The Adventures of Elliot The Millennium Tales Switch 2 Review

The Adventures of Elliot The Millennium Tales Switch 2 Review
Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2

Square Enix’s decision to invest in HD-2D games was, in my humble opinion, an absolutely outstanding move. These titles seamlessly combine a gloriously old-school feel and classic JRPG gameplay with gorgeous modern flourishes, creating unique and intriguing worlds that feel both nostalgic and fresh. The Adventures of Elliot The Millennium Tales is the first of these titles to step away from the traditional RPG formula, instead embracing more of a Legend of Zelda-style adventure while introducing players to a completely new world and cast of characters. Rather than revisiting the past, Square Enix is using the lessons learned from its classic adventures to build something entirely new. What’s It Like? Get your gear, put on your stylish hat, and prepare for adventure as we review The Adventures of Elliot The Millennium Tales for Nintendo Switch 2.

Before we begin, this review will avoid major spoilers for The Adventures of Elliot The Millennium Tales. However, there may be some mild story details and footage shown throughout this review that could impact your first experience with the game.

The Adventures of Elliot unsurprisingly follows Elliot, an adventurer who is initially tasked with investigating some ruins located outside the castle’s magically protected barrier. What begins as a simple expedition quickly evolves into a much larger adventure filled with mystery, intriguing characters, and unexpected discoveries. One of the biggest elements that separates The Adventures of Elliot from previous HD-2D titles is its approach to exploration. Rather than simply travelling through one version of the world, Elliot’s adventure allows you to experience locations across different points in time. The land changes depending on the era you visit, with different environments, puzzles, and challenges encouraging you to revisit familiar locations from a completely new perspective. This time-based exploration becomes a core part of the adventure, blending the puzzle-solving and discovery of classic action-adventure games with the art style and charm we have come to expect from Square Enix’s HD-2D projects.

Now, I have intentionally kept the story details fairly light because I went into The Adventures of Elliot knowing almost nothing about it. That sense of discovery was a huge part of what drew me in, and I found myself becoming far more invested in this adventure than I expected. A large part of that comes down to Elliot himself. He isn’t a brooding and mysterious hero seeking vengeance, nor is he some chosen one burdened by destiny. He is simply an adventurer trying to make the world a better place, and that grounded approach makes him incredibly easy to connect with. While there are some early moments where the game establishes Elliot’s kind-hearted nature through more traditional exposition, I found myself genuinely growing attached to him and the friendships he builds throughout his journey. One early moment sees Elliot attempting to rescue other adventurers from a dangerous dungeon, with one of them sadly not making it out alive. Later, a side quest has Elliot helping the fallen adventurer’s widow retrieve a personal item left behind. It is a surprisingly emotional and bittersweet moment that adds a lot of depth to Elliot as a character. Moments like this are scattered throughout the adventure, and they showcase some of the strongest writing in the game. The Adventures of Elliot understands that great adventures are not just about saving the world, but about the people you meet and the small moments that make the journey memorable.

It isn’t just the story and writing that kept me pushing forward though, as the gameplay does a fantastic job of combining several classic adventure elements into something that feels fresh. Combat is simplistic by design, but there is more depth here than first meets the eye. Elliot can swap between multiple weapons and combat styles depending on the situation, block attacks using a limited stamina system, and counter enemies when the timing is right. There is also a loot drop bonus mechanic that increases when you defeat enemies without taking damage. This small addition completely changed the way I approached both combat and exploration. Rather than constantly using fast travel, I often found myself taking the longer route through areas because maintaining that bonus made combat feel more rewarding and added more excitement to encounters.

Elliot is also joined by his fairy companion Faie, who becomes one of the most important parts of both combat and puzzle-solving. Faie can learn new abilities throughout the adventure, including transforming into flame to light torches, granting Elliot increased speed, and even teleporting to specific locations. The best part is that Faie can be controlled independently using the right stick, allowing her to interact with the world separately from Elliot. This becomes a huge part of the game’s puzzle design and creates some very clever moments throughout the adventure.

Speaking of puzzles, the dungeons are easily one of the highlights of The Adventures of Elliot. Rather than creating enormous labyrinths designed to test your patience, these dungeons are bite-sized adventures filled with clever puzzles, combat encounters, and rewarding discoveries. What I personally loved about the dungeon design is that they are fairly linear while still feeling satisfying to explore. I never found myself wandering through dozens of rooms I had already visited, searching endlessly for a single key item needed to progress. They remain fun and challenging, but without the unnecessary frustration and tedium that can sometimes come with traditional dungeon design.

The one area where I did find myself getting frustrated was Faie’s incessant commentary. Walking past a chest would often have Elliot announce that he had found one, only for Faie to immediately point out the exact same thing. While these reminders can be helpful early on, they become increasingly unnecessary as you become familiar with the world and its mechanics. Thankfully, Square Enix has listened to player feedback, and an upcoming update will add options to adjust how frequently Faie provides these comments. This is a welcome addition because, while Faie is an important part of the adventure and puzzle design, allowing players more control over these interruptions will help the exploration flow more naturally.

Square Enix’s HD-2D engine gives The Adventures of Elliot The Millennium Tales a gorgeous visual style that feels instantly familiar while still offering its own identity. Similar to recent HD-2D releases, the flat 2D sprites of characters and enemies contrast beautifully against the detailed 3D environments, creating a world that feels like a living storybook brought to life. The combination of pixel art, 3D world, and impressive lighting creates some truly stunning moments throughout the adventure. There is a surprising amount of detail packed into this world, from Elliot leaving trails through the snow as he explores colder regions, to the impressive depth of field that helps make environments feel much larger in scale.

The world constantly feels vibrant and full of character, with the visual style doing a fantastic job of blending nostalgia with modern presentation. There were only minor moments of hitching in the main town hub areas, usually lasting only a frame or two as new sections loaded, but these moments were rare and never impacted my overall experience. All of this is backed by fantastic audio design, including well-acted voice lines throughout the majority of the adventure and a traditional orchestral soundtrack that occasionally surprised me with some fantastic 80s jazz-inspired influences. The dynamic soundtrack does an excellent job of elevating the adventure, shifting between playful and hopeful melodies during exploration, before moving into more dramatic and emotional compositions when the story demands it. It perfectly complements Elliot’s journey and adds another layer of charm to an already beautiful world.

For my adventurers looking into accessibility, The Adventures of Elliot The Millennium Tales unfortunately doesn’t feature any specific accessibility options to speak of. As always, I recommend doing further research to determine whether The Adventures of Elliot suits your individual accessibility needs. Thankfully, there is a free demo available on the Nintendo eShop, allowing you to try the adventure for yourself before making a purchase.

At just under $100 AUD, The Adventures of Elliot The Millennium Tales provides great value for anyone looking for a Zelda-esque adventure with a deep narrative and refined gameplay. For completionists, there is plenty to discover, including heart shards, hidden cats, weapon upgrades, and side quests. However, even if you are simply looking to experience the main adventure, there is still a 15-20 hour journey here filled with surprises, memorable moments, and plenty of reasons to explore.

While The Adventures of Elliot wears its Zelda inspiration on its sleeve, it successfully forges its own path with a likable protagonist, an engaging narrative, and refined gameplay that rarely leaves you wandering without purpose. With satisfying combat, clever puzzle design, and a gorgeous world brought to life through Square Enix’s HD-2D style, this is an adventure that understands what makes exploration so special. The Adventures of Elliot may take inspiration from some legendary adventures of the past, but it proves that there is still room for new heroes to create their own legends.

Enjoyed our The Adventures of Elliot The Millennium Tales Switch 2 Review?

✨ Support What’s It Like? Want to help keep this independent Nintendo outlet running? Here are a few ways you can support:
🌐 More Nintendo reviews and guides: https://www.whatsitlike.com.au/
☕ Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/whatsitlike
🎥 Join the Patreon for behind-the-scenes content: https://patreon.com/u102681944