Square Enix’s New HD-2D JRPG Looks Zelda-ish, But Its Real DNA Is Mana
Square Enix’s upcoming HD-2D action JRPG, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, has already triggered one very predictable comparison: eh, this one macam Zelda ah?
The visual angle makes it easy to understand. It has that polished Square Enix HD-2D look fans know from games like Octopath Traveler, mixed with action-RPG movement and adventure vibes. But according to the team behind the game, Nintendo’s legendary series was not the main blueprint.
In an interview highlighted by GamesRadar, producer Naofumi Matsushita said the developers were fully aware players might think of The Legend of Zelda when seeing or playing the game. The team sees that as a compliment, but Matsushita made it clear that the project was built more from Square Enix’s own history — especially the Mana series.
More specifically, he pointed to the Game Boy title Final Fantasy Adventure, which longtime fans will know as the first entry in what eventually became the Mana franchise. Back then, it carried the Final Fantasy name because it started life as a spin-off, but Mana later grew into its own action-RPG identity.
That context matters because Mana has always sat in that sweet spot between RPG progression and real-time combat. It was not just menus and turn-based battles; you were moving, attacking, exploring, and still getting that classic JRPG story flavour. Matsushita said that blend of accessible action and memorable role-playing is close to what the team wants for The Adventures of Elliot.
On top of that foundation, Square Enix is adding a few modern hooks. The game uses the studio’s familiar HD-2D style, includes a controllable fairy companion, and builds its story around time travel. So while the screenshots may immediately remind some players of Zelda-style adventure, the developers are positioning it more as a spiritual continuation of Square Enix’s own action-RPG tradition.
For Malaysia and SEA players, this is actually pretty interesting. JRPG fans here are already very used to choosing carefully because game prices are not cheap, especially when converted to RM. A Steam demo is a big deal because it lets players test the combat, pacing, and vibe first instead of buying blind. If you are the type who likes Octopath’s look but wants something more active than traditional turn-based battles, this one should be on your radar.
It also lands in a nice lane for players who grew up with handheld RPGs, emulation-era classics, or action RPGs that were simple to pick up but still had proper adventure energy. Not every JRPG needs to be a 100-hour commitment with five battle systems stacked on top of each other. Sometimes, a clean action-RPG loop with charm and challenge is exactly the comfort food.
The bigger question is whether The Adventures of Elliot can stand out beyond the comparisons. Zelda is such a huge reference point that any top-down or adventure-style action RPG will probably get dragged into that conversation. But if Square Enix can really channel the Mana feeling while using its HD-2D strengths, this could be more than just “Zelda but Square Enix.”
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales currently has a demo available on Steam, with the full game scheduled to release on June 18.
Source: GamesRadar
