Chronos: Before the Ashes Review
Release Date: December 1, 2020
Publisher/Developer: THQ Nordic/Gunfire Games
Platform: PlayStation 4 (reviewed), Xbox One, PC, Stadia, Nintendo Switch
Price: $29.99
Originally an Oculus Rift exclusive, Chronos is the prequel to Remnant: From the Ashes. This “Before the Ashes” edition removes the special VR camera mode, returning it to a traditional third person behind-the-back adventure, and allows the game to be played by fans of the original who aren’t Oculus owners.
As a launch game for the Oculus, players controlled a customizable protagonist who quests to destroy the evil within a mysterious labyrinth and save their village. Our protagonist was, quite literally, born to do this, as defending their home and destroying evil is their lifelong goal. Every time you die in the labyrinth, your character ages one year. This interesting mechanic means you may excel in strength, agility, and physical combat in your early years, but must rely on wisdom and magical abilities as you get older. The game literally adjusts what is easier to level up as your deaths mount up and your character becomes older, forcing you to adjust to your aging body and what it isn’t capable of doing anymore. On the Oculus, the game’s camera was set up similar to Resident Evil with a VR twist. Much like the lauded Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, Chronos placed the VR viewpoint in a static point in the room, and you were able to move your head about, peeking around and even in the room. In Before the Ashes, the camera is fixed behind the hero and moves more traditionally.
As a launch title for Oculus, Chronos pigeonholed itself into a small subset of gamers to the point that most articles I see about Before the Ashes are calling it a “prequel” as if it’s actively being concieved and created now, when it was in fact out before Remnant. Therefore, whilst you get more lore for Remnant, you are getting an older game. It also mixes up the formula, focusing on physical combat and spells rather than firearms. The opening area will seem very familiar to those who have played the sequel, as it allegedly starts up shortly after Chronos ends.
I have admittedly not played Chronos’ original form on the Oculus, but have been watching reviews and playthroughs from back then. The camera angle change takes away some of what made Chronos unique. As I walk through the levels, I regularly find dark corners or walls of ruined buildings open to the sky that I can see were where the camera was in the original release. It isn’t bad per se, just that I can see where it came from. As I play it on the PS4, I can’t help but think that they should have included the original camera perspective for PSVR owners (perhaps there is a licensing issue or such here). This does effect gameplay though. I came upon a massive boss with the ability to one-shot me. Walked into the room and he didn’t move. I pulled a lever, and while I was doing as such he walked up and bipped me. Second time in the room I slid into a side room and came across an enemy to learn he could crouch down and swing at me through the door. In the original release I’m sure that the dramatic camera angles would have made these attacks more apparent. I understood the first one, as I panned away from him to see the door, but the second was just frustrating as an enemy halted my progress. Had the camera been swung around I could have seen him kneeling and dodged my way into the next room.
The aging mechanic is a pretty cool way to advance the plot though, and it has me curious if some of these cheap deaths are forced for plot. I want to see a No Death Run, or if there is a max age you can hit before a permanent Game Over. Making it easier to level up in magic and harder in brute strength as you age really makes you think about how to approach an enemy. If there’s a risk of you getting taken out, will you approach smarter to avoid losing some of your physical strength?
Chronos (and Remnant) have developed an intriguing world and weaved the plot in a way that is fun to unravel. Chronos: Before the Ashes lets players learn a bit more lore and opens the game up to be appreciated by a wider audience. It plays more primitively than it’s sequel, but has enough mechanics in it to keep you hooked. If you are a fan of Remnant (or enjoy a little lighter Soulsborne style game) then Chronos: Before the Ashes is worth taking a look into, even if it is from a different perspective.
Pros:
-Wonderful storyline and more lore to fans of the series
-Aging mechanic is a unique and refreshing take on traditional “dying” in video games
-New way for people to try this lauded title
Cons:
-Occasional cheap deaths due to camera angle
-Why can’t we have the Oculus VR angle with the PlayStation edition?
Special thanks to THQ Nordic/Gunfire Games for providing a code for review!