Eiyuden Chronicle Rising

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is a 2.5D side-scrolling action RPG for PC that combines fast character-based combat, ancient-ruin exploration, light RPG progression, and town reconstruction. Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG currently continue to list the game under this exact name; no verified PC rebrand, replacement edition, or renamed storefront version has superseded it.

Developed by NatsumeAtari and published by 505 Games, Rising is a companion prequel to Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. It takes place in the world of Allraan, where an earthquake exposes the Runebarrows beneath the frontier settlement of New Neveah.

Action RPG Combat In A Side-Scrolling World

The core loop alternates between accepting tasks in New Neveah, entering dangerous field areas, gathering materials, fighting monsters, and returning to town to unlock new services. It is not a traditional turn-based JRPG. Battles happen directly in the side-scrolling environments, with movement, attack timing, positioning, and character switching carrying most of the action.

You begin with CJ, an energetic scavenger searching for lenses and treasure in the Runebarrows. Her fast melee attacks make her effective against mobile enemies and exposed targets. As the story advances, Garoo and Isha join the playable group, giving the combat system three distinct attack styles.

Each hero is assigned to a controller button, allowing you to switch characters instantly during combat. CJ specializes in rapid close-range strikes, Garoo uses a large weapon for heavier attacks, and Isha contributes magic-based ranged pressure along with movement options that help her reach otherwise difficult areas.

The most important combat technique is the link attack. Pressing the next character button at the right moment chains attacks together and produces a stronger follow-up strike. The mechanic is simple to understand, but its timing gives routine encounters more structure than basic button mashing.

Rising's perspective remains firmly side-on, with layered 3D environments presented in a 2.5D style. The visual design mixes colorful character models, illustrated dialogue scenes, and fantasy locations such as the Great Forest, the Quarry, and the Runebarrows.

Exploration, Upgrades, And Town Reconstruction

Exploration is built around revisiting connected areas after gaining new equipment or movement abilities. Some paths remain inaccessible until you improve a weapon, upgrade gathering tools, or obtain a capability associated with one of the three heroes.

Resources collected outside town feed directly into the town-upgrading system. Materials, quest rewards, and baqua can be used to improve shops, expand services, and make better equipment available. New Neveah is not just a menu hub; its visible development is the main progression structure tying the adventure together.

Many quests begin with a resident asking for help, an adventurer causing trouble, or a shop requiring supplies. Completing these tasks can open new facilities, increase the town's commercial activity, and provide access to stronger weapons, armor, accessories, potions, and gathering tools.

The result is a loop of explore, gather, rebuild, and return. Players who prefer a compact adventure with steady upgrades will find the structure easy to follow. Players expecting a large, open-ended world or a highly flexible character-building system may find the progression more restrained.

The town-building focus also gives Rising a different rhythm from combat-heavy Metroidvanias. It spends considerable time on errands and conversations between expeditions, while the dungeons provide the sharper action sections. Players who enjoy a stronger emphasis on nonlinear combat exploration can compare its side-scrolling structure with dark fantasy Metroidvania adventures such as Blasphemous 2, although Rising is less punishing and more quest-driven.

Story Context And Named Characters

The story starts after an earthquake reveals the Runebarrows near New Neveah. Treasure hunters, merchants, and locals arrive with conflicting interests, while the town struggles to recover and take advantage of the newly exposed ruins.

CJ's treasure hunt gradually intersects with Isha's responsibilities in New Neveah and Garoo's personal motives. The trio's relationship develops through conversations, joint expeditions, and the practical need to combine their abilities during combat.

Rising introduces part of the wider Eiyuden Chronicle cast and plants narrative links to Hundred Heroes, but it remains a self-contained action RPG rather than a required opening chapter for the larger game. You can follow the local conflict and the Runebarrows mystery without already knowing the franchise.

The game also contains crossover benefits connected to Hundred Heroes. These links are relevant to players following the wider series, but they do not change Rising's basic structure as a single-player adventure focused on CJ, Isha, Garoo, and New Neveah.

Content Model And What Is Included

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is sold as a standalone premium game rather than a free-to-play title. The base package contains its main story, the New Neveah reconstruction loop, the Runebarrows expedition areas, character progression, side quests, achievements, and the complete single-player campaign.

The current Steam downloadable-content page lists no separate DLC items for Rising. Storefront bundles may package the game with Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, but that is a bundle arrangement rather than a renamed edition or an expansion of Rising itself.

Its content model is therefore straightforward: buy the standalone action RPG, complete the central story, improve the town, revisit areas for materials and quests, and pursue achievements or unfinished upgrades if you want a more thorough run.

Who Should Play Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising?

Rising fits players who want a shorter, focused fantasy action RPG with clear objectives and frequent progression rewards. It is especially suitable for fans of side-scrolling combat, light Metroidvania exploration, colorful JRPG characters, and town-management systems that remain integrated with the adventure.

It also works well as an introduction to the Eiyuden setting. The game explains its immediate conflict without requiring knowledge of Suikoden, Hundred Heroes, or the wider lore surrounding Allraan.

However, this is not the right choice for players seeking a deep turn-based battle system, party formation across dozens of heroes, extensive build experimentation, or multiplayer. The campaign is structured around a small core cast and a repeated quest cycle rather than a huge strategic RPG sandbox.

Players who dislike backtracking or repeated trips between town and dungeon should also know what they are buying. The reconstruction system is the point of the game, not a side feature, so errands and material gathering remain central throughout the adventure.

PC Features, Controllers, And Storefront Differences

The PC version is available through Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG. Steam lists full controller support, Steam achievements, Family Sharing, and Steam Deck Verified compatibility. Epic Games Store lists controller support, cloud saves, single-player functionality, and achievements.

GOG lists controller support, cloud saves, achievements, and an optional overlay. Its most important distinction is DRM-free offline play: GOG states that Galaxy is not required and that the game can be installed through an offline installer.

The storefront language listings identify text and interface support for English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. Latin American Spanish is listed for subtitles on Steam, while full voice audio is not listed for these localizations.

For PC players, the clearest hardware-oriented feature is controller compatibility rather than specialized monitor or mod support. The game is designed around direct character-button switching, so a gamepad provides a natural match for its combat layout. No verified official mod platform, dedicated-server mode, co-op mode, or competitive anti-cheat layer is advertised on the current storefront pages.

Similar Games On PC

Rising occupies an unusual space between a conventional JRPG and a light Metroidvania. Its closest comparisons depend on which part of the experience interests you most.

• Sea of Stars is a stronger match for players interested in colorful modern retro RPG presentation, character-driven storytelling, and exploration between towns and combat areas. Its battles are turn-based rather than real-time, making it a thematic comparison rather than a direct combat equivalent.
• Blasphemous 2 is a better fit for players seeking tougher side-scrolling action, interconnected areas, weapon variety, and boss-focused progression. Rising is more forgiving and places much more emphasis on rebuilding a community.
• Hollow Knight appeals to players who want deeper nonlinear exploration and more demanding pattern-based combat. Rising offers a clearer quest structure and a stronger town-development loop instead of Hollow Knight's solitary discovery model.

For a retro-styled RPG with a heavier emphasis on timing-based battles and exploration between settlements, modern 2D adventures such as Sea of Stars provide a useful comparison, even though their combat systems are fundamentally different.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising FAQ

Is Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising still the current PC name?

Yes. Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG currently list the PC game as Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising. No verified rebrand or replacement PC edition has taken over the storefront listing.

Is Rising the same game as Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes?

No. Rising is a standalone 2.5D action RPG and companion prequel. Hundred Heroes is the larger turn-based RPG set in the same world, with a different combat system and broader party structure.

Does Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising have co-op or multiplayer?

No. The current PC storefront listings identify Rising as a single-player game. There is no advertised online co-op, local co-op, split-screen mode, or competitive multiplayer.

Does the PC version support controllers?

Yes. Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG list controller support, while Steam specifically identifies full controller support and Steam Deck Verified compatibility.

Is Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising free to play?

No. It is sold as a standalone premium base game. Storefront bundles can combine it with Hundred Heroes, but Rising itself is not a free-to-play service game.

Does Rising have DLC?

The current Steam DLC page shows no separate downloadable-content items for Rising. The main purchasable content is the standalone game, with optional franchise bundles pairing it with Hundred Heroes.

What is the real progression loop?

You accept quests in New Neveah, explore the Runebarrows and surrounding areas, fight enemies, gather materials, improve weapons and tools, and use rewards to expand town facilities. The long-term goal is mastery of the three-character combat system alongside the reconstruction of New Neveah.