Preview The Adventures of Elliot: An HD-2D epic that borrows from Zelda without losing its identity, according to Gameblog

After a good hour with the demo of The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, the Gameblog journalist can hardly think of anything other than a reinvention of A Link to the Past. Isometric view, peaceful villages, dungeons full of puzzles and hairy critters: all familiar foundations. But very quickly, one senses a completely different pace in the Square Enix title, punchier and more technical than it appears.

At the heart of the gameplay lies a richly stocked weapon system. Elliot can choose to combine two weapons among seven possible types, ranging from the swift sword to the target bow, not forgetting the more methodical spear. Each has its own little rhythm, a few recovery frames, and according to Gameblog, you immediately feel the difference in combat. It's the crystals collected that tighten this explore–loot–upgrade loop, which already seems satisfying in the demo.

Finally, Faie, the little fairy accompanying Elliot, brings a real singularity. She goes well beyond being a gimmick: she adds an extra layer of gameplay, offering an autonomous dash, a teleport of Elliot to her location, light control via the right stick, or is simply playable by a second player during a co-op session... In the heaviest battles, positioning Faie behind a line of enemies to then teleport there and strike from behind becomes a natural manipulation. In dungeons, her abilities become integrated into the very keystone of the level architecture, blending anticipation and reflexes.

Visually, this HD-2D still works, the journalist tells us. The landscapes of Philabieldia are still made of elaborate sprites, illuminating volumes, and unexpected depths of field. The kingdom of Huther, protected by its preservation spell, contrasts beautifully with the wild lands overrun by beastly tribes. Between past and present, dying ruins and still-standing cities, the promise of an adventure spread across four eras opens up a wide range of possibilities, especially since an interest in staging already lets a few clues slip through about the curse afflicting Princess Heuria.

While not everything is yet perfectly balanced, since some hitboxes lack a bit of clarity and the difficulty ramps up too quickly if you play like a tourist, this first hands-on session gives us a glimpse of a demanding yet generous action-RPG. If it maintains its atmosphere throughout, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales could be the nostalgic treat that Zelda-like fans are looking for. And that's what Gameblog says!