Chained Echoes (16 bit indie rpg)

[ShitLurker]

So, creating this thread because I'm seeing a good number of hubub about it in the Steam reviews https://store.steampowered.com/app/1229240/Chained_Echoes/. It's been out for half a month now and it seems to be good in the eyes. So have any Kiwis given it a go? Is it pozzed in any way? Is it a nice little romp even if it's not the second coming of Christ?

 

[Human Waiter]

I think I'm probably around a third of the way through the game. I've been having fun with it. It throws a lot of different mechanics at you, but after some time they start to mesh pretty well.
One thing I found was weird was that the character swear sometimes. It's not often, just when they are betrayed or pissed off by someone, but it still feels weird to see someone say fuck and shit in an RPG. Really caught me off guard the first time it happened.

 

[The Real Me]

It's not often, just when they are betrayed or pissed off by someone, but it still feels weird to see someone say fuck and shit in an RPG. Really caught me off guard the first time it happened.

RPGs be saying some wild shit sometimes.

 

[Poop A Loop]

The only pozzed shit I've heard about is a gay dude being in the prologue. I've heard the ending is not the best and tries to set up a sequel, which never gives you the payoff that just tying up loose ends and giving the player closure would.

Spoiler: Ending opinions

I watched the ending and that twist where the main character sacrifices his life is kind of abrupt and obvious sequel bait. Why can't indie devs understand that their inability to churn out titles in less than a decade means setting up a sequel is retarded?

 

[ShitLurker]

I think I'm probably around a third of the way through the game. I've been having fun with it. It throws a lot of different mechanics at you, but after some time they start to mesh pretty well.
One thing I found was weird was that the character swear sometimes. It's not often, just when they are betrayed or pissed off by someone, but it still feels weird to see someone say fuck and shit in an RPG. Really caught me off guard the first time it happened.

You think it's worth asking price or wait for a Steam sale? How long does it seem to be? Is it grindy or laden with sidequests or pretty focused and straight to the point?

The only pozzed shit I've heard about is a gay dude being in the prologue. I've heard the ending is not the best and tries to set up a sequel, which never gives you the payoff that just tying up loose ends and giving the player closure would.

Spoiler: Ending opinions

I watched the ending and that twist where the main character sacrifices his life is kind of abrupt and obvious sequel bait. Why can't indie devs understand that their inability to churn out titles in less than a decade means setting up a sequel is retarded?

So pozz on prologue and an ending which kind of deflates... I haven't read your spoiler just in case. But with the knowledge you have, is that ending the sort that ruins the whole journey or not too bad?

 

[Human Waiter]

You think it's worth asking price or wait for a Steam sale? How long does it seem to be? Is it grindy or laden with sidequests or pretty focused and straight to the point?

I don't know how much it costs I pirated it. I wouldn't say it's grindy as you don't have normal exp, all the characters get a skill point after boss fights. After you get the airship sidequests become available, but that is a fair way into the game. The gameplay is more exploration based, looking around for chests and such, with around five encounters in each zone.

 

[Poop A Loop]

You think it's worth asking price or wait for a Steam sale? How long does it seem to be? Is it grindy or laden with sidequests or pretty focused and straight to the point?

So pozz on prologue and an ending which kind of deflates... I haven't read your spoiler just in case. But with the knowledge you have, is that ending the sort that ruins the whole journey or not too bad?

I couldn't say for sure because I didn't watch a full playthrough to understand the intricacies of the ending, but I wouldn't say it ruins anything if I was to assume the tropes I did notice were played out like they usually are. It's kinda like if you were expecting a slam dunk you instead get a layup. You still scored but it wasn't as good as it could have been. I can tell the reason it's getting fellated on forums full of NPCs like reddit is because it's an actual fully realized indie JRPG that isn't an absolute dog turd that only someone who likes Kemco JRPGs would love.

 

[ShitLurker]

I don't know how much it costs I pirated it. I wouldn't say it's grindy as you don't have normal exp, all the characters get a skill point after boss fights. After you get the airship sidequests become available, but that is a fair way into the game. The gameplay is more exploration based, looking around for chests and such, with around five encounters in each zone.

I couldn't say for sure because I didn't watch a full playthrough to understand the intricacies of the ending, but I wouldn't say it ruins anything if I was to assume the tropes I did notice were played out like they usually are. It's kinda like if you were expecting a slam dunk you instead get a layup. You still scored but it wasn't as good as it could have been. I can tell the reason it's getting fellated on forums full of NPCs like reddit is because it's an actual fully realized indie JRPG that isn't an absolute dog turd that only someone who likes Kemco JRPGs would love.

Thanks you two. Doesn't sound like it's worth blowing 25 smackers to play right now, so I'll keep in the back of my head till it has a nice discount.

 

[Grub]

One thing I found was weird was that the character swear sometimes. It's not often, just when they are betrayed or pissed off by someone, but it still feels weird to see someone say fuck and shit in an RPG. Really caught me off guard the first time it happened.

I guess you haven't played many old rom translations then.

 

[SSj_Ness (Yiffed)]

Can there be a game without any faggotry anymore? Off the wishlist it goes.

 

[ShitLurker]

Can there be a game without any faggotry anymore? Off the wishlist it goes.

This the curse of our time, though I don't instantly write off something with some fags in there unless it gets preachy about it, but yeah, there is a reason I mostly stick to weeb shit. Though Inscryption was a fantastic game I finished recently (also Pony Island and the Hex from the same dude, though those are much smaller projects) and there was 0 pozz in there.

 

[SSj_Ness (Yiffed)]

This the curse of our time, though I don't instantly write off something with some fags in there unless it gets preachy about it, but yeah, there is a reason I mostly stick to weeb shit. Though Inscryption was a fantastic game I finished recently (also Pony Island and the Hex from the same dude, though those are much smaller projects) and there was 0 pozz in there.

It's not really the presence of fags so much as the intent. Kojima put fags in MGS just because fags are weird and that melds perfectly into his world. It feels natural that a stereotypical vampire and a military nigger are faggots together, where in any other game that'd be woke as fuck.

If they're added for "representation" just to normalize faggotry, like "oh yeah he's normal, just like everyone else, except he sucks cock", then it's just very offputting to me even if it's not overtly preachy.

 

[ShitLurker]

It's not really the presence of fags so much as the intent. Kojima put fags in MGS just because fags are weird and that melds perfectly into his world. It feels natural that a stereotypical vampire and a military nigger are faggots together, where in any other game that'd be woke as fuck.

If they're added for "representation" just to normalize faggotry, like "oh yeah he's normal, just like everyone else, except he sucks cock", then it's just very offputting to me even if it's not overtly preachy.

Don't get me wrong, I totally get where you are coming from, one of the things that current year has achieved is made me ignore anything that came after the 2000s in western media purely because I see the pozz everywhere and how bloody unsubtle is. That I feel the need to ignore something the moment I see a whiff of strong WAMEN and faggotry in general is incredibly annoying because 99/100 times in western media, it's propaganda and virtue signalling and I just can't muster the strength to wade to the last 1% that isn't preachy about.

But I can muster through it in smaller projects if it's in small doses and doesn't bang me about it, since they tend to have unexpected quirks that would be stamped out by a committee if it was a bigger budget title. For example, according to Human Waiter, it's only the prologue, I can power through that I think, if it were the main character, it becomes a hard pass, specially after Celeste, great gameplay, but everytime anybody opened their fucking mouth I would skip it since I give 0 shits about "muh mentals" at this point.

Expanding more on the small project front, I have played Undertale and Omori and enjoyed both, the first one has pozz up it's ass, but isn't preachy about it (though it is preachy about other things) and I find enjoyable (no, I don't pay attention to the fanbase) and the second one I found entertaining enough and I don't think it had any particular pozz (though the ending can kind of ruin it). I really want to put some time to play Lisa the painful (though that one has zero pozz and I spoilt myself through a lets play, but it seems like a fun romp to experience directly) and have also played Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass (need to grind did sour me at the end, but was a good attempt) and I'm definitely open to any other recommendations of the sort. I'm also keeping an eye on Sea of Stars for example since it looks gorgeous, but of course, I still need to hear the word of mouth once it comes out before I consider going in.

 

[SSj_Ness (Yiffed)]

Don't get me wrong, I totally get where you are coming from, one of the things that current year has achieved is made me ignore anything that came after the 2000s in western media purely because I see the pozz everywhere and how bloody unsubtle is. That I feel the need to ignore something the moment I see a whiff of strong WAMEN and faggotry in general is incredibly annoying because 99/100 times in western media, it's propaganda and virtue signalling and I just can't muster the strength to wade to the last 1% that isn't preachy about.

But I can muster through it in smaller projects if it's in small doses and doesn't bang me about it, since they tend to have unexpected quirks that would be stamped out by a committee if it was a bigger budget title. For example, according to Human Waiter, it's only the prologue, I can power through that I think, if it were the main character, it becomes a hard pass, specially after Celeste, great gameplay, but everytime anybody opened their fucking mouth I would skip it since I give 0 shits about "muh mentals" at this point.

Expanding more on the small project front, I have played Undertale and Omori and enjoyed both, the first one has pozz up it's ass, but isn't preachy about it (though it is preachy about other things) and I find enjoyable (no, I don't pay attention to the fanbase) and the second one I found entertaining enough and I don't think it had any particular pozz (though the ending can kind of ruin it). I really want to put some time to play Lisa the painful (though that one has zero pozz and I spoilt myself through a lets play, but it seems like a fun romp to experience directly) and have also played Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass (need to grind did sour me at the end, but was a good attempt) and I'm definitely open to any other recommendations of the sort. I'm also keeping an eye on Sea of Stars for example since it looks gorgeous, but of course, I still need to hear the word of mouth once it comes out before I consider going in.

I just figure there's a trillion games out there, so why bother with any gay shit, but I understand it's stuff most people can overlook. I skipped out on AI: The Somnium Files on principle because it tucked some real fag worship into just one optional scene. I actually was really interested in it before that, too, but it just soured me on the whole thing. I still intended to pirate it but I just forgot about it completely.

Funny you mention the "muh mentals" crap, too. I've recently been thinking that's right behind SJW stuff as something becoming unbearable. It's way worn out and I just write off anything with depression, anxiety, etc as the main theme. It was novel like a decade ago, but they don't know when to stop.

 

[ShitLurker]

I just figure there's a trillion games out there, so why bother with any gay shit, but I understand it's stuff most people can overlook. I skipped out on AI: The Somnium Files on principle because it tucked some real fag worship into just one optional scene. I actually was really interested in it before that, too, but it just soured me on the whole thing. I still intended to pirate it but I just forgot about it completely.

Jesus Fuck I had blocked that horrible scene from my mind. It was so damn out of place and shoved in with the subtlety of a rocket up the ass. This brings us to the next level which is game is not pozzed, but the localization sure as fuck is, reason why after enjoying Fire Emblem Awakening I outright avoided the Fates games... And fair on there being tons of stuff to take up your time, I've retaken emulating with a vengeance since I got the deck and I'm pretty much leapfrogging between like 6 games right now.

Funny you mention the "muh mentals" crap, too. I've recently been thinking that's right behind SJW stuff as something becoming unbearable. It's way worn out and I just write off anything with depression, anxiety, etc as the main theme. It was novel like a decade ago, but they don't know when to stop.

My assumption is that anybody that isn't at least 50 talking about "muh mentals" is probably just a whiny faggot that needs constant attention and coddling. So yes, it's another topic that I can find fascinating but has been butchered by so much ineptitude for so long that I need a laundry list of reasons to give it a try.

 

[X Prime]

Expanding more on the small project front, I have played Undertale and Omori and enjoyed both, the first one has pozz up it's ass, but isn't preachy about it (though it is preachy about other things) and I find enjoyable (no, I don't pay attention to the fanbase) and the second one I found entertaining enough and I don't think it had any particular pozz (though the ending can kind of ruin it). I really want to put some time to play Lisa the painful (though that one has zero pozz and I spoilt myself through a lets play, but it seems like a fun romp to experience directly) and have also played Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass (need to grind did sour me at the end, but was a good attempt) and I'm definitely open to any other recommendations of the sort. I'm also keeping an eye on Sea of Stars for example since it looks gorgeous, but of course, I still need to hear the word of mouth once it comes out before I consider going in.

I'll help you out, I liked all the games you listed, so I'll give you some more sort of like them in the RPG Maker arena.

Demon King Chronicle tops the list. It has fairly unique gameplay systems.

Exit Fate is very close behind...
...but play Last Scenario first.

The Way, if you can stand the low-end presentation. Purely for the "what the fuck is going on" story. It's one of those where you have to piece things together from context clues.

OFF. It needs no introduction. Play it.
Re:Kinder is interesting in that it's kind of Earthboundy in one location, but a tad edgier.
End Roll is arguably OMORI's predecessor.

If you can stand possibly the corniest Marty Stu villain in RPG Maker history, I would go with Demon Legacy and Phantom Legacy. It's just so... 90s Internet, for lack of a better term. The villain/antihero just eats the scenery for breakfast. It's just so lame, but in a charming way.

In a similar vein to pure corn, Umbral Souls. Badly needed an editor though.

Weird and Unfortunate Things are Happening is pretty high on the quality scale in a modern setting.

If you like LISA, I would suggest Fear and Hunger. It's quite possibly even more gross and brutal. The sequel, Fear and Hunger 2: Termina, just released. Just don't play it with family or kids nearby.

Hello Charlotte is good, but weird. It has three parts, all are different RPG genres mechanically, and it has a coherent narrative that is OMORI-esque.

The problem with searching RPG Maker games on Steam is a lot of them are porn. Those arec what I can think of that you might like off the top of my head.

 

[ShitLurker]

I'll help you out, I liked all the games you listed, so I'll give you some more sort of like them in the RPG Maker arena.

Demon King Chronicle tops the list. It has fairly unique gameplay systems.

Exit Fate is very close behind...
...but play Last Scenario first.

The Way, if you can stand the low-end presentation. Purely for the "what the fuck is going on" story. It's one of those where you have to piece things together from context clues.

OFF. It needs no introduction. Play it.
Re:Kinder is interesting in that it's kind of Earthboundy in one location, but a tad edgier.
End Roll is arguably OMORI's predecessor.

If you can stand possibly the corniest Marty Stu villain in RPG Maker history, I would go with Demon Legacy and Phantom Legacy. It's just so... 90s Internet, for lack of a better term. The villain/antihero just eats the scenery for breakfast. It's just so lame, but in a charming way.

In a similar vein to pure corn, Umbral Souls. Badly needed an editor though.

Weird and Unfortunate Things are Happening is pretty high on the quality scale in a modern setting.

If you like LISA, I would suggest Fear and Hunger. It's quite possibly even more gross and brutal. The sequel, Fear and Hunger 2: Termina, just released. Just don't play it with family or kids nearby.

Hello Charlotte is good, but weird. It has three parts, all are different RPG genres mechanically, and it has a coherent narrative that is OMORI-esque.

The problem with searching RPG Maker games on Steam is a lot of them are porn. Those arec what I can think of that you might like off the top of my head.

Holy shit, thanks for the gold mine of indie shit. Only one I knew of from the list is Off (gave it a go, but I honestly wasn't enjoying the puzzle aspects of it and ended dropping it), but I can't deny it's not chock full of style). Will slowly peruse and decide what to try.

 

[X Prime]

The problem is, I can't remember everything I've played.

For example, I forgot to cite Nocturne Rebirth, though it is a highly difficult game.

Helen's Mysterious Castle is short but nifty.

Faraway Story is a charming game that plays like Recettear, which you may be familiar with. Sadly kinda sorta incomplete. Not a turn-based RPG though.

 

[Dojima's Dragon]

I have played Undertale and Omori and enjoyed both, the first one has pozz up it's ass

How is undertale pozzed or is it the le androgynous protag

 

[ShitLurker]

How is undertale pozzed or is it the le androgynous protag

Non binary main character, gay characters and furries galore. Those are normally red flags for a game being a preachy insuferable mess.

But the thing is Toby Fox makes his game fun first and then adds that shit because he wants to, not to evangelize. I've played the first 3 Deltarune chapters and I'm still enjoying myself.