The mid 90s era of JRPGs has always been a point of nostalgia for those who first picked up a controller at this time, and for that reason it remains both a popular period for retro gamers and a nostalgic stylistic choice for indie developers. But players fond of this era and its trappings often find themselves running low on new games to play. The recent release of the indie game Chained Echoes (published by Deck13 Interactive) was lovingly made by a solo developer who is also a fan of games like these, and the 2022 title will make those whol love the Final Fantasy franchise feel right at home.
Chained Echoes' publisher, Deck13 Interactive, may be familiar to some avid gamers. Formerly known as TriggerLab, the German based company was acquired by Focus Entertainment in the summer of 2020, and since then has gone on to put out titles such as The Surge, The Lords of the Fallen, and the upcoming title Atlas Fallen. But, as its recent work with the indie title Chained Echoes might indicate, the publisher has a well-rounded repertoire. The company also works as a developer, both for some of the games already listed, the popular adventure series Ankh, and the 2013 hack and slash title Blood Knights.
A Brand-New Old School RPG
A project funded by crowdsourcing has managed to capture the feeling of playing an SNES game for the first time. Chained Echoes perfectly captures the look and feel of a late 90s fantasy RPG, but Final Fantasy and The Legend of Dragoon fans in particular will find many of the elements that they fell in love with over a decade ago within the new title. From its high concept fantasy scope, its familiar assortment of characters, its turn-based action, and its thoughts on the nature of humanity, Chained Echoes resembles a familiar adventure but with an all new story.
Final Fantasy games have always taken some elements of their stories from tales of hubris; the Square Enix titles have never been shy about wearing their mythical influences on their sleeves, and Chained Echoes has taken a similar approach. The game includes a sword called Ekskalibur, as well as characters named Merlin, Agememnon, and Ovelia - possibly a play on Ophelia from Hamlet, though the name itself is a direct nod to Final Fantasy Tactics. The main character Glenn and his varied cast of companions is armed with good intentions as they try to stop a war, but inadvertently trigger the end of the world. Similar to Final Fantasy 15, an attempt at peace is instead an inciting incident for unparalleled chaos that will put more at risk than a war ever could.
Chained Echoes directly references Final Fantasy, but it also pays homage in more subtle ways like its use of symbolism through technology. The airships that carry the games' heroes may hold promise of peace and a bright future, but they literally cast a huge shadow over the world and those who live in it. Additionally, the mech suits known as Sky Armor will immediately strike many players for their superficial similarity to the machine that initially constrains Terra from Final Fantasy 6 while she is under a sort of mind control.
These games set a standard for the fantasy JRPG genre, so to match their quality in the eyes of fans is no easy feat, as many players count the Final Fantasy games among their favorites. Known for being able to seamlessly blend the darker elements of the story being told with the often cartoonishly bubbly nature of some of their characters, both Final Fantasy and The Legend of Dragoon are still remembered and replayed even in their original forms. Ultimately, this is because of how they managed, and how Chained Echoes has managed, to weave these elements perfectly together.
Chained Echoes is available now for PC, Microsoft Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation 4, and macOS.
