Although Pure Nintendo received no press code for The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, we’re publishing a review all the same. The lengthy eShop demo impressed enough that a few staff members purchased a copy. So we’re especially positioned to address those wondering whether the game is worth $59.99.

The Millennium Tales come from the creators of Octopath Traveler and Bravely Default, so I invite you to read our PN reviews to get a sense of the team’s pedigree. However, instead of being a turn-based RPG, The Millennium Tales adopts an action RPG approach. I’ve heard it compared to top-down Zelda (high praise indeed), and I can definitely see it. This is an adventure for gamers who like their combat active.

You play as a young adventurer named Elliot, whose “thousand-year mission” has him doing more than mere treasure hunting. Centuries of distrust and outright conflict between humans and beast tribes are coming to a head, and Elliot finds himself at the center. What starts with saving the Kingdom of Huther soon expands to saving many dominions through the years, thanks to the Doorway of Time. Like numerous gamers (perhaps the lion’s share), that theme calls to mind Square’s 1995 Classic Chrono Trigger. The Millennium Tales is a melodramatic yarn in many ways, thanks to the engaging cast of characters you meet.

Many of the supporting players in this game have side quests connected to them. There are over 30 to complete, and I’d suggest prioritizing these, tackling them as soon as they become available. Seeing the message “This quest cannot be completed” is a real gut punch, though The Millennium Tales will sometimes warn you when an unfinishable state nears. Don’t worry, besides augmenting the plot, you’ll usually get some key rewards for successfully helping all those in need. Empty glass bottles, I mean vials, will prove notably helpful.

And you’ll want all the help you can get, especially if playing on one of the greater difficulties. Overworld enemies will chase you, and dungeon enemies will put up a fight. Some great boss battles can really test your mettle if you aren’t properly equipped. Thankfully, Elliot gets access to a vast array of weapons that will gradually increase in strength (more on this in a bit). While we found our favorites, some proved especially useful in specific situations. So don’t hesitate to experiment.

Notice how I said, “we”? I don’t mean the PN staff. Yes, my wife and I were able to enjoy The Millennium Tales in co-op. One player controls Elliot, while the other controls his fairy companion, Faie. This is such a great addition, both fun and practical. That said, if you find yourself wanting to continue, you’ll need to reestablish the co-op setup, even if you’re already playing that way. There’s an oversight I’d like to see updated sooner rather than later. Still, Zelda, take note, cooperative action-adventure games are such fun. If Tri-Force Heroes ever comes to Switch 2, give Elliot a cameo.

We found ourselves much less excited about Faie as a character, and I genuinely wonder how much thought the dev team put into her personality. Her voice is an… acquired taste, to be sure, especially when she’s yelling during battles. Apart from these points, she tends to state the most painfully obvious things. We often laughed, but they were laughs of annoyance. And hearing her say “We have more important places than here to be right now!” gave me flashbacks of Navi interruptions – “Hey, listen!”-  from Ocarina of Time, not a memory one wants to evoke.

At least Faie has many cool Zelda-like abilities such as Ignite (Fire Rod), Sprint (Pegasus Boots), Vacuum (Gust Jar/Bellows), and more. And these can be powered up by specifically completing challenges (think shrines from Breath of the Wild). Still, if this game is successful enough to warrant a sequel, I hope the devs give this poor fairy more of their time. With some revised voice direction and a bit of editing, Faie could be more than tolerable. Or, just give me a thaumata companion instead, the strong, silent type. 

Speaking of, thaumata are like robots, friends or foes depending on where you are in time and plot progression. These creations serve as something of poster figures for The Millennium Tales’ “magitech” approach. While frequent references to technology are made, it’s always explained as magic. Don’t play the drinking game where “magic” is the trigger word alongside this, or you might lose your Switch 2 in a drunken fall, not to mention your liver.  I wish The Millennium Tales had included a far-future period, breaking away from the medieval setting and into sci-fi technology. Perhaps a sequel can embrace the theme more fully.

Going back to Elliot’s weapon array, you’re not just swinging a sword. Plenty of secondary weapons are available, like boomerangs, bombs, bows, and more (I swear they don’t all start with the letter b). These are strengthened via scattered “magicite”, energy-absorbing rocks that were researched and turned into technological tools. It’s an entertaining loop of collecting, redeeming, and selecting which you want to use within the cost restrictions. You can tailor these to your preferences, mixing and matching different blends—or ‘Leave it to Faie’ if you can’t be bothered. 

Practicing with each weapon in the overworld, I was again reminded of top-down Zelda, where you can’t take more than a few steps without finding something of interest. Everything feels carefully designed, and as you unlock more of the map (not to mention the map through different time periods), you’ll find yourself with a lot of ground (above and below) to traverse. Some areas don’t differ much through the centuries, though. So, don’t be shocked if, even late into the game, you encounter a cave you swear you’ve been in, but the map appears blank, and a treasure chest and a cat are still inside. Wait, a cat? Yes, felines are everywhere in the Millennium Tales. How come? I’ll leave you to discover this for yourself.

In general, that’s what you’ll be doing with the story…discovering. Maybe the plot will get fleshed out by finding travelers’ notes in a dungeon. Maybe you’ll establish the true threats by conversing (and reconversing) with characters through the ages. Maybe you’ll even unearth things about yourself. The story can be a bit confusing, right up to the very end, as you try to establish who and what are connected. Heck, some may very well “beat” the game with hours and hours of content remaining. Even we couldn’t shake the feeling that while the storyline was moving, it wasn’t always in a coherent way.

Of course, part of that could stem from moments when The Millennium Tales seems to forget it’s a game about time, and not a medieval soap opera. I don’t dare spoil anything, but it frustrated us as players to see disaster brewing that could be stopped with a simple word from Elliot, yet he stayed silent until it was too late. Storytelling and worldbuilding are not easy, but this game has some real inconsistencies. How much this impacts you may depend on how pragmatic you can be.

As far as presentation goes, The Millennium Tales is well above reproach. As someone relatively new to HD-2D, I found the visuals enthralling. Still screenshots alone impress, but seeing the game’s animation in motion had me stopping to stare at points. Whether I was appreciating the sheer detail or soaking in the eye candy during a cutscene, this game has me looking into other titles that employ the same style. Even the character artwork is hugely impressive. Elliot looks downright dapper, while others convey emotions just through their eyes. Skill and talent are on display.

Audiowise, (apart from Faie and certain other character vocals), the game succeeds admirably. The key players are all brilliantly voiced, and the music, whether peaceful, intense, or whatever the mood calls for, works oh so well. It appropriately hits all the right notes and never distracts. Plus, there are tunes aplenty in The Millennium Tales, many that soon had me whistling along. I’ve too many favorite tracks to list, and not enough room to do so. I’m unfamiliar with the game’s composers, but now I want to hear more from them. 

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is an action RPG with some narrative unevenness. But when it comes to gameplay, it’s a huge success. There’s not just plenty of content (above and below the ground); there’s plenty to appreciate. This is one HD-2D adventure that’s worth a long look, especially for top-down Zelda fans. Here’s hoping for a sequel that takes its time travel into the far future, preferably with a new companion alongside Elliot.