ChronoBlade is a free-to-play 3D sidescrolling MMORPG developed and published by nWay. The game hews closely to the formula employed by most games of the sidescrolling genre, which allows for players to dive in as soon as they open the game for the first time. Beyond the fluid fighting system that makes for good, tense moments, ChronoBlade features a crafting system, separate game modes, and character customization to draw players in. ChronoBlade’s gameplay is fast and emphasizes strategy, making the game worthy to play.
The first time that players open ChronoBlade, they are treated with a quick narrative that explains the game’s world. Invaders have come and demolished worlds, and only four heroes possess the strength to stand against them.
Players can use any of the heroes they desire to right from the start. They can become emotionally invested in them from their background stories. However, what will draw players towards one character over the other is how they prefer to fight. One character is a brawler, another a swordsman, a third works with a long staff, and the fourth manipulates a magic orb to attack enemies. The fact that these characters offer a variety of experiences is further reflected in the fact that they possess differing base statistics.
The heroes look and play very differently, but what really sets them apart from each other are their unique magic skills. Each character has a different arsenal of magic abilities at their disposal which play into their specific styles. For instance, the elven character who fights with a staff has access to a powerful Atlantean Wave move that her companions cannot use. The magic skills also vary by element, as different heroes can use air, fire, water, and earth abilities. Players can equip the hero they determine to utilize with three magic skills during fights.
Characters also have a variety of non-magical moves at their disposal during actual gameplay. They can use quick light attacks and slow heavy attacks as they try to defeat enemies. They can also block, jump up in the air, and quickly retreat.
In terms of actual gameplay, ChronoBlade offers three main options. Players can engage in an adventure mode. The adventure mode contains several different worlds with various levels within them. Each world features thematic backgrounds, and these visuals are rendered superbly. Each level contains hordes of enemies to defeat and string combos off of and ends with a boss fight. The boss fights in particular offer some exhilarating moments, while the fights before them allow for players to build up combos and unleash really powerful attacks. Each level is timed, adding another level of complication.
ChronoBlade also possesses an arena mode, in which players can face off against each other. The arena attempts to match players with others who are similar in terms of ranking and abilities, which leads to mostly even matches. Lastly, ChronoBlade has a dungeon mode, in which players fight a singular enemy similar to the bosses in the adventure mode.
To upgrade heroes, players have to use a crafting system and accumulate in-game currency. The crafting system can be irritating – if a player is missing one specific ingredient necessary to upgrade an item or weapon, he or she can do nothing that will get them the specific ingredient they need. Players amass in-game currency rather quickly and spend it to upgrade weapons and armor. This money can also be used to strengthen the heroes’ magic skills.
In all, ChronoBlade manages to do a lot really well. The controls are fluid, the differences between the four playable characters are not only aesthetic but also effect gameplay, the worlds are all distinct, and the visuals render well. ChronoBlade’s crafting system detracts from its overall appeal, but does not preclude the game from getting a rating of 8/10.
Check Out the ChronoBlade Trailer:
ChronoBlade is available through the App Store and Google Play. You can also head on over to the official website.
Android Review
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Overall Score - 8/108/10
I'm a recent graduate of Columbia University. Gaming has been a passion of mine my entire life; I enjoy everything from RPGs and FPSs to stealth and narrative-driven games. I love the deeply immersive quality that good video games inherently possess, and am looking forward to highlighting games worthy of acclaim. When I'm not studying or reading, you can catch me playing games like Uncharted, Dishonored, The Witcher 3, and Far Cry.
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