Recent reviews by AWoj

I vehemently recommend this game to any fan of the roguelite deckbuilder genre and/or the JRPG genre. This game is a lovely recombination of both game styles, pulling the best parts from both, and in this union forming an enjoyable and absolutely engrossing experience, with an engaging story that rivals many other games I've played as of recent, much less for a roguelite. Please PLEASE, if you have not played this game as of yet, and if the sound of this concept is even tangentially interesting to you, stop reading here, pick up the game, and give it a fair shake, as playing through this game blindly is the only way to enjoy it to its full extent. Beware, the rest of this review has some more specific content, that may spoil that "natural" experience.

*SPOILERS/GAME CONTENT AHEAD*

To divulge more specifically, Chrono Ark takes the looping "run-based" game play of a roguelite, turns this gameplay loop into a plot device, and just when it has you thinking "That is so contrived, been there done that", it kicks you to the curb and leaves you in the cold, leaving you wanting more, just so you can pick yourself back up and re-enter the fold. Just when you feel you are getting good at the game, just when you begin to connect some dots and draw the lines, the game undergoes a metamorphosis, and you have new things to learn, new things to earn, secrets to discover, and new things to do. These facts on their own grant an immense amount of pull for the player, keeping them engaged, as any good roguelite should.

The combat system of Chrono Ark is deceptively simple. Each action takes time, which in consequence causes time to pass leading to the eventual action of enemy units, until the end of a turn, a la your typical RPG turn timer. This exchange is complicated when considering other mechanics, such as Standby, Exchanging, Card modifiers like Swiftness or Countdown, Debuffs and Buffs that can be reversed into their analogs given combos, Consumables and Equipment, and many more factors I didn't mention. The combat system requires that you stay on your toes, keep all factors in mind, and react accordingly. This system makes boss fights feel impossible at first, and your frustration will certainly rise, however once you become proficient in it's systems, the bosses feel like less of an impossibility, but rather a challenge that is in your hands to prevail over, or to be dethroned and sent back to the Ark. Your frustration at the game/bosses is quickly turned on yourself, tempering your patience, as well as your abilities.

Thankfully, focus is not inherently a problem, considering the game's visuals and sound/music are likewise exceptional. The game is clearly very anime derived, but it oozes with its own style and charm, while the score ranges from mysterious and mystical, to tense and emotional. The game is a charm to play, and to look at, with plenty of cute, real, and heart wrenching moments for all characters involved in the story. The navigation around each stage grants a brief lull period, in which you can take stock of abilities and items, evaluate your next move, enjoy the music and cute art, and to clear your head before it becomes muddled by the next challenge.

The party members all have distinct roles, even beyond their given class of DPS, Support, or Tank. For a rudimentary example, Hein is a high risk high reward, glass cannon DPS who does self damage in exchange for dealing large sums of damage. This is strongly contrasted with other DPS investigators, like Charon, a debuff-based dark mage who part-times as a second chain support for the party. Alongside this, some party members' distinct roles will synergize, allowing each character to truly come into their own. Each party member has their own personality, with each making their own quips, battlecries, and having their own friendship events that allow a brief peek into their personal lives and/or psyches.

The story is phenomenal, though it may feel long-winded for those who simply seek a drop-in drop-out experience likewise to what you may find in other roguelites. I dare not reveal any of the contents of the plot itself, but I went from feeling rad as hell, to being brought nearly to tears, to feeling extremely angry throughout the story, and needless to say, considering the type of game I was playing, it was both surprising and a breath of fresh air. Great, and often real writing, great characterization, and many of twists and turns make Chrono Ark's narrative equally enjoyable to its gameplay.

Notably, the game is not without minor flaws. Some dialogue is kitschy or a bit simple/derivative, but it fits well into place with your typical JRPG dialogue. The game does have some minor visual, audio, and text quirks, such as incomplete descriptions or the occasional audio desync, but it is never something so large that the player is pulled out of the experience. The game could certainly benefit from a combat/damage log, as it can be very easy to get confused by damage you didn't see coming if you aren't fully perceptive, though this is more of a preferential issue on my part. And also.... I just want more! Characters, stories, items, enemies... Though again, this is purely personal desire, and not a tangible issue.

Chrono Ark is certainly a gem in the middle of the heavily over-saturated roguelite market, and it should not be overlooked. It pulls the player in with its gameplay and art, and then locks them to their chair with its deep systems and narrative. Play Chrono Ark, I promise you won't regret giving it a try.