifully. Matthias Linda has created a broad world that is ripe for further exploration. The only worry now is that the bar is set too high, but it's hard to imagine the team creating anything with less passion and polish. After playing through a creative, familiar, yet distinct game that engages players in nearly every way, one can only hope that there will be more from the brilliant team behind Chained Echoes.

Score: 4.5/5

GWW reviewed the J-RPG Chained Echoes:

CHAINED ECHOES (REVIEW)

2022 was a year filled with games. 2022 was also filled with many great RPGs. Games like Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Live a Live, Elden Ring, and even Horizon Forbidden West, gave us hundreds of hours of gameplay. What if I told you there was an RPG that came out and you probably missed it? What if I told you this RPG is an indie title that rivals the RPGs that I just mentioned? Chained Echoes was released at the end of 2022. And it’s one of the best games that you probably haven’t played but you should definitely do. 

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CHAINED ECHOES RECOMMENDATION
Chained Echoes does so many things right with its story, gameplay, and presentation that it’s hard not to recommend. This is an RPG that rewards your time with excellent writing and excellent combat! This game has tons of systems that will keep you enthralled for hours and it’s only $25! I’ll finish by saying this, Chained Echoes is one of my favorite games of 2022 hands down. I hope you play it to experience what I’m experiencing! 

Score: 9/10

The J-RPG Chained Echoes gets another positive review:

Chained Echoes - The Surprise Hit You NEED to Play!

RPG Division reviewed the J-RPG (actually from Germany) Chained Echoes:

One of the best JRPGs ever (No Spoiler Review) - CHAINED ECHOES

RPGFan likes Chained Echoes, too:

Chained Echoes

…Chained Echoes is a gem that should not be missed.

A lot of us fondly remember our time playing games from the so-called "golden era" or RPGs. Whether it’s Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger on the SNES or Xenogears and Final Fantasy IX on PS1, we've all talked about a classic RPG with nostalgia and reverence. And many of us have wished at some point that a new game could capture the magic that "old-school" RPGs bewitched us with when we were younger. Solo developer Matthias Linda had the same dream, and after many years and a successful Kickstarter campaign, he has created a love letter to his favorite RPGs that is also simply a fantastic game in its own right: Chained Echoes.

Taking place on the war-torn continent of Valandis, Chained Echoes tells the story of a diverse and ragtag band of heroes brought together by equal parts fate and coincidence. What starts as a noble quest to bring peace to the land turns into a sprawling crusade against evil tyrants, vain deities, and an ancient evil that threatens to destroy all life. You know, the usual. It’s easy to see elements of the classic RPGs that inspired this game throughout its well-paced main story, but it never feels like a carbon copy. On the contrary, there were times when my expectations were brilliantly subverted, and I found myself surprised by several of the plot twists. I will say, though, that the game’s final twist felt a little like it came out of nowhere, and it wasn’t particularly satisfying as a result. Also, some of the big bads aren’t dealt with by the time the credits roll, which makes me wonder if Linda intends to one day make a sequel.

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I’ve played many impressive games over the years, but I don’t think I’ve ever been quite as impressed by a game as I have with Chained Echoes. The sheer quality and quantity of content is honestly kind of insane for a solo developer, and while there are some bugs here and there, it all runs pretty damn smoothly too! Whether you’re looking for a nostalgic adventure or just want to play a fresh, new indie RPG, Chained Echoes is a gem that should not be missed.

Score: 90/100

Screenrant is another site that likes the J-RPG Chained Echoes:

Chained Echoes Review - What's Old Is New Again

Chained Echoes is one of the year's best RPGs and comes with an engaging combat system, compelling characters, and stellar worldbuilding.

Characters from Chained Echoes behind the game's logo, with the hero having his sword drawn.
Chained Echoes, an indie JRPG from Matthias Linda and published by Deck13, is a pleasant - and pretty much perfect - surprise. On the surface, it may look like yet another indie RPG obsessed with the SNES era, but thanks to an engaging combat system, compelling characters, and stellar worldbuilding, it proves to be much more. Available now, Chained Echoes is one of the best games of 2022.

From the opening seconds - a nice homage to Chrono Trigger - Chained Echoes proudly harkens back to a nostalgic time of wired controllers and chunky game cartridges. However, it quickly subverts expectations (like in that same Chrono Trigger homage). The game walks a fine balance of celebrating some of the best JRPGs of all time while toying with conventions. There are plenty of familiar themes and character archetypes, of course, but one of Chained Echoes' biggest successes is that it never feels lazy when calling back to SNES classics, and it never feels pretentious when it's poking fun at JRPG clichés.

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Fans of SNES-era games (and especially JRPGs) will certainly love Chained Echoes, but there are plenty of quality-of-life improvements (like being able to save at pretty much any time) that keep the game feeling new and distinctly 21st-century. For all the aesthetics of games like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 6, Chained Echoes doesn't feel like a '90s game (a trap that many retro-leaning indies fall into). Chained Echoes is a fresh, smart adventure that celebrates classic JRPGs while not being afraid to push into new directions. It's sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking - and always fun. It's a must-play.

Gaming on Linux checked out the J-RPG Chained Echoes:

Chained Echoes on Steam Deck (possibly my GOTY?!)

Uncanny Games checked out the J-RPG Chained Echoes:

Chained Echoes Review: Story driven JRPG like Final Fantasy!

MabiVsGames checked out the J-RPG Chained Echoes:

Chained Echoes Review - WATCH BEFORE YOU BUY

Wanderbots chercked out the J-RPG Chained Echoes:

Chained Echoes Is Even Better Than I Expected! It Has An Anime Kraken!

The J-RPG Chained Echoes has been released:

Chained Echoes

Take up your sword, channel your magic or board your Mech. Chained Echoes is a 16-bit SNES style RPG set in a fantasy world where dragons are as common as piloted mechanical suits. Follow a group of heroes as they explore a land filled to the brim with charming characters, fantastic landscapes and vicious foes. Can you bring peace to a continent where war has been waged for generations and betrayal lurks around every corner?

Chained Echoes is a story-driven game where a group of heroes travel around the vast continent of Valandis to bring an end to the war between its three kingdoms. In the course of their journey, they will travel through a wide array of diverse landscapes spanning from wind-tanned plateaus and exotic archipelagos to sunken cities and forgotten dungeons.

Key Features:

• 20-25 hours of play time
• Fast paced turn-based battles
• No random encounters; enemies can be seen running around
• Tons of items to be looted, stolen or crafted
• Complex skill and equipment system
• Customize your own airship
• Travel and fight by foot or in your Mech
• 16-bit SNES style graphics
• Music inspired by PSX RPGs

GameCross checked out the upcoming J-RPG Chained Echoes:

CHAINED ECHOES - Things to Know Before You SPEND $25 (New RPG Game 2022 - PS4/SWITCH/PC/XBOX)

The turn-based RPG Chained Echoes will be released on December 8:

Chained Echoes trailer - Game launches December 8 for PS4, Xbox One, Switch & PC (Steam)

RP Gamer interviewed Matthias Linda about his upcoming J-RPG Chained Echoes:

Chained Echoes Interview

Chained Echoes is an upcoming JRPG-inspired game developer by Matthias Linda and published by Deck13, described as a combination of a fantasy world with mechs, magic, and airships. It is planned to be released in the 4th quarter of 2022 on PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. RPGamer was able to talk to Matthias Linda about what awaits players in the game.

Johnathan Stringer (RPGamer): Can you give a quick overview of the game’s setting and game mechanics as well as its inspirations? Who should be interested in Chained Echoes?

Matthias Linda: I would describe the setting as a mix of fantasy and steampunk. Mechs meet magic. In a world where birdmen and lizardmen are just a normal thing running around, it is a turn-based RPG where you fill up your party with up to 8 members and try to save the world. It is heavily inspired by games such as Suikoden 2, Terranigma, Chrono Trigger, and Final Fantasy VI. And I’m not telling anyone to be interested in the game, but if you grew up with the mentioned games, I really hope you would enjoy my game as well.

JS: What new twists to the turn-based battle mechanic are in Chained Echoes that will set it apart?

ML: I hope to have created a system which will be enjoyed by fans of turn-based JRPGs. However, it indeed comes with a small twist called the Overdrive System. Every action by the player, and by the enemies, influences the bar. Some actions will raise it, others will lower it. In the normal stage, everything is normal. If you reach the Overdrive section of the bar, you do way more damage and take less. However, if the bar reaches the Overheat, it is the other way around. From the feedback I received through the Kickstarter backers and my publisher, I seem to have succeeded in creating a combat system which feels super tactical and yet fast-paced.

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The Turn Based Lovers interviewed developer Matthias Linda about the J-RPG Chained Echoes:

Ten turns Interview with Chained Echoes Developer Matthias Linda

An old-school experience set in a beautiful world

Chained Echoes was crowdfunded in 2019 via Kickstarter. The game is scheduled to release in late 2022 for Windows, Mac, Linux, Nintendo Switch, Sony Playstation, and Microsoft Xbox One. The art here is wonderful.

Hello, first let me say thank you for agreeing to the interview as I and fans alike are excited for the game Chained Echoes.

1st Turn: I know some information about Deck13, the publisher doing this game who mightbe known for publishing Cross Code, but I couldn’t find much information about the main developer, Matthias Linda, other than that he is from Germany. Could you tell us a little about yourself and what led you to wanting to make Chained Echoes?

Answer: Oh I’m basically just a huge fan of JRPGs who happens to know a bit of coding and design. I’ve studied the unusual combination of Modern Japanese and Design before starting to work as a motion designer for some agencies. I’ve always been dreaming of creating my own JRPG, which is why I started a Kickstarter campaign and quit my job. Now I’m here several years later and about to release my first RPG.

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The 16-bit SNES style RPG Chained Echoes will be released in Q4 2021:

Chained Echoes

Take up your sword, channel your magic or board your Mech. Chained Echoes is a 16-bit SNES style RPG set in a fantasy world where dragons are as common as piloted mechanical suits. Follow a group of heroes as they explore a land filled to the brim with charming characters, fantastic landscapes and vicious foes. Can you bring peace to a continent where war has been waged for generations and betrayal lurks around every corner?

Chained Echoes is a story-driven game where a group of heroes travel around the vast continent of Valandis to bring an end to the war between its three kingdoms. In the course of their journey, they will travel through a wide array of diverse landscapes spanning from wind-tanned plateaus and exotic archipelagos to sunken cities and forgotten dungeons.

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Key Features:

• 20-25 hours of play time
• Fast paced turn-based battles
• No random encounters; enemies can be seen running around
• Tons of items to be looted, stolen or crafted
• Complex skill and equipment system
• Customize your own airship
• Travel and fight by foot or in your Mech
• 16-bit SNES style graphics
• Music inspired by PSX RPGs