Chronicles of the Wolf Review

Chronicles of the Wolf is a new Metroidvania game heavily influenced by classic games like Castlevania II and the scary myths of France in the 18th century. Chronicles of the Wolf wants to stand out in the crowded indie Metroidvania scene, where gothic themes and pixel art are just the beginning. It does this by offering fans everything they want: deep 2D exploration, carefully layered progression, environments full of secrets, and difficult enemy gauntlets.

The game is developed by a passionate, small, independent team that wanted to bring back memories of Symphony of the Night, and it even has voice actors from famous Metroidvania games. Following its release on June 19 for all platforms, including Switch 2, the real question is whether Chronicles of the Wolf stands out from other games of the same type or if it just blends in.

Chronicles of the Wolf puts you in the role of Mateo Lombardo, an apprentice animal hunter sent by the secretive Rose Cross Order to prove his worth. The game takes place in the dark world of 18th-century France. 

The terrifying Beast of Gadan stalks the countryside, leaving dead bodies hanging from trees and villages that used to be busy with people abandoned in its wake. At first, it looks like your job is simple: find this huge, mysterious being and stop the killing. But as you learn more, the story changes into something darker and more complex, with shady characters and creeping shadows that hint at hidden plans.

When it comes to the story, the game is very simple and almost like any other metroidvania game. Dialogues are short, sharp, and to the point, unlike long epics with a lot of background information. When you talk to NPCs, they give you just the right amount of information and clues to keep you moving forward without slowing you down.

 This keeps you interested and maintains a fast pace, revealing more about the world one hint at a time. Interestingly, some of these short conversations give really good advice, letting the environment and its secrets do most of the talking.

On the other hand, Chronicles of the Wolf has trouble creating interesting characters and a gripping storyline. Although it features voice actors from famous Metroidvania games, such as Robert Belgrade, who voiced Alucard in Castlevania, the story often feels dull and lifeless.

Mateo moves around the world because the story needs him to, but there isn't much mystery, tension, or memorable moments to really get you interested. There is a lot of boring dialogue from non-playable characters, and the setting could be very interesting. The story doesn't really grab you; instead, it feels like a list of tried-and-true Metroidvania plot points—enough to keep you going but not enough to bring the world or its people to life.

Chronicles of the Wolf is based on the classic Metroidvania formula in a clear and confident way. You'll spend your time exploring huge 2D maps that are full of secrets, going back to places you've already been to, as new skills let you get to places you couldn't get to before. 

You have to pay close attention to the game because there are save points, portals, and subtle clues in the environment, but the maps won't hold your hand. If you miss a rope that can be climbed or a wall that can be broken, you might end up wandering around aimlessly looking for that one detail you forgot. It's a hard but rewarding way to explore that keeps you interested.

The day-night cycle in the game changes how the world looks and what enemies or objects show up. This makes the world feel alive and changing. Some enemies or creatures only appear at certain times, so you should go back to places to see how their mood and challenges change as the hours go by. The landscape is full of haunted villages, dense forests, broken water wheels, and huge castles that look like they've been there for a long time.

Mateo Lombardo, your main character, does what any good Metroidvania lead does: he jumps, slashes with his sword, throws knives, and slowly learns new ways to fight and get around. Some of these are fireballs that get rid of obstacles, double jumps that let you get to new platform sections, and ghostly allies that give you extra health when you call them. The way you progress through movement and combat tools is rigid, but it works, giving you a steady sense of growth.

You can get upgrades, potions, and gear from shops and hidden chests along the way. Villagers sometimes give you side quests, but they are usually just simple fetch tasks. Rest stops and towns spread out across the map are a nod to old games like Simon's Quest and help the game feel more familiar. It's a good, if not surprising, package: a well-done Metroidvania experience that gives fans what they expect without many surprises.

Chronicles of the Wolf's combat is different, and some people don't like it. Many new Metroidvania games let you move quickly and easily during battle, but this one is more static: when you attack, Mateo stays where he is, whether you're swinging a sword or firing a rifle. You can't walk and attack at the same time, which can feel awkward, especially when enemies are quick or move quickly. The game tries to make up for it by letting you jump and attack, which gives you a little more vertical mobility, but that's about it.

There are a good number of weapons, from sabers and axes that hit hard to daggers and rifles that can be used from a distance. Players who are used to more fluid action may get frustrated by the fact that the static combat restriction applies to almost all weapon types. Even so, fighting is still easy because the weapon swings happen more slowly, and enemy telegraphs are clear.

One of the best things about the game is how many different kinds of enemies there are. Along with the usual slimes you'd expect in a Metroidvania, each zone has its unique creatures that look and act in ways that fit the theme. There are scary tree monsters hiding in ruined forests, skeleton birds that look like birds, and aquatic enemies that look like fish. This variety keeps things interesting as you go to new places.

There are a lot of boss fights, and each one is different with its attack patterns and skills. Early bosses are usually easy to beat and don't require much strategy or effort, which may disappoint Souls fans who want a tough challenge. But later stages get harder, requiring you to remember patterns and be very careful with timing. These later battles give you a satisfying sense of accomplishment, even though the game is still easier to get into than some hardcore action games.

The best thing about the combat system is how easy it is to use. Chronicles of the Wolf is a good Metroidvania game to try if you're new to the genre or like action games that are more deliberate and not too punishing. You can't move while attacking, and the weapon speeds are slower, so it doesn't feel too intense like some fast-paced combat games can. Bosses that are easy to fight at the beginning also help you get used to how the game works instead of throwing you right into tough fights.

However, if you like combat that is dynamic and fast-paced, where you can skip animations, dodge mid-attack, or chain combos smoothly, this game might not be for you. The way attacks work with locking often gets annoying, especially when enemies close in quickly or attack in groups. Compared to more modern Metroidvanias that put a lot of emphasis on movement, the lack of mid-swing movement can feel old or awkward.

The exploration and puzzle-solving parts, on the other hand, more than make up for the combat problems. The game does a great job of telling stories about the environment, which encourages careful observation and rewards curiosity. 

Puzzle elements like secret passages, cleverly designed locked gates, and small visual clues like a broken water wheel or objects that have been moved around become puzzle elements that make you stop and think. The classic Metroidvania loop is reinforced by the fact that these puzzles often have time limits or require you to go back to areas after getting new skills.

This desire to learn new things is probably Chronicles of the Wolf's best feature. You don't just fight and run away; you interact with the world, piecing together its scary story and uncovering secrets that make it feel alive, and reacting.

Chronicles of the Wolf doesn't rely on repeating enemy encounters to gain experience like many Metroidvania games do. Instead, it uses a different method to let you progress. When you play this game, exploring, collecting items, and unlocking abilities are more important for growth than killing enemies.

As you explore the game's creepy and broken-down world, you'll find many useful items that improve your skills and gear. There are some standard ones, like double jumps, stronger weapons, and better armor, and some unique ones that change the way you play. This system rewards you for exploring instead of fighting over and over, and it does this by giving you new tools that let you get to places you couldn't get to before.

Mateo's evolution isn't about hitting more goals or seeing more numbers on a stats screen. It's about function and flexibility. As you get better at moving around and adding to your arsenal, old enemies become less dangerous, and new ways to solve puzzles and fight them appear. The progression feels natural and slow, and it rewards patience and interest over grinding.

The atmosphere and world design in Chronicles of the Wolf make it stand out visually. The game doesn't have fancy, highly polished graphics. Instead, it has a consistent, creepy look that fits the tone of the story perfectly. The settings are filled with sadness and decay, from crumbling windmills and empty villages to huge castles covered in fog.

Lighting is a very important part of making people feel like they are really there. There is a dynamic day-night cycle in the game. The world changes from soft sunrise colors to twilight colors to pitch-black nights. The changing light not only sets the mood, but it also changes how you play because different times of the day reveal different secrets and passages.

The story of Chronicles of the Wolf is made more interesting by small details, such as bodies hanging from tree branches, broken buildings, and subtle environmental cues. The art direction of the game leans toward the scary, making every area feel heavy with history and tragedy.

Chronicles of the Wolf features sound design that is subtle yet effective. The music fits the mood of the game without being too loud. It's quiet and tense when you're exploring, and it gets really loud and dramatic when you're fighting bosses. This balance helps keep the player emotionally involved and in the game.

The sounds of the environment are also carefully made. Old wooden floors creak, water drips in dark hallways, leaves rustle in the wind, and animal calls can be heard far away. These background noises make it feel even worse that you are by yourself in a broken world. There isn't much voice acting; most of the story is told through text. This choice works well because it keeps the focus on the mood and pace, rather than relying on lengthy dialogue scenes that could disrupt the flow.

Chronicles of the Wolf doesn't try to change the Metroidvania genre, but it does carefully improve many classic elements. Although it costs $20, it's a worthwhile, atmospheric experience with interesting environments, engaging exploration, and satisfying progress.

It creates a world that is full of mood and detail, inviting you to find hidden paths, learn new skills, and feel a creeping dread that fits the broken, shadowy 18th-century France it shows. The day-night cycle and environmental storytelling give the game a sense of life that a lot of independent games lack.

The fights, on the other hand, are hard to describe. Attacks that don't change and being unable to move while swinging or shooting can feel old-fashioned and frustrating, especially early in the game when enemies and bosses are too easy to get past. This might not be suitable for those who prefer tight, fast-paced action.

Problems with performance in some areas make the experience worse, like menu flickering and frame drops from time to time, but the developers have promised a patch. Even with these problems, Chronicles of the Wolf is still a great Metroidvania game for anyone who prefers slow-paced exploration, atmospheric storytelling, and gradual power boosts over pure combat challenge. You should be ready to stay still when you swing your sword.