New Square Enix retro-style Zelda clone fails to live up to the hype

The verdict is in for The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales. While it may not reach the dizzying heights of this year’s definitive heavy hitters, it stands as a solid addition to the Square Enix JRPG catalog—particularly if you’re looking to scratch that specific itch. Leading up to its release, the game faced immense scrutiny, inevitably drawing comparisons to juggernauts like The Legend of Zelda, Octopath Traveler, and Final Fantasy.

<p>As of this writing, the title holds a "generally favorable" 79 average score on <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-adventures-of-elliot-the-millennium-tales/" target="_blank">Metacritic</a> across 20 reviews. While it captured a few stellar 90+ ratings, those were tempered by a handful of middling scores in the 60s and 70s. Meanwhile, <a href="https://opencritic.com/game/20344/the-adventures-of-elliot-the-millennium-tales" target="_blank">Opencritic</a> paints a slightly brighter picture with an 82 average and an 89% critic recommendation rate.</p>

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<p>While we don't assign numerical scores, our senior gaming editor, Jen Glennon, describes <em>The Adventures of Elliot</em> as a title that is "easy to pick up and hard to put down," noting that it offers a fulfilling RPG experience that respects the player's time. However, she echoed a common sentiment among critics: the time-travel mechanics, though present, feel like a missed opportunity that lacked sufficient depth.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/the-adventures-of-elliot-the-millennium-tales-review" target="_blank">IGN’s Scott White</a> awarded it an 8/10, celebrating it as a "great action-adventure game" that further validates the HD-2D art style. That said, he similarly lamented that the time-manipulation gimmicks grew repetitive, ultimately affecting both the enemy variety and environmental design.</p>

<p>Conversely, <a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/games/rpg/the-adventures-of-elliot-the-millennium-tales-review/" target="_blank">Luke Kemp over at GamesRadar</a> scored it a 4.5/5, calling it "expansive without being intimidating, varied without being overwhelming, and familiar without being tired." He was particularly impressed by the level design and boss encounters, though he felt the narrative ambition fell somewhat short.</p>

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            <small class="body-img-caption">Image: Square Enix</small>
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<p><a href="https://kotaku.com/the-adventures-of-elliot-the-millennium-tales-the-kotaku-review-2000707122" target="_blank">Kotaku's Rebekah Valentine</a> took a nuanced stance, admitting that while the broader story and side quests might fade from memory, the core gameplay loop remains incredibly satisfying—specifically citing the visceral joy of using specific abilities to clear rooms of enemies. Ultimately, however, she felt the project played it "uncharacteristically, aggressively safe" compared to the high bar set by Team Asano’s previous efforts.</p>

<p><a href="https://gameinformer.com/review/the-adventures-of-elliot-the-millennium-tales/history-repeats-itself" target="_blank">Game Informer’s Charles Harte</a> handed out a 7.25/10, again highlighting the underutilized time-travel systems. He noted strong parallels to early <em>Zelda</em> titles; while he appreciated the modernized combat, he remained "entertained, but never satisfied."</p>

<p>Ultimately, it seems Team Asano has delivered another polished, highly competent entry in the genre they’ve mastered. While it may not be the next <em>Octopath Traveler</em>, there is undeniable merit in a well-crafted, 20-hour adventure that delivers exactly what it promises.</p>

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Source: Polygon