Gaming

So, I played 3 hours of Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising

Fun, side-scrolling action

Published

April 4, 2022

Over the past few weeks, I have been getting my ass handed to me by Sifu and Ghostrunner. I needed a break from all the frustration so when 505 Games offered a preview of Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising, I happily obliged.

What is Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising

It’s a side-scrolling action RPG with an art style that’s reminiscent of JRPGs from another lifetime. The game is set in the same world as Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. If that’s unfamiliar to you, then… same. I came into this completely blind.

505 Games says while this is a companion game, it still offers a rich and exciting glimpse into the world of Eiyuden. I certainly didn’t feel like I was jumping into something where I need a whole lot of context. The opening section teaches you a lot both in the game’s world and the game mechanics.

Here’s a brief synopsis:

The story of Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising takes place on the continent of Allraan in a small mining town called New Neveah. From there you begin the journey of the Eiyuden Chronicle to overturn and combat the evil Galdean Empire that casts a pall over the entire world. Rally companions to your side, equip and upgrade them, take a stand and defeat evil.

How it plays

Although it’s only a preview, I feel like I already got a good grasp of the game. It’s a classic RPG in the sense that you get into a town and cross off a few tasks. They play like side quests but are tied into the story and help introduce you to several mechanics of the game.

The movements are mostly left to right and vice versa. Certain parts of the screen lead to other areas but the movement remains mostly 2D and sideways.

Characters

This extends to combat. Initially, you only control CJ. She is quick, uses a sickle, and is the primary protagonist. Within the first few hours, you will be joined by Garoo. A talking Kangaroo who wields a big sword. He offers more powerful melee attacks. The third playable character is Isha. While you interact with her in the beginning, she doesn’t join your party right away.

Combat

There are buttons that trigger each character’s attack. To perform multiple attacks with the same character, simply hit that character’s assigned button multiple times. But as soon as Garoo joins the party, you’ll be introduced to party combos that offer more damage. It works by simply properly timing the attacks between characters.

The characters also have special moves. There’s only one button for the special move. Whoever character is active will perform the special move.

Enemies are mostly easy to deal with. They come in different shapes and sizes to give enough variety. There are both ground and flying types. There are also big sword wielders as well as those that throw projectiles.

The bosses, there are two in the preview, are also fun to play against. It was refreshing to see what you can do in a side-scrolling action RPG.

Charming and for everyone

My first thought after playing for a few hours is that Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is the type of game every gamer should tangle with at least once in their lifetime. It feels like a modern throwback, if that makes sense.

It has the look and charm of 90s RPGs while trimming the unnecessary stuff and making the experience flow more smoothly. If you’re a gamer parent and want to introduce your child to the wonderful world of gaming, I think this is a great place to start.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is charming. It’s easy to pick-up and play and is a nice break from more challenging and frustrating games. I’m looking forward to playing more of it.

Update as of April 13

Full game is coming out on May 11. It will be available on PlayStation 4|5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam, Epic and GOG for US$ 14.99/€ 14.99/ £ 12.99

Gaming

Project Helix is Xbox’s next console, and it plays PC games

It might be as powerful as a modern PC.

Published

March 6, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Among all the platforms in today’s generation of consoles, the Xbox has to be biggest loser. Compared to the PlayStation 5 and the Switch 2, the Xbox Series X|S isn’t as memorable. To rectify its position in the rankings, Xbox is heavily teasing its next console codenamed Project Helix.

As was hinted before, Xbox is trying something different with its next-generation console. Rather than just a simple iteration over the current-generation console, the upcoming one will reportedly double as a PC. Today, the company itself has confirmed that this is the case for Project Helix.

Through a post on X, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said that the console will “lead in performance and play your Xbox and PC games.”

Great start to the morning with Team Xbox, where we talked about our commitment to the return of Xbox including Project Helix, the code name for our next generation console.

Project Helix will lead in performance and play your Xbox and PC games. Looking forward to chatting about… pic.twitter.com/Xx5rpVnAZI

— Asha (@asha_shar) March 5, 2026

There are two things to unpack here. Firstly, Project Helix will aim to bridge the perilous divide between console players and PC players. Unlike the past, there will be a way to play both platforms on both devices… except for games exclusive to the PlayStation and the Switch, that is.

Secondly, a “lead in performance” seems to indicate that this isn’t just a mini-PC. Most recently, Valve announced the Steam Machine. Though it offers a convenient way to play Steam games in one device, it doesn’t have the best specs. Project Helix, if Sharma’s words are to be believed, might be as powerful as a modern PC.

Xbox won’t wait long before revealing more details about the console. Sharma, who only recently started her post as CEO, will be at next week’s Game Developers Conference to explain Project Helix more.

Gaming

Ubisoft confirms Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag remake

It’s officially called Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced.

Published

March 5, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

If you ask an Assassin’s Creed fan what their favorite game of the series is, Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag will likely be one of the top contenders. Because of its reputation, gamers are constantly asking for a remake of the popular pirate simulator. Now, the dream is finally here. Ubisoft has confirmed that a remake, called Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced, is coming.

Released in 2013, Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag saw the journey of Edward Kenway, a vagabond pirate haplessly thrust into life as part of the Assassin Brotherhood against his will. The critically acclaimed game was something that all gamers have been clamoring for since Sid Meier’s Pirates: a true pirate simulator. It was no surprise that the game got as popular as it did.

Today, through an official roadmap shared by the company, Ubisoft has confirmed that Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced is real, and it might launch later this year. The company also released the first concept art for the remake.

Currently, there’s no official word as to how Ubisoft is remaking the game. At the very least, we can expect significant graphical upgrades to put it up to par with the modern games. We wouldn’t be opposed to more stories and missions too.

Now, though the Black Flag remake is already a big deal, the same roadmap also emphasizes that Codename Hexe, the next mainline title, is still coming. Ubisoft hasn’t confirmed the actual timeline yet, but the game will depict “a pivotal moment in history.” With post-launch development for the ongoing Shadows winding down, efforts to launch Codename Hexe should be ramping up soon.

Gaming

PlayStation will stop releasing its games on PC

A new reports suggests that Sony is going back to console exclusives.

Published

March 5, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

PC-only gamers have been eating well for the past few years. The formerly exclusive PlayStation library opened its gates and released worthy ports for PC. Unfortunately, Sony is putting an end to this short-lived era of openness to PC gamers. According to a new report, the company is once again making first-party PlayStation games exclusive to the console.

During the pandemic, Sony started releasing its critically acclaimed first-party games on PC. The new wave saw gamers get the ability to play titles such as Horizon Zero Dawn, The Last of Us, Marvel’s Spider-Man, and God of War on another platform. Even now, players are still eagerly awaiting the PC launch of Death Stranding 2, due out later this year.

However, as reported by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, Sony has just had a change of heart and will no longer release any more games on the PC, beyond those already confirmed for future launches.

This will mean that last year’s Ghost of Yotei and the upcoming Saros will remain PlayStation exclusives for the foreseeable future.

It’s a big change to Sony’s direction. However, it’s not without its precedents. For one, Microsoft has started to compete in the non-exclusive market. The company is already set to launch Fable and Forza Horizon 6 on other platforms, including PC and PlayStation, concurrently with the Xbox launch. To compare, PlayStation still waits a long time before launching exclusive games on PC.

Also, now that rumors have begun to speak of a fabled PlayStation 6, Sony might want to keep things close to its chest for now. After all, selling the console might be its top priority for now.