Chained Echoes

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Chained Echoes
Developer(s)Matthias Linda
Publisher(s)Deck13 Spotlight
Composer(s)Eddie Marianukroh
EngineUnity[1]
Platform(s)
ReleaseDecember 8, 2022
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Chained Echoes is a 2022 role-playing video game created by Matthias Linda and published by Deck13 Spotlight for Linux, macOS, Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. The game is inspired by classic Japanese role-playing games from the 1990s, featuring turn-based combat, 16-bit-style visuals, and a multi-character narrative. Linda was influenced by games such as Xenogears, Terranigma, Secret of Mana, Suikoden 2, Breath of Fire, The Legend of Dragoon, Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI. The game has been praised by several reviewers as living up to the quality of its inspiration while offering modern advancements.

Gameplay

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Chained Echoes is a role-playing video game featuring pixel art visuals inspired by the 16-bit era and turn-based combat.[2] Unlike most older role-playing games that feature random encounters, enemies are visible on the map and trigger encounters on the same screen, similar to Chrono Trigger.[2] Battles are turn-based, and each character in the player's party has a standard attack, several special abilities, items, and a defensive stance.[3] In combat, party members use attacks and abilities that raise the "overdrive" meter, which reaches an optimal green zone where abilities are more effective.[2] However, the overdrive meter can overheat, and the party must discharge some of the excess by using specific abilities, such as defenses and "Ultra Moves".[3] Unlike other role-playing games, characters in Chained Echoes do not level-up, instead leveling up skills automatically through battle, with added skill point rewards.[3] The player controls a party of up to 8 characters.[4] The game's estimated length is up to 30 or 40 hours.[2][5]

Plot

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Setting and characters

Chained Echoes is set on the continent of Valandis during the time of a multi-generational war between three kingdoms, Taryn, Gravos and Escanya. After a great catastrophe caused by the Grand Grimoire shakes the continent, the kingdoms agree to sign a peace treaty. One year later, an unknown force strives to begin a new war. Group of unlikely heroes join forces and eventually become the clan of Crimson Wings in order to stop it.

Valandis itself is a small continent in the much larger world of Eldrea, where aesthetic resembles the Middle Ages with fantasy elements such as magic, dragons and mechs referred to as sky armor. Human is blanket term for all sapient races which includes anthropomorphic animals (lizards, pigs, birds, big cats, etc.), while normal humans are called "hyoms". Another recurring element is an "Echo", person's soul, which reincarnates into a new body and carries over some residual memories. The Grand Grimoire, which drives the main conflict of the story, is a magic crystal that, when shattered, absorbs all life within a thousand meters into itself to repair itself, with the exception of the person responsible for breaking it.

The Ashes of Elrant DLC takes place right before the finale of the main story, the Crimson wings are transported to the pocket dimension between Valandis and Maelstrom, where they learn more about the events that occurred thousands of years ago.

  • Glenn, sky armor pilot and the central protagonist.
  • Kylian, ambitious mercenary working alongside Glenn.
  • Frederik, ruler of Taryn, Lenne's brother and the central antagonist.
  • Lenne, the princess of Taryn, who ran away from home to see more of the world and sister of Frederik.
  • Robb, Lenne's childhood friend and bodyguard.
  • Victor, long lived, world famous playwright who has strong connection to Glenn and Lenne.
  • Cameron, beastman friend of Victor who`s formulating a method of nullifying the Grand Grimoire.
  • Sienna, the "red succubus", infamous thief, former knight of the church and the owner of an airship, Himmelskaiser.
  • Ba'Thraz, a reptilian mercenary with an ability to summon weapons from thin air.
  • Amalia, princess of Escanya and the leader of rebellion with the power of healing, who's accompanied by a dog named Cres.
  • Egyl, bird knight who eagerly fights for justice and honor.
  • Tomke, elderly goat sailor with short term memory loss and Mikah's honorary uncle.
  • Mikah, martial artist who lost her family while searching for the ingredients to the Great Gratin.
  • Magnolia, the Radiant Diva of Equilibrium, soulseer and former queen of the fairies.
  • Leonar, white wolfman and the central protagonist of the Ashes of Elrant DLC.
  • Gwayn, Frederik's advisor, with ulterior motives.
  • June, Gwayn's enigmatic female partner.
  • Matthye, Godfrey, Kennrich, Alena and Guston, generals of the Taryn.
  • Markas, Head of the Gandebrath Society, which funds the Church.
  • Endarht, Markas`s right hand man and the main antagonist of the Ashes of Elrant DLC.
  • Whyatt, The most powerful of the Church's inquisitors.
  • Eva, An inquisitor of the church knowns as "the Boar of the Northern Sky."
  • Raphael, An inquisitor of the Church, who upon discovering the truth behind the organization's actions leads him to doubt its cause.
  • Black Sun Gang, quartet of thieves that forces Sienna into pulling a heist for them, and end up repeatedly crossing paths with her.
  • Vaen, A group of god-like beings and the ultimate antagonists of the game.
  • The Harbinger, An ancient, powerful being that tried to destroy the world millennia ago before being sealed away inside the Maelstrom.

Story

PROLOGUE

Glenn and Kylian, members of the Iron bull mercenaries, attack the Gravos. During the assault, Glenn, unknowingly, shatters The Grand Grimoire, causing a massive explosion that shakes the continent. Since none of the three kingdoms want to take the blame for the catastrophe, the kingdoms agree to sign a peace treaty.

ACT 1

One year later, during the anniversary celebration at Escanya, Lenne and Robb, try to stop the ambassador assassination. Sienna is forced by Black Sun Gang to steal riches from the castle. Glenn and Kylian, who had survived the explosion, are seeking information about The Grand Grimoire. All five eventually end up crossing paths with each other and Victor, who leads the group when mantis-like demon invades the castle and tries to kill them. While the group defeats the demon and escapes the Escanya, Taryn`s general kills their own ambassador, framing Escanya for the crime. Lenne, refusing to believe this was her brother`s doing, insists to travel to Taryn to hear the truth from him.

After many endeavors, the group reaches Taryn and learn Frederik wants to restart war. They also learn how Grand Grimoire functions and escape Taryn to kindreld monastery in order to discover how to destroy it. Taryn captures them suspecting them as spies. As the group tries to escape and steal The Grand Grimoire, Kylian takes Lenne as a hostage in order to use her as a bargaining chip but fails. The Grand Grimoire is set off again after being shot out of Glenn's hands.

ACT 2

Three months later, Frederik has taken full control of Valandis, with the other countries start to openly wage war against him, and Glenn, who blames himself for the Grand Grimoire going off again, has gone into hiding. Victor finds him and convinces Glenn to join the clan of Crimson Wings. The group recruits Amalia and her people before attacking Frederik and steal the Grand Grimoire. During the attack, Lenne gets killed, time stops and three giant god-like Vaen appears, which only Glenn can see. Realizing this, Vaen inform him they will sacrifice themselves to reverse time just enough for Glenn to save Lenne. They do so, Glenn saves Lenne and escapes with the Grand Grimoire.

ACT 3

Glenn and Lenne have visions of their past lives, with their "echo" slowly awakening. Glenn believes he was Timothy, who was Lenne's previous incarnations love interest, while Lenne is the reincarnation of the Holy Mother, who`s destiny is to defeat The Harbinger. The group travels to the Shambala to find more information about this. They discover church facility, which creates the majority of the world's monsters and secretly unleashing them upon the rest of the world, so that fearful people will seek out their faith for salvation. Taryn forces destroy the facility while the Crimson Wings discover Vaen created Grand Grimoire and used it to cull the human population in order to keep the Harbinger sealed by sending souls to the Maelstrom it's trapped in. Gwayn stole it in order to use it against the them. Gwayn reveals that key to the Vaen dimension door is located in Reina`s tomb.

Crimson Wings find the key in the tomb, only to be cornered by church forces. They are taken to the Marylea, church's headquarters, where they discover Markas is trying to summon the Harbinger by draining the Maelstrom of enough souls for it to break out. Kylian, who had joined the church, steals Grand Grimoire from them and delivers it to Frederik in exchange for power. Taryn conducts a full scale assault on Marylea. Crimson Wings escape and Glenn realizes he wasn`t Timothy but Van, arrogant nobleman who murdered Timothy and Lenne in the past and falls into coma.

ACT 4

Crimson Wings seek help from Magnolia, who sends the party into the mind of Glenn, where they discover his other previous incarnation was Bartholomew, The most brilliant mind of the Nhysa Academy of Magic who instructed then young Victor to help Bartholomew make amends for his past life as Van by taking care of Lenne's reincarnation when she returns. Group defeats the "Chained Echo", a manifestation of Glenn`s guilt and self-loathing, restoring Glenn back to normal.

The group then confronts the Frederik who commits a suicide since his plan all along was to rally the rest of the world against him in order to establish true world peace. Gwayn provokes Vaen to summon their giant champion to destroy Valandis. Crimson Wings use Grand Grimoire to destroy the champion, absorbing its life energy, making Grand Grimoire strong enough to kill Vaen.

The party travels to the Nhysa Academy of Magic where Vaen dimension door is located. They confront Gwayn who reveals himself to be Lebrodia-Dervinas, the "True King" and guardian of all life in the world. Kylian, who Gwayn had converted as back-up plan just in case Glenn failed, kills Gwayn, absorbing his powers. He tries to fight Vaen, who overpower him and try to convert him into their new champion. Crimson Wings use the Grand Grimoire which weakens Vaen to the point the party manages to kill the Vaen. Glenn, tired of the original burden he had been carrying for multiple lifetimes passes on in order to give Kylian the power, so he can redeem himself. The game ends Lenne crowned as the queen who now seeks a weapon that can kill The Harbinger, while Glenn reincarnates as a bird.

Development

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The game was made by the German developer Matthias Linda, who grew up making fan games with RPG Maker. His favorite games included Xenogears, Terranigma, Secret of Mana, Suikoden 2, Breath of Fire, The Legend of Dragoon and Final Fantasy VI, all of which influenced his development of Chained Echoes. He was mindful not to copy them, instead trying to capture his experience of playing them, which he remembers as "in my head, all these games look and play better than they actually did."[2]

The game's development nearly took 7 years, beginning in 2016 after a year of considering the story concept. The game had a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2019.[2] The game was published by Deck13.[4]

The music was developed over 4 years by Eddie Marianukroh and includes 50 tracks at 2 hours in length.[6]

DLC, Ashes of Elrant was released on August 7 2025, which added a new playable character, new areas, over 40 new enemies and bosses, over 15 new music tracks, mini-games, new items and equipment.

Reception

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The PC and Switch versions of Chained Echoes have received "universal acclaim",[7][8] while the PlayStation 4 version has received "generally favorable" reviews on Metacritic.[9]

Rock Paper Shotgun said that "Chained Echoes has taken all the right lessons from its 16-bit inspirations... [feeling] modern and nostalgic at the same time".[2] Siliconera praised the game because "[t]he 16-bit art feels right for the style of the game, everyone in the large cast of characters feels distinct, the story is engaging, and the battle system feels familiar and unique at the same time."[3] Nintendo Life called it one of the best role-playing games of the year and "a wonderful mash-up of '90s JRPG tropes, masterfully woven together to produce an experience that feels simultaneously nostalgic and fresh".[13] Windows Central spoke positively about the combat system and story, saying that "for those players with ingrained nostalgia for classic SNES JRPGs, Chained Echoes is an absolute must have title".[4] Digitally Downloaded said that the game would reach the quality of the best classic Japanese role-playing games since "Chained Echoes not only meets that standard, but if it was released back on the SNES when Final Fantasy IV, V, and VI were flying high, people would have considered them comparable."[5] Screen Rant called the game "a must-play", because it is "a fresh, smart adventure that celebrates classic JRPGs while not being afraid to push into new directions".[16]

References

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  1. ^ Saver, Michael (2022-12-27). "Made with Unity: 2022 in review". Unity Technologies. Archived from the original on 2023-06-30. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Castle, Katharine (2022-11-28). "Retro JRPG Chained Echoes has all the makings of a modern classic". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  3. ^ a b c d Haffen, Adam (2022-12-19). "Review: Chained Echoes is a Love Letter to Classic JRPGs". Siliconera. Archived from the original on 2022-12-22. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  4. ^ a b c Martin, Cole (2022-12-20). "Chained Echoes Xbox Review: A must-play 16-bit JRPG journey for a new generation". Windows Central. Archived from the original on 2022-12-20. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  5. ^ a b S., Matt (16 December 2022). "Review: Chained Echoes (Nintendo Switch)". Digitally Downloaded. Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  6. ^ "Chained Echoes (Original Game Soundtrack), by Eddie Marianukroh". Eddie Marianukroh. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
  7. ^ a b "Chained Echoes for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  8. ^ a b "Chained Echoes for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  9. ^ a b "Chained Echoes for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  10. ^ "Chained Echoes for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  11. ^ Miller, Matt (2023-01-25). "Chained Echoes Review". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 2023-02-13. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  12. ^ Lloret, Alberto (2022-12-07). "Análisis de Chained Echoes, un RPG que mira de tú a tú a los clásicos y leyendas de los 16 bits". HobbyConsolas (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2022-12-28. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  13. ^ a b Vogel, Mitch (2022-12-15). "Review: Chained Echoes - One Of The Very Best RPGs Of The Year". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 2022-12-29. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  14. ^ Tekaia, Pascal (2023-01-27). "Chained Echoes Review". RPGamer. Archived from the original on 2023-02-05. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  15. ^ Argyros, Caitlin (2022-12-24). "Chained Echoes". RPGFan. Archived from the original on 2022-12-26. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  16. ^ a b King, Austin (2022-12-19). "Chained Echoes Review - What's Old Is New Again". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 2023-01-19. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
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