Chronos: Before The Ashes
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Critics Recommend
Chronos: Before The Ashes Trailers
Chronos: Before the Ashes - Explanation Trailer
Chronos: Before the Ashes - Announcement Trailer | PS4
Critic Reviews for Chronos: Before The Ashes
Whether fans of Remnant: From the Ashes will see it as a comfort or disappointment depends entirely on their personal investment in the 2019 game's lore, but Chronos: Before the Ashes is in no way an essential addition to those already familiar with Gunfire's sci-fi/fantastical premise and one whose own dispensable tale will barely feel relevant.
Chronos: Before the Ashes is an enjoyable Soulslike that doesn't feel as unforgiving as most other games in the genre
A modest souls-like that doesn't excel at anything you've seen before in this kind of game, but with some unique ideas that work really well within the formula.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Even without the original's VR elements, Chronos: Before the Ashes' compelling and somewhat challenging combat is still its main draw, in which you have to attack, dodge and parry your way, with refined precision, towards victory. Its aging system also adds an interesting twist to combat, imbuing your battles with a sense of prudence. That said, it doesn't offer anything new to the genre. Just watch out for its clumsy camera angles and you'll do fine.
Chronos: Before the Ashes is a minimalist, imperfect title with a basic spartan aesthetic and a slow pace. Despite this, it is able to give back a vivid sense of discovery and each new ravine or weapon, or power gives us another reason not to detach ourselves from it. The same scenic installation, initially disappointing, fits perfectly with the world hovering between enchantment and technology. A longevity not exactly excellent for the genre and the budget nature that emerges in almost every context of the production, the wings of Gunfire Games, which makes flight worthy of note, but does not go too far.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Despite being the second go-round for Chronos, Before the Ashes does feel like a decent take on the popular From Software Souls formula. It's stripped-down design, while somewhat rewarding, does tend to leave a bit to be desired in the depth department. And though it may have been a welcome sight in the barren VR landscape of four years ago, trying to simply re-release the same experience without progressing the gameplay any further ends up leaving quite a bit to be desired. Unless you are extremely invested in learning more about the back story of the Remnant universe, you'd probably be better off dodging this skirmish entirely.
Chronos: Before The Ashes brings to the Souls formula some interesting ideas that, if further explored, could expand on a beloved formula quite nicely. However, in its present form, these ideas contradict themselves, creating more of a red herring than a legitimate risk-reward system. Regardless, the game is fun to play, but the narrative and initially appealing age mechanic don't reach the end of the game with the same intensity.
