Let’s tackle the obvious similarity upfront: The Adventures of Elliot bears strong resemblance to The Legend of Zelda, particularly in its title format and gameplay mechanics. With Square Enix’s unique HD-2D art style, Elliot battles enemies and solves puzzles using sword strikes, bombs, and arrows, much like Link. He also has a lesser-known fairy companion, which empowers him with special abilities – similar to Zelda’s Pegasus Boots. In addition, the trailer teases a chain weapon that draws objects towards you.
Absolutely, there’s no denying the similarities drawn to The Legend of Zelda, but it appears they’ve intentionally crafted distinct experiences. In reality, though, they play quite differently. Unlike Zelda, where puzzle-solving takes center stage over combat, Elliot leans more towards action, particularly in its initial stages.
From the get-go, Elliot is agile, effortlessly jumping over obstacles and enemies while swiftly wielding his sword to take down foes. Your shield, too, is nimble, allowing you to quickly raise it when an enemy attacks, leaving them momentarily stunned for further attack. Overall, it’s a more action-packed adventure compared to Zelda’s more puzzle-oriented journey.
Navigating Elliot’s forests, caves, ruins, and mountainous landscapes offers a swift and agile experience. You’re exploring terrain reminiscent of JRPG dungeons and complex corridors, but thanks to the quickness of a sword strike, you can effortlessly glide through while gathering items and coins along the way. This pace is significantly faster than many JRPGs with similar level designs, and even beats how Link moves in any 2D game, particularly at the beginning.
The game also includes trials reminiscent of shrines, ranging from swift combats to intricate platforming tasks, among others. Fortunately, the compensation for finishing these isn’t overly tedious: you gain increased health instead of accumulating currency in one instance, or receive a precious item for your inventory in another. These trials are brief and the rewards seem more valuable than those offered by similar games that mimic shrines, making them crucial checkpoints on your journey to the primary goal.
The HD-2D artwork stands out much more when viewed in person compared to what you see in online trailers. Upon a closer look, you can discern intricate, almost pixel-like textured patterns on every surface and building, and at higher resolutions, the colors are vivid. When displayed on the Nintendo Switch 2’s 4K screen, the detailed artwork looks stunning, encompassing both textures and character designs.
In my opinion, while the English voice acting in the Debut Demo isn’t mind-blowing (as I’ve only heard a snippet from the demo and the trailer), it leaves me pondering if the game’s puzzles will evolve to be more engaging, or if the focus is mainly on action. If it’s the latter, then I’m optimistic that the unlockable weapons will significantly enhance the battle dynamics.
The initial impressions of The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Debut Demo are highly promising, leaving me excited to find out if Square Enix will deliver a truly exceptional game. However, it’s important to note that this demo is just one of several Square Enix games presented during Nintendo’s July 2025 Partner Direct. Not all can receive the same level of attention or acclaim.
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2025-08-01 17:31