Kotaku Review of Elliot Millennium Tales

Entity Definition

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is an action-RPG developed and published by Square Enix. Released on February 18, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, the game follows a young hero named Elliot on a quest to prevent a catastrophic event. The title aims to deliver a modern take on classic 16‑bit era RPG mechanics while incorporating real‑time combat. According to Kotaku’s review, the game balances nostalgia with contemporary design, though it struggles with repetitive enemy encounters.

“Elliot's journey is a nostalgic callback to classic RPGs, but the repetitive enemy encounters drag down the experience.”

— Kotaku review of The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, 2025

Key Facts

How Does The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Play?

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is a real‑time action RPG where players control Elliot in a 3D overworld, engaging in combat through a combination of light and heavy attacks, dodges, and special abilities unlocked via a skill tree. The game’s pace is brisk, with battles occurring in the same space as exploration, similar to the “Tales of” series but with a more simplified combo system. Kotaku’s reviewer noted that the combat “is fluid but lacks depth,” with most fights resolved by spamming the same two‑button sequence after the first 10 hours.

The game’s combat system is fluid but lacks depth, with repetitive enemy patterns across the 30‑hour campaign.

What Is the Story and Setting?

The narrative centers on Elliot, a teenage blacksmith’s apprentice who discovers a hidden artifact—the “Millennium Key”—that can unlock a portal to the realm of the Eternal King, a being who threatens to erase the world’s timeline. The story unfolds across five distinct biomes, each tied to a past era of the planet’s history. Kotaku’s review describes the plot as “straightforward but heartfelt,” comparing it favorably to the classic Chrono Trigger in scope, though lacking that game’s branching paths.

The story is a linear, 30‑hour journey across five eras, echoing Chrono Trigger’s structure but with fewer player choices.

Who Is This Game For?

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is ideal for players who enjoy narrative‑driven action RPGs with a nostalgic aesthetic, such as fans of the “Tales of” or “Ys” series. Because the combat is simpler than modern action titles like Nier: Automata or Ys IX, the game suits those who prioritize story and exploration over deep mechanical challenge. Kotaku’s review specifically recommends it to “casual action‑RPG fans who want a 30‑hour commitment without the complexity of Souls‑like systems.”

This title is best suited for casual action‑RPG fans seeking a linear narrative with accessible combat and a playtime of about 30 hours.

How It Compares to Other Action RPGs

In Kotaku’s review, the game is compared directly to Square Enix’s own Nier: Automata and to the “Tales of” franchise. Compared to Nier: Automata, Elliot’s combat has fewer attack variations and no combo depth, but its skill tree offers more passive upgrades. Compared to Tales of Arise, the story is more linear and the world less open. The review does not provide a side‑by‑side table, but the following table summarizes the key differences based on Kotaku’s observations:

Elliot’s combat is the simplest among the three compared titles, with the shortest average playtime and no branching narrative.

Common Questions

Is the game worth the full $59.99 price?

Kotaku’s review gives a “Buy” verdict, but notes that the repetitive combat may disappoint players expecting deep mechanics. For story‑focused action‑RPG fans, the 30‑hour campaign is a fair value; others may prefer to wait for a sale.

How long does it take to complete the main story?

The main story runs roughly 30 hours, with additional side quests extending playtime to about 35–40 hours. Kotaku’s reviewer completed the critical path in 28 hours.

Which platform offers the best performance?

Kotaku tested the PC version on a mid‑range system (RTX 3060, 16 GB RAM) and reported a stable 60 fps at 1440p high settings. The Switch 2 version runs at 30 fps but retains clear textures. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S also target 60 fps with no reported stuttering.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based entirely on the Kotaku review of The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, published at https://kotaku.com/the-adventures-of-elliot-the-millennium-tales-the-kotaku-review-2000707122. All facts, statistics, quotations, and comparisons are sourced from that single review. No other external sources were used. The review does not provide a numerical score; the “Buy” verdict is Kotaku’s standard label. The release date, price, and platform information were confirmed in the article’s introductory paragraph. This article was last updated on March 4, 2025.