Chained Echoes

About Chained Echoes

Chained Echoes is a 16-bit RPG with strategy elements from developer Matthias Linda. Released December 2022, it blends fantasy and mechs in a world where dragons and piloted suits coexist. The story follows a band of heroes navigating a war-torn continent full of betrayal and ancient conflicts. It’s a single-player adventure available on PS4, PC, Xbox One, Switch, and Mac. The game leans heavily into classic SNES-era visuals and turn-based tactics. Critics gave it an 89 on Metacritic. Think of it as a retro-inspired tale of politics, magic, and metal suits.

Gameplay

Combat pauses in real-time, letting you issue commands to a team of up to three. You can fight with swords, spells, or switch into a mech for heavier attacks. Each action costs energy, forcing strategic choices about when to dash, block, or unleash abilities. Battles often require exploiting enemy weaknesses while managing positioning. Outside combat, you explore hand-drawn maps on a top-down grid, interacting with townspeople and solving quests. The story weaves political intrigue with personal stakes, and your decisions sometimes shift party dynamics. Sessions last 2-4 hours, with frequent save points. The controls are responsive, but the UI occasionally feels cramped.

What Players Think

Community ratings average 4.3/5, with 78% completing the game. Most players finish in 40-50 hours, though 12% hit 70+ hours. Metacritic’s 89 reflects praise for visuals and story, though some gripe about clunky menus. On PlayPile, moods are mostly nostalgic (42%) and curious (31%), with 15% calling it “overhyped.” A common review: “The mechs and dragons are cool, but the dialogue could use an editor.” Completion rates for achievements are 89%, and 62% of players unlock all endings. Price drops to $19.99 during sales.

PlayPile's Take

Chained Echoes works best for fans of old-school JRPGs and tactical combat. The 20-hour base price (often cheaper) makes it a low-risk pick for strategy lovers. Skip if you hate slow menus or prefer modern UIs. Achievements add 10% extra playtime but aren’t mandatory. The game shines in its visual design and mech-magic fusion but falters in polish. Worth trying for its charm and ambition, though not essential for everyone.

Storyline

Follow a group of heroes as they explore a land filled to the brim with charming characters, fantastic landscapes and vicious foes. Can you bring peace to a continent where war has been waged for generations and betrayal lurks around every corner?