Much awaited spiritual successor to Suikoden
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a premium role-playing game from Rabbit and Bear Studios, published by 505 Games. This story-driven single-player experience was helmed by the same person who created the classic Suikoden series. This game brings you to Allraan, a melting pot dragged into war. You lead over a hundred characters in an attempt to save the world.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes combines classic Suikoden elements with modern gameplay sensibilities. However, the game is riddled with bugs, plus localization issues. You can also check out Isekai Rondo or Chroma Quaternion for more JRPG experiences.
Lead hundreds of heroes to save the world
As a spiritual successor to the Suikoden series, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes also takes inspiration from the classic Chinese novel Water Margin. Aside from the traditional 108 heroes in the original novel, it is also known to feature themes of politics and morality. Another key aspect of Eiyuden is its use of rune-lenses, magical artifacts parallel to the True Runes from the original novel.
Despite the similar elements, this is an all-new universe with a new cast of characters. The variety in the cast’s designs and gameplay make it an immediate must-try. There are over a hundred characters to find and recruit, although you can have a party of six at a time. It features high-resolution textures interposed between retro JRPG design choices, making it intuitive and enjoyable to play.
Still, while the game is an excellent love letter to fans of the classic JRPG franchise, it has its issues. One is that it has a wide range of bugs, from actions not playing out as they should to an issue that prevents you from recruiting a certain character. Another main issue is its localization, with translated phrases from the original release confusing players.
A promising game in need of reworks
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, the spiritual successor to Suikoden, intertwines the classic Chinese novel Water Margin with its expansive universe and new characters. Despite its bugs and localization issues, its immersive gameplay, design variety, and the charm of over a hundred recruitable characters make it an essential experience for any JRPG enthusiast, honoring the roots of the genre while offering a fresh and enjoyable journey.
