2022’s Chained Echoes was a breakout indie hit that became lauded as one of the best modern takes on turn-based RPGs. Its multi-faceted gameplay systems, consistent sense of challenge, and stellar storytelling coalesced into an experience I still reflect on roughly three years later.
Now, the highly anticipated Ashes of Elrant DLC that was announced late last year has arrived, implementing a vast new story scenario that takes place right before the end of the base game. Besides an impressive degree of touted content, the specifics of this narrative were left unsaid, leading into a relatively fresh experience with practically no real expectations. Now, at the end of it all, I’m satisfied with this return to Eldrea, finding it to be a natural continuation of the original game, had it progressed even further before the finale.
A Time-Traveling Narrative for Dedicated Fans
Ashes of Elrant features the party getting deceived into a new plot that revolves around a curiously intricate case of time travel. It’s quite a lofty premise, and the game wastes no time in getting right down to brass tax. Although there is a brief recap, it primarily serves as a reminder of the setting and associated events rather than a deep dive into the base game’s plot. So, if you’re like me in that you haven’t played this game since its 2022 launch, it’s worth reminding yourself of the story before delving into this DLC, because practically none of it is even remotely impactful if you aren’t adequately brought up to speed.
When it comes to said story, Ashes of Elrant is really meant for those who want more of Chained Echoes’ world, with the fresh time travel context here showcasing and elucidating various truths directly rather than implications that were spoken about or alluded to. In a sense, this DLC is Chained Echoes throwing all its cards onto the table in what feels like one last hurrah for dedicated fans.
In particular, there are details about the Harbinger and the pasts of certain characters, emphasizing their motivations; Lenne is an especially prominent focus, which makes abundant sense given her characterization. At its core, this scenario is really meant for those who want more out of the narrative, especially after the base game’s ending. Personally, this pivot toward the world’s past is approached somewhat haphazardly, but the pay-off is satisfactory in several respects.
Still, one aspect I found myself somewhat mixed on in this DLC regards how party characters other than Lenne receive flashbacks of their pasts, which is neat in concept. However, they usually feel like they arrive out of nowhere for the sake of increased screentime. In fact, the cast feels a tad too large, as a chunk of the party members are there almost out of obligation due to this all taking place near the end of the game. Then again, there are a handful of minor scenes that try to give everyone attention, even if they’re not exceptionally substantial or the like. So, there is that at least; no one feels explicitly or outright sidelined compared to one another.
Refined Gameplay with New Mechanics
Party Points, Minigames, and Streamlined Progression
Gameplay-wise, Ashes of Elrant is expectedly, fundamentally the same type of experience as the base Chained Echoes. Combat continues to center on the Overdrive bar, and equipment upkeep remains as imperative as ever. The encouragement to go all in throughout every battle, due to the restoration afterward, is still present as well. However, notable modifications have been made to central systems, which differentiate this DLC from the original game to an extent.
After becoming acquainted with the new explorable region, it becomes communicatively evident that monsters now award Party Points in addition to SP. This collective resource is used to learn Party Talents in the skill menu, which contain various boons, such as character stat enhancements and even the new fishing minigame, which is pretty self-explanatory. It’s an appreciated add-on that instills a tad more variety to the standard exploration and battle loop. Another minigame, though one I didn’t enjoy much, was digging. This task involves using a radar to search around a specified vicinity for treasure, and it can become dull rather quickly. It’s comprised of needless trial and error that didn’t add much fulfillment.
A new reward board is available, although it’s understandably relatively passive in its reward acquisition, as it only addresses the new content. Another new feature in this DLC is that crystals are no longer gathered from sources on the field. Instead, they are now dropped by enemies, and each one has its own fixed quality and size. They can also now be placed directly onto equipment via their menu screen.
Considering that this is a DLC and not a full-length game, these design choices make sense. The doubling up on encounter prizes ensures that a rewarding pace is upkept without padding itself out. To elaborate, these types of changes complement a revisit, as the experience is still vast in its own right, but obviously much more compact than a full new release.
The White Wolf: A Strong but Rushed Addition
A particularly beneficial feature for returning players who lack a clear saved game file for any reason is the availability of a pre-made, completed game file. After selecting Ashes of Elrant on the title screen, you’re prompted to either choose your own cleared story file or one off-the-shelf, so to speak. If the latter is your selection, then you’re almost entirely set, as every character, sans the newly added one, has all of their skills unlocked but not fully upgraded. On the other hand, the new character, the White Wolf, has to be built from the ground up in terms of the barest forms of skill acquisition.
Speaking of the White Wolf, he’s quite the memorable new arrival, being a rambunctious, hearty fellow who is also a respected ruler. However, his introduction and subsequent implementation into the core cast feel somewhat rushed. While there is a period of time where he’s playable strictly by himself, serving as both a narrative and gameplay establishment, it comes and goes too swiftly for my liking. Still, you get a solid sense of who he is and what he stands for, regardless.
In battles, the White Wolf is a substantial physical damage dealer with several skills that heavily lean into that intuitive combat archetype. He’s a fairly simple party member to understand the nuances of, and makes for a favorable addition to the active lineup if you want him on the frontlines more often than not.
Challenging Bosses and Refreshed Combat
The combat throughout this DLC follows the same general flow as the base game, with buffs, debuffs, and skill variety at its core. Again, if you haven’t played Chained Echoes in quite some time, then this expansion can be pretty overwhelming in terms of sheer strategic volume. You have access to the whole party fairly often, and when considering the collective skill quantity as well, it can all be a lot to re-grasp. Still, it didn’t take long to re-familiarize myself with the combat loop thanks to the default character setups serving as effective, even if maybe unintentional, re-introductions to the buffing systems.
In terms of challenge, the regular mob battles are fairly lenient, not presenting too much of a fight if the party is utilized even moderately well. However, the bosses here felt among the most challenging in Chained Echoes as a whole, with a number requiring a gradually honed party setup that becomes increasingly evident across each attempt. Bolstering these combat strengths is how it’s not merely a retread of what came before. You face off against roughly 40 new foes, making the experience come across as reasonably fresh, both cosmetically and functionally. At the same time, the jarring difficulty differences between regular foes and bosses can make it feel like the former don’t adequately prepare you for the latter, so there’s a perceptible learning curve in that regard.
I also appreciated the handful of dungeon areas in this DLC, as each is relatively distinct in its aesthetics and avenues of progression. On an offhanded note, the new 15+ songs in Ashes of Elrant are pretty great, especially the new standard battle theme, which rivals my love for the original soundtrack alone.
Final Verdict: A Must-Play for Fans
For turn-based and classic RPG enthusiasts, Chained Echoes was an authentic outing that expertly captured the strengths of the genre’s past, while also carving its own distinct identity. It has remained an absolute must-play, and the Ashes of Elrant DLC offers a compelling avenue to warrant a revisit.
While its narrative and character focuses aren’t given as much emphasis as I would have preferred, it still effectively grows the lore in a way that feels primarily cohesive. Plus, the streamlined gameplay systems this time around fit the scenario’s scale. If you’re a fan of the original Chained Echoes and have been yearning for more of what made it blossom, then Ashes of Elrant is absolutely well worth the time.
Chained Echoes: Ashes of Elrant (PC)
8.5
Great
Ashes of Elrant is a rich and rewarding expansion to Chained Echoes, offering fans a time-traveling narrative that deepens the lore and delivers challenging, strategically satisfying combat, even if its pacing and character focus occasionally stumble.
The Good
Engaging Time-Travel Storyline: Adds new narrative layers that expand the lore and tie directly into the base game’s climax.
Challenging Boss Fights: Offers some of the toughest and most rewarding encounters in the entire game.
Streamlined Gameplay Enhancements: Introduces new systems like Party Talents and crystal drops that improve progression flow.
Memorable New Character: The White Wolf brings a unique presence and impactful combat style to the party.
The Bad
Underdeveloped Supporting Cast Moments: Several character flashbacks feel sudden or underbaked.
Dull Digging Minigame: A tedious and unrewarding activity that adds little to the overall experience.
Boss Spikes – Normal enemy encounters may not adequately prepare players for the boss battles.