Elliot: The Millennium Tales Wins Praise, Hits Switch 2 Snags

Square Enix released the HD-2D action-adventure The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales this week for Nintendo’s platform. The company ran multiple demos and player surveys ahead of launch, and a trial version remains available on the Nintendo eShop.

Early reviews highlight the game’s core mechanics, exploration and art direction. Critics pointed to tight controls, satisfying exploration loops and a time-travel mechanic that gives each era a distinct feel. Reviewers described the world as memorable and the cast as engaging, and said the visual style supports combat clarity and environmental storytelling.

Praise also targeted design elements such as flexible combat tools, including magic and companion abilities, and puzzle and shrine design that rewards detours and replay. Scores across reviews were broadly positive, ranging from high marks down to strong eights.

Critics identified technical and design issues. Several reports noted framerate drops and other performance hitches on Switch 2 hardware that interrupted immersion at times. Some reviewers reported depth-perception problems in certain environments. The combat system drew mixed reactions: some described it as “top-tier”, while others called it “overstuffed” and more demanding than expected at higher difficulty levels, which can slow pacing.

One review described the core gameplay as “stellar and addictive” but suggested a few quality-of-life changes could improve the experience. Reviewers recommended the game primarily to players who enjoy action-adventure titles with retro inspiration and modern action design.

The release follows public testing via demos and surveys. Players interested in trying the game can download the available demo from the Nintendo eShop before purchasing.