Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona Review

Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona emerges from the shadows, a love letter to challenging action RPGs and Metroidvanias. Developed by solo auteur 70`Strike, this title promises a hauntingly beautiful world, punishing combat, and an intricate web of exploration. But does it deliver on its promises, or is it merely a phantom of past glories? Buckle up, for we delve into the depths of Ericona to unearth the truth!

A Land Forged in Despair: Unveiling the World and Story

Ericona, a kingdom once bathed in light, is now shrouded in an oppressive darkness. Monstrous creatures roam the decaying ruins, and a tyrannical force known as the “Tenebris” grips the land. You awaken as a nameless warrior, tasked with restoring balance and uncovering the secrets of your own forgotten past. 

The narrative unfolds through environmental storytelling and cryptic lore fragments scattered throughout the world. While light on explicit exposition, the atmosphere itself speaks volumes. The desolate landscapes, haunting music, and grotesque enemy designs paint a vivid picture of a world clinging to its last vestiges of hope.

There is so much to see and do from the very onset that it is extremely difficult not to be drawn in really early on. From the grim environments to monstrous-looking enemies, every part of Skelethrone: Chronicles of Ericona tells a story.

Mastering the Dance of Death

Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona embraces a demanding combat system heavily inspired by the Soulsborne series. Enemies hit hard, and a single misstep can send you sprawling back to the nearest checkpoint (known as “Flickering Torches”). To be perfectly honest, this is utterly infuriating, but not unexpected. After all, it is a Soulslike game, meaning that you should expect to die extremely frequently!

Mastering your character’s movement and mastering the art of dodging is paramount to survival. Players have access to a variety of weapons, each with unique strengths and weaknesses.  A nimble dagger offers swift strikes but lacks raw power, while a weighty two-handed axe delivers devastating blows at the cost of slower attack speeds.

RPG elements enhance the experience. Defeated enemies yield souls (called “Echoes”) used to upgrade your character’s health, stamina, magic reserves, and combat prowess.  Scattered throughout the world are hidden “Echo Tombs” offering permanent stat boosts and powerful gear.  Exploration is rewarded, as new areas often contain shortcuts back to previous zones, creating a satisfying interconnected world.

The combat is almost always punishing, even with the most basic of enemies, and fosters a constant sense of tension and risk-reward that is both exhilarating and frustrating in equal measure. This is especially true when facing a boss, as they all tend to be utterly enormous!

A Symphony of Shadows

Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona utilises a striking pixel art aesthetic that beautifully captures the grim atmosphere of Ericona. Environments are rich in detail, from the crumbling architecture of fallen cities to the grotesque visages of its denizens. Character animations are basic and almost clunky, but this has been implemented in the most deliberately charming way that you can’t help but appreciate it.

The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the visuals, with melancholic piano melodies punctuated by unsettling sound effects. Enemies each possess their own (typically guttural) sounds, which always suits them. By this, I mean that every enemy sounds how you would expect them to, despite them not actually existing and thus you not having a reference point – it just sounds right!

Echoes of Challenge

Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona offers a decent amount of replayability. This isn’t only because of the fact that you will probably rage quit more often than you’re willing to accept. There is also the allure of having multiple weapon types to hand as well as upgrade paths that allow for wildly diverse character builds. Hidden secrets and lore tidbits encourage exploration for completionists. Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona’s challenging nature may also compel players to revisit zones to hone their skills and (hopefully) conquer previously insurmountable foes.

Conclusion

Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona is a demanding yet rewarding experience.  It’s a game that wears its influences proudly, offering a brutal take on the Metroidvania formula.  While possessing a somewhat opaque story, those seeking a punishing yet atmospheric adventure will find much to appreciate here.  It is a dark gem for those seeking a challenging and atmospheric adventure.  While not without its flaws, the unique blend of exploration, brutal combat, and haunting atmosphere makes it a worthwhile experience for seasoned players and fans of the genre.

Pros and Cons


Pros

  • Beautiful stylised pixel art aesthetic.
  • Punishing but rewarding combat.
  • Expansive and interconnected world.
  • RPG elements offer character customisation.
  • Multiple endings.

Cons

  • Challenging gameplay may be frustrating.
  • Story unfolds cryptically and may lack depth for some.

Mus from PapaBear Gaming

By Mus (PapaBear Gaming)

Mus has been playing video games for more decades than he cares to admit. He likes writing about said video games and also tends to refer to himself in the third person.

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