Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising Review

ign.com:

I’ve never seen a small spin-off game meet my expectations this comprehensively before. Fun, short-lived, slightly repetitive, yet leaving me interested to know more, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising was exactly how I pictured it. Releasing a companion game before the main game – in this case the upcoming Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, is certainly an unusual choice, especially given that Rising takes a very different approach to its JRPG sibling by swapping turn-based battles for a 2D action-RPG format. Make no mistake though, it’s worth playing for its own strengths.

Our goal in Rising is to rebuild New Neveah, a town decimated by an earthquake several months ago. That same event also unearthed several ruins stacked with treasure, which is where we come in. Playing as an honourable scavenger, CJ, our role in the reconstruction is providing each resident with whichever materials they’ve requested, ranging from basic ores and lumber to more specialized items later on. Just be aware this isn’t a city-building sim like Cities: Skylines – here, every building location is predetermined and there’s no finer tinkering, so don’t expect anything too in-depth. You can’t freely interact with the average NPC either, so New Neveah’s not always the most exciting place to be. Still, there’s an undeniable charm this small town presents as it grows, and while this isn’t the most inventive premise, there’s an unfolding mystery within that held my attention.

Progress is mapped through a stamp card system, earning another every time you help residents. Filling out your stamp book upgrades it to the next level, bringing more people to town and further opportunities, and you can exchange stamps at the trading post for more exciting items later