Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising (v1.3)

A ruined mining town becomes the heart of a colorful side-scrolling action RPG where every expedition feeds directly into its recovery. Set before the events of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising follows treasure hunter CJ as she arrives in New Nevaeh looking for a lucrative rune-lens score, only to get drawn into the community’s problems. Earthquake damage, suspicious ruins, competing prospectors, and a buried political mystery give the adventure more weight than its cheerful pixel-art presentation first suggests. The mood balances cozy town-building routines with brisk dungeon delving and a story that gradually exposes a darker conspiracy.

Most of the game revolves around accepting requests from New Nevaeh’s residents, heading into the Runebarrows and surrounding areas, gathering materials, defeating monsters, then returning to improve the shops and facilities that support later quests. CJ starts with quick melee attacks and agile movement, while companions Garoo and Isha add heavier strikes, ranged magic, and traversal options; swapping attacks in sequence builds satisfying three-character combos. Levels are laid out as compact, replayable platforming zones, with locked routes and resource nodes encouraging return trips once new abilities become available. Combat remains approachable rather than punishing, though bosses demand attention to spacing, attack patterns, and using each character’s strengths effectively.

Its strongest idea is the connection between personal progression and civic rebuilding: upgrading the inn, blacksmith, restaurant, and other businesses visibly transforms New Nevaeh while opening better gear, meals, and quest opportunities. The hand-drawn character portraits and crisp 2D environments give it the warm, storybook appeal of classic JRPGs, while the action has more in common with a light Metroidvania than a traditional turn-based RPG. Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising works best for players who enjoy games such as Ys, Indivisible, or smaller-scale Castlevania-style adventures with lots of town quests. Veterans looking for deep combat systems may find it simple, but newcomers and Hundred Heroes fans get an accessible, charming prequel with a worthwhile cast.