Elrentaros Wanderings, developed by HAKAMA and published by Bushiroad, is an action RPG that aims to blend the everyday with the fantastical, offering a dual-life experience where reality and fantasy collide. The rather interesting premise and the game’s charming world-building set it apart from the crowd, but the game is not without its flaws, which can affect the overall experience for players. We checked it out on the Nintendo Switch.
The narrative of Elrentaros Wanderings begins with your protagonist – who can be either male or female – arriving in the remote town of Elrentaros. The town is filled with quirky residents, each with their own backstories and problems. As you assist them with these challenges, the game gradually unfolds into a tale that shifts between the fantasy world of Elrentaros and a mysterious, alternative world. This dual-world concept is intriguing and adds depth to the story, but the execution can feel a bit uneven. The narrative’s pacing sometimes lags, especially during the more mundane tasks you’ll receive, making it easy to lose engagement before the more dramatic and interesting story beats kick in. It’s a slow starter for sure, and not everyone will be patient enough for it.
The gameplay in Elrentaros Wanderings combines action-oriented dungeon crawling with town-building and relationship mechanics. Combat is straightforward and relies heavily on the “Alliance” system, where building relationships with townsfolk unlocks special abilities that can turn the tide in battles. The dungeons themselves offer a decent challenge, particularly at higher levels, where better loot awaits. However, the combat can feel repetitive over time, as the variety in enemy types and attack strategies is somewhat limited. The town-building aspect, while enjoyable, also suffers from a lack of depth, which may leave players wanting more complexity in their progression systems.
Visually, Elrentaros Wanderings does a good job of creating a charming, if somewhat simple, world. The character designs are colorful and expressive, and the environments, while not graphically impressive, are filled with personality. The game’s art style strikes a balance between modern RPG aesthetics and nostalgic elements, which should appeal to a broad range of players. However, the visual appeal is somewhat marred by occasional frame rate drops and graphical glitches, particularly during more intense combat sequences or when transitioning between the two worlds – this felt unexpected because it doesn’t seem like a game that pushes the modest Switch to its limits.
The audio design in Elrentaros Wanderings complements its visuals with a soothing and pleasant soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere of both the town and the dungeons. The music changes appropriately with the tone of the game, whether you’re engaging in a tough boss battle or relaxing in town. Voice acting is solid, though the dialogue can sometimes be a bit formulaic or overly simplistic, which might detract from the overall immersion for some players.
Control-wise, the game functions well on the Switch, with responsive inputs that make navigating the world and battling enemies straightforward. The menu system is easy to use, although it can feel a bit cluttered at times due to the numerous features tied to town-building and relationship management. The ability to customize your protagonist with different weapons, armor, and alliances adds a layer of strategy, though the aforementioned repetitiveness in gameplay doesn’t help.
Overall, Elrentaros Wanderings is a game with plenty of charm and interesting ideas, but it struggles with execution in certain areas. The dual-world narrative is compelling, and the blend of town-building and dungeon crawling provides a satisfying loop, especially for those who enjoy RPGs with social elements. However, the repetitiveness of the combat, lack of depth in some mechanics, and occasional technical issues may limit its appeal to a broader audience. If you’re a fan of action RPGs and enjoy games that mix relationship-building with combat, Elrentaros Wanderings is worth exploring, but be prepared for some uneven moments along the way.
Score: 6.6/10
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