The new title "Adventurer Elliot's Millennium Tale" seems tailor-made for fans of classic 2D ARPGs. Check out the hands-on report [TGS2025]
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/933/G093325/20250928031/
Editorial Department: RENE | 2025/09/28 07:52 (UTC)
At the Square Enix booth during the event “Tokyo Game Show 2025,” held from September 25, 2025, at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture, a playable demo of the new title “The Thousand-Year Tale of Adventurer Elliot” (available on PC / Nintendo Switch 2 / PS5 / Xbox Series X|S) was available for hands-on play. This article presents a firsthand report from that experience.
“The Thousand-Year Tale of Adventurer Elliot” is a title in the “HD-2D” series, which fuses pixel art with 3DCG, and marks the first action RPG in this series. The story follows protagonist Elliot, an adventurer accompanied by his fairy companion Fay, as they journey through the world of “Felibildia,” a realm overrun by barbarians.
The version showcased at the event was for the Nintendo Switch 2 and was identical to the currently available “Early Access Demo.”
The demo begins with Elliot, having received orders from King Hikardo of the Hyuser Kingdom, setting out to explore ruins located within barbarian territory. The barbarians are described as alien entities that spread throughout Felibildia and engage in fierce territorial battles.
While the game features beautifully rendered pixel art characteristic of HD-2D, the hands-on impression was that it strongly evokes classic 2D action RPGs like the “Mana Series” and “The Legend of Zelda” series.
Players can equip two weapons at once; initially, Elliot carries a sword and a bomb. Additionally, arrows can be purchased from shops and equipped in place of other gear. Other items available include accessories and healing potions, with accessories offering various effects such as increased movement speed or causing thrown objects to explode.
Image Gallery No. 004 thumbnail: The new “The Thousand-Year Tale of Adventurer Elliot” seems tailor-made for fans who enjoyed classic 2D ARPGs. Playthrough report featured [TGS2025] Image Gallery No. 005 thumbnail: The new “The Thousand-Year Tale of Adventurer Elliot” seems tailor-made for fans who enjoyed classic 2D ARPGs. Playthrough report featured [TGS2025]
In combat, players can perform standard sword swings as well as charged attacks. Along the way, cracked rocks appear that can be destroyed with bombs to reveal cave entrances.
Players could also pick up and throw barrels—a mechanic familiar from classic 2D Zelda games, likely resonating strongly with fans of those titles.
Image Gallery No. 006 thumbnail: The new “The Thousand-Year Tale of Adventurer Elliot” seems tailor-made for fans who enjoyed classic 2D ARPGs. Playthrough report featured [TGS2025] Image Gallery No. 007 thumbnail: The new “The Thousand-Year Tale of Adventurer Elliot” seems tailor-made for fans who enjoyed classic 2D ARPGs. Playthrough report featured [TGS2025]
In addition to attacking, players can also “guard” using a shield. Timing the guard perfectly triggers a “Just Guard,” which generates a magical barrier that can stun enemies or reflect attacks.
The fairy companion, Fay, also plays a vital role. She can collect money and items for Elliot and supports him by moving around and issuing commands. Fay also has the ability to “warp” directly to her current location—enabling players to reach areas unreachable via jumps or suddenly appear behind enemies.
Image Gallery No. 009 thumbnail: The new “The Thousand-Year Tale of Adventurer Elliot” seems tailor-made for fans who enjoyed classic 2D ARPGs. Playthrough report featured [TGS2025] Image Gallery No. 010 thumbnail: The new “The Thousand-Year Tale of Adventurer Elliot” seems tailor-made for fans who enjoyed classic 2D ARPGs. Playthrough report featured [TGS2025]
Combat uses a “life system.” A red droplet-shaped icon appears in the top-left corner of the screen, representing Elliot’s life. Each hit from enemies reduces this meter.
Healing is possible through purchasing “healing potions” at shops, or by approaching “Adventure Waymarks” scattered across the world—these restore full health. Additionally, visiting these waymarks automatically saves progress.
Due to a 20-minute time limit, the hands-on session ended just as Elliot reached the marshland where the ruins were located. Overall, this demo strongly appeals to players who enjoyed classic 2D action RPGs—this was exactly my target audience, and after trying it out, I’m now eagerly looking forward to playing the full release.
If you own a Switch 2, the early access demo is currently available—so be sure to try it out.