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The worst thing about The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is its name, so we're off to a pretty positive start.

Square Enix's latest HD-2D jaunt is an action RPG, with its overall structure resembling classic The Legend of Zelda and Mana games.

In that sense, it feels like a bit of a throwback, despite having all of the modern conveniences you'd expect from a 2026 title. It's a charming combination of old and new.

It's also rather safe. Don't get me wrong, I don't have any issue with modern games paying their respects to old school inspirations, but The Adventures of Elliot does struggle — just a little bit — to establish its own clear identity.

Ultimately, it's a derivative experience — disappointingly so in places — but I will say, it was actually the narrative that kept me coming back.

That's because the plot, while initially stacked with cliche characters and motives, does branch into some interesting territory as it progresses. Its core cast really grew on me as the hours ticked away, and there are a few narrative twists that bring a surprising amount of spice to the main quest.

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You play as the titular Elliot — an already experienced adventurer who's happy to brave the monster-filled wilds in search of treasure.

In this world, mankind is basically on the brink. People hide behind a magical barrier that repels the violent beast-like tribes that inhabit the rest of the continent, and so explorers like Elliot are the lifeblood of human discovery.

The game's first couple of hours see Elliot take on a royal request, and naturally, the seemingly simple job quickly takes a turn. It's not long until the title's central concept of time travel is introduced.

Essentially, the whole adventure takes place over a single map, but you get to traverse said map across four different time periods.

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On a mechanical level, it works just as you might expect. Dungeons and other explorable locations change based on your position in history; some old, mostly inaccessible ruins in Elliot's present may be transformed into a technologically advanced labyrinth in the past, back before civilisation fell off a cliff.

The fast travel system actually covers time travel as well, so jumping between eras is a simple process — you just need to have unlocked the relevant fast travel points in the period that you're visiting.

Initially, this is a fairly linear affair. The story will guide you between specific points in time and take you through key locations, like towns and dungeons — but progression becomes more complex as you continue to unlock new weapons and magical abilities.

Some places can, of course, only be accessed through the use of these unlockables, and so backtracking begins to creep into the experience.

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For the most part, the backtracking isn't too bad, because certain obstacles are marked on your map — but there's still a lot to keep track of because everything's split between the four time periods. Jumping back and forth can become a little too tedious, especially towards the end of the game.

But the rewards are often worthwhile. Between weapon upgrades, gameplay-altering accessories, and simple health boosts, The Adventures of Elliot does a great job of stringing you along with a constant promise of meaningful progression.

Indeed, I think the game's pacing is generally fantastic, which makes the aforementioned backtracking stick out a little more than it should. The writing is largely characterful and succinct, while the world itself feels perfectly sized; I never grew tired of exploring, and there's always something to behold around every corner.

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The overall feel of gameplay is top notch, too. Responsive controls and fast-paced movement — and moment-to-moment combat — make actually playing The Adventures of Elliot a delight.

And speaking of combat, there's loads of it to go around. The overworld is practically swamped in creatures that need to be taken care of, and so it's easy to sink into the satisfying rhythm of battle.

Elliot's attacks have a lovely weight to them, and a rapidly expanding arsenal keeps combat feeling fresh. It also helps that there are plenty of unique enemy types to deal with, while creative boss fights remain a highlight throughout most of the game.

I say that because there are a number of reskins and repeats to cleave through. By the end of this 30-ish hour journey, you'll probably be a bit sick of seeing familiar foes — but it's not really a deal breaker due to the expansive, customisable nature of Elliot's arsenal.

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Mechanically, combat is simple but effective. Elliot can equip two different weapons at a time, but you can switch between his full repertoire via a radial menu that pauses the action. Again, there's a good amount of tactical diversity on display, particularly during our hero's later outings.

Elliot's also equipped with his trusty shield, which, outside of simply running away from an incoming attack, is your main form of defence. You can block just about anything, but tank too many hits and your bulwark will crumble, leaving Elliot completely vulnerable for a short time.

The action is undoubtedly at its best when you're being forced to make full use of your gear. There are some surprisingly tricky, and honestly, downright dastardly battles in the latter half of the game, where you'll really need to lock in with the right weapons and defensive timing.

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The combat system's a great example of what can be achieved with relatively simple mechanics if they're allowed to breathe across a range of diverse encounters. I didn't necessarily expect the action to be one of my favourite things about The Adventures of Elliot, but it really does click on a fundamentally gratifying level.

And of course, the whole thing looks great. While I do think the HD-2D style has grown slightly stale, this game pulls it off brilliantly thanks to detailed environments that are full of movement and colour.

Conclusion

The Adventures of Elliot isn't going to blow anyone's mind with its mix of classics-inspired exploration and combat design, but its overall quality in terms of gameplay feel and presentation is consistently impressive. It's often just a delight to play through.