Elliot’s Millennium Tales: Rethinking HD-2D Action RPGs

If you tuned into July’s Nintendo Direct expecting another turn-based JRPG, you’re in good company. But The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales surprised me. Set to launch in 2026 from Square Enix and Claytechworks, this time-hopping action RPG promises to push pixel-art nostalgia into genuinely new territory.

The HD-2D Evolution: Beyond Comfort Food

• Real-time combat and online co-op add fresh dynamism—imagine Kingdom Hearts’ fluid clashes meeting Octopath Traveler’s tactical flair.
• Seven distinct weapon classes and flexible magilith combos hint at loadouts as deep as Diablo II: Resurrected’s skill trees.
• Puzzle-platforming segments (a la Trine) and seamless party swapping enrich exploration.
• Simultaneous PC, Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series release underscores the studio’s broad ambition.

Key Takeaways

• This isn’t a turn-based throwback—real-time action, co-op, and platform puzzles set it apart.
• Square Enix teaming with Claytechworks (Bravely Default II) suggests creativity backed by polish.
• Time travel evokes Chrono Trigger’s legacy; success hinges on balancing epic scope with tight gameplay.
• The Switch 2 demo (live July 31, 2025) is a tasty sampler, though no progress carryover keeps it purely hands-on.

Game Info

Title: The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales
Developer/Publisher: Square Enix & Claytechworks
Genre: HD-2D Action RPG with strategic and platforming elements
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2
Release Window: 2026 (exact date TBD)
Demo: Free Switch 2 demo available now (no save transfer)

Digging Deeper: Real-Time Combat and Custom Loadouts

Claytechworks swaps turn-based menus for an action system that rewards timing and positioning. Perfectly timed shields can reflect projectiles or stun foes—mechanics that recall Hollow Knight’s punishing parries. Weapon switching on the fly—from sword to bow, flail to the rare chain-scythe—is further enhanced by magiliths that tweak damage, combo speed, or elemental effects. It feels more akin to modern ARPGs like Diablo II: Resurrected than any SNES relic.

Party Dynamics and Puzzle-Platforming

Elliot’s sidekick Faie is no passive AI: in co-op she joins another player to tackle environmental puzzles, unlock hidden shortcuts, and even assist in combat. Think Baldur’s Gate 3’s cooperative puzzles or Divinity: Original Sin 2’s interactive set pieces. Seamless party switching keeps exploration fresh, underlining Claytechworks’ knack for remixing classic JRPG tropes into cooperative adventures.

Time Travel: A Legacy to Uphold

The narrative spans a millennium, pitting humanity’s last champion against rising beastmen hordes. Time travel evokes the scope of Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross, but balancing multiple eras without narrative bloat is no small feat. If the developers juggle timelines as deftly as they do camera angles in HD-2D, Elliot could stand alongside those genre-defining classics.

The Real Story: What Could Trip It Up

Even Octopath Traveler II showed how visual flair can fade if mechanics lack depth. Seven weapon types sound great on paper, but we’ve seen games boil down to two “must-have” choices. Full co-op and an empowered Faie could be game-changers—if the execution lives up to the pitch. And remember, the Switch 2 demo is a marketing appetizer, not a strategic head start.

Conclusion

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales has all the ingredients to break free from HD-2D nostalgia: fluid real-time action, cooperative puzzle design, intricate loadouts, and a sweeping time-travel narrative. If Square Enix and Claytechworks deliver on their promise, Elliot could redefine what pixel-art RPGs can achieve—melding the best of Kingdom Hearts, Diablo, and Trine into a bold new standard. Keep your excitement tempered but expectations high; this might be the most innovative HD-2D title yet.

TL;DR

Square Enix’s next HD-2D RPG blends real-time combat, online co-op puzzles, and a sprawling time-travel story. If the depth and scope hold up, The Adventures of Elliot could become a milestone rather than just another retro indulgence.