Eiyuden Chronicle

September 7, 2024

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes: A New Legacy in the Shadow of Suikoden

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a modern JRPG that carries the weight of legacy on its shoulders and is hailed as a spiritual successor to the beloved Suikoden series. Developed by Rabbit & Bear Studios, led by Suikoden creator Yoshitaka Murayama, this game captures much of the charm and essence of its predecessor while introducing new mechanics and modern refinements. Many fans ask this question: Why isn't this game called Suikoden? The answer lies in the separation between its developers and Konami, which still holds the rights to the Suikoden brand. However, the team behind Eiyuden Chronicle ensures that it embodies the heart of Suikoden in everything but name.

Story and Characters: Classic Yet Fresh
Eiyuden Chronicle tells a familiar yet gripping tale of war, rebellion, and personal growth, following the protagonist, Nowa, and his companions as they fight against the oppressive Galdean Empire. What sets it apart is the roster of over 100 recruitable characters, echoing the 108 Stars of Destiny from Suikoden. Each character brings their backstory and motivations, adding a deep layer of narrative complexity. The game encourages players to explore these relationships, as recruiting different characters affects your combat abilities, base-building, and access to various minigames.

One of the strongest aspects of Eiyuden Chronicle is the depth of character interaction, much like Suikoden. Every character has a distinct personality, and fostering relationships with them can lead to surprising story twists and combat abilities. However, some have noted that the pacing of the story, especially in the early hours, is slow, with major gameplay mechanics taking time to unlock. Once the base-building and fast travel features are activated, the world opens up, offering players more freedom to engage in the rich narrative.

Gameplay: Nostalgia Meets Modernization
The combat system in Eiyuden Chronicle borrows heavily from Suikoden's six-character, turn-based structure. Battles are tactical, with characters arranged in formations of two rows, and the use of Rune Lenses - a direct nod to SSuikoden'srune magic system for a high level of customization. Players can mix and match lenses to augment different skills, adding a layer of strategy to battles.

However, one critique is that combat can feel slower than Suikoden's snappier systems. To address this, Eiyuden Chronicle introduces an auto-battle system that speeds up grind-heavy encounters, a feature many modern RPGs have embraced. Additionally, the game includes large-scale strategic battles and one-on-one duels, further tying it to its spiritual predecessor. The strategic battles play out like simplified tactical RPGs, adding variety to the standard combat flow.

One area where the Eiyuden Chronicle diverges slightly from Suikoden is its integration of minigames. While some minigames are praised, others have been criticized for feeling poorly designed or redundant, disrupting the game's flow rather than enhancing it.

Visuals and Presentation: A Nostalgic Aesthetic
Visually, Eiyuden Chronicle is a beautiful homage to classic JRPGs. It uses a blend of 2D sprite-based characters and 3D environments. The art style, reminiscent of Suikoden, strikes a balance between retro charm and modern polish. The characters are highly expressive, and their animations are vivid, especially during team attacks or magical abilities. However, some players have noted a dissonance between the sprite-based characters and the fully illustrated, non-pixelated monsters, which can feel jarring.

The game's soundtrack, composed by JRPG veterans like Motoi Sakuraba, further enhances the nostalgic feel, drawing players back into the world of classic RPGs.

Why Isn't It Called Suikoden?
Despite its deep connections to Suikoden, the Eiyuden Chronicle carries a different name because the Suikoden brand remains owned by Konami. When Yoshitaka Murayama left Konami in 2002, he lost access to the Suikoden intellectual property despite being the series creator. This separation prompted him to form Rabbit & Bear Studios, where he and other original Suikoden developers launched Eiyuden Chronicle through a Kickstarter campaign in 2020. The game quickly amassed over $4.5 million in funding, demonstrating the strong support from Suikoden fans eager for a spiritual successor.

While Murayama and his team could not use the Suikoden name, they infused Eiyuden Chronicle with the same principles that made Suikoden beloved—rich storytelling, large-scale recruitment, strategic combat, and deep character relationships. Eiyuden Chronicle is Suikoden in spirit but not in title.

Platforms and Performance
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is available across multiple platforms, including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The game performs well across most systems, though older hardware like the Switch might experience occasional frame rate drops or longer loading times. The game's visuals and expansive world make it well-suited to more powerful consoles, where it shines with its detailed animations and environments.

In conclusion, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a worthy successor to Suikoden, blending nostalgia with modern gameplay refinements. While it may not be called Suikoden for legal reasons, it captures what made those games memorable—strategic battles, deep character recruitment, and a rich, expansive world. This is a must-play title for fans of the golden era of JRPGs. For newcomers, it offers a gateway into a style of RPG that emphasizes story and strategy over flashy, modern graphics.

While it might not be revolutionary in all respects, Eiyuden Chronicle excels at delivering a classic JRPG experience that is updated for modern sensibilities.