The Adventures of Elliot: the evolution of HD-2D in an action-adventure game

Square Enix has once again brought its retro-inspired HD-2D art style to the forefront, this time in the action-adventure game The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales. While HD-2D has previously been used mainly for traditional RPGs such as the Octopath Traveler series and the Live A Live remake, the style has now evolved to offer a fresh approach to an entirely different genre.

What is HD-2D?

HD-2D is an artistic style that pays tribute to the classic role-playing games of the Super NES era. It blends retro elements with modern graphics, creating a polished look without losing its nostalgic charm. HD-2D has already proven its worth in RPGs, but with The Adventures of Elliot, Square Enix is showing that the style can also work well within an action-adventure framework.

Gameplay and demo

A roughly two-hour demo of The Adventures of Elliot shows players about 3-4 hours into the game as they take on a major quest for a magical shield. During this section, the freedom to roam an open world spanning two different eras was a major highlight.

The demo also included notable improvements over an earlier public demo released in July. These upgrades include faster movement speed, a quick-select weapon menu, and a range of difficulty settings, with the demo’s default set to Easy.

Combat and exploration

The combat in The Adventures of Elliot shows plenty of promise and variety. Players can choose from seven different weapon types, ranging from permanent weapons like swords and hammers to consumable options like bows and bombs. The ability to combine multiple weapons adds both strategic depth and accessibility.

Combat is further refined by the introduction of Magicite, which grants players passive buffs or special abilities depending on the weapons they use. Magicite can be purchased in shops, but its effects are random, adding another layer of strategy to the gameplay.

Issues and improvements

Despite its strengths, there are a few details that could still be improved. The presence of a particularly chatty companion, the fairy Faie, was seen by some players as distracting. Faie’s dialogue is often over the top and can lessen the emotional impact of certain moments. However, there is a menu option that lets players make Faie less intrusive.

Even so, the game’s narrative setup has the potential to deliver a compelling emotional experience, thanks to its focus on four different eras and the way the world evolves across them.

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales offers a fresh look at the potential of HD-2D in the action-adventure genre. The game shows that these styles are not just about nostalgia, but can also support inventive gameplay and storytelling.