Following the recent release of the The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales prologue demo, Square Enix and Team Asano have peeled back the curtain on the game’s narrative roots. The spotlight is currently on the game’s earliest era—a setting that feels strikingly reminiscent of the legendary ’90s RPG Chrono Trigger. While time-travel mechanics often invite such comparisons, the parallels here seem to run deeper than mere coincidence. The development team describes this foundational era as follows:
<blockquote>
<p>"The Age of Budding represents the most ancient chapter in the journey of Elliot and Faie. At the dawn of civilization, humanity relies on primitive weaponry to hold off encroaching beast tribes. Within this fragile existence emerges the Myū, a mysterious tribe capable of human speech and formidable magic. The question remains: is their power a beacon of hope or a harbinger of doom? This era marks the ultimate turning point in the history of Philabieldia."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This provides a much clearer picture than previous teases. In a recent conversation with Polygon, producer Naofumi Matsushita elaborated on the setting: "It was a time before humanity discovered magic. During this primordial era, scattered races lived in small villages, working together merely to survive. It was a harsh, humble existence defined by the constant threat of the beast tribes."</p>
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<p>The Age of Budding clearly draws inspiration from two distinct eras in <em>Chrono Trigger</em>: the prehistoric 65 million B.C. and the icy, oppressive Dark Ages of 12,000 B.C. In the former, the humble Ioka villagers struggle against a reptilian threat, eventually securing a victory with the aid of time travelers. In the latter, the kingdom of Zeal sits on a high-tech floating continent, fueled by the stolen magic of an elite few, while the impoverished lower class suffers in the frozen caverns below. While not an exact replica, the shared thematic DNA is unmistakable:</p>
<ul>
<li>A primal war between human and non-human factions.</li>
<li>Magic acting as a disruptive, civilization-defining force.</li>
<li>Humanity forced to endure harsh, freezing conditions.</li>
</ul>
<p>The most intriguing addition to this lore is the Myū, a hybrid race distinguished by their feline-like features. Among them is Lyudmila, a figure central to the narrative. She is described as an resilient exile living in the frozen wilds, who—through unforeseen circumstances—becomes the conduit through which magic is introduced to humanity. Her indomitable spirit, even amidst dire circumstances, evokes a strong sense of deja vu for anyone familiar with Princess Schala—though, for the sake of avoiding spoilers, let's just say her path is one of heavy destiny.</p>
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<p>Square Enix also introduced two pivotal human characters that the protagonists encounter during this ancient era:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Kai:</strong> The young leader of Hitoyori, the first human village. He is defined by his defensive nature and deep suspicion toward the beast tribes; to him, the Myū are a direct threat, and their magical capabilities are a dangerous anomaly that could jeopardize his people.</li>
<li><strong>Hirk:</strong> A dedicated scholar within Hitoyori who has spent years researching magic, though she has yet to master it. She views magic as a vital tool for survival—a way to ensure the village's children reach maturity—and she actively seeks to build an alliance with the Myū to bridge this knowledge gap.</li>
</ul>
<p>Having spent an hour with the demo, I am genuinely impressed by how <em>The Adventures of Elliot</em> seamlessly blends <em>Zelda</em>-inspired exploration with the depth of a <em>Mana</em> combat system. If they are truly layering in <em>Chrono Trigger</em>-caliber storytelling on top of that, we are in for a treat. <em>The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales</em> arrives on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X on June 18.</p>
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Source: Polygon
