Chronos
A VR action RPG where death ages the hero.
Chronos is an action role-playing game from 2016, developed and published by Gunfire Games for the Oculus Rift VR headset. It was one of the first games announced for the Oculus Rift and served as a launch title when the headset debuted on March 28, 2016. The game earned generally positive reviews, with critics drawing comparisons to *The Legend of Zelda* and *Dark Souls*.
In the game, players control a customizable hero on a quest to slay a dragon within a labyrinth. The action is viewed from a fixed third-person camera, reminiscent of early *Resident Evil* titles. Combat focuses on slashing enemies with melee weapons and blocking attacks with a shield. If the player dies while exploring, they can only re-enter the labyrinth one in-game year later, causing the character to age and altering their attributes. As the player progresses, they solve puzzles, find new weapons, and unlock magical powers. Experience points earned through gameplay allow the character to level up, improving stats like strength, agility, arcane, and vitality.
Chronos was the first release from Gunfire Games, a studio co-founded by David Adams, who previously founded Vigil Games, the creators of the *Darksiders* series. The game was announced on June 11, 2015, during an Oculus press conference.
In September 2020, THQ Nordic revealed an overhauled version called *Chronos: Before the Ashes*. This version removed the VR requirement and serves as a prequel to Gunfire's 2019 game *Remnant: From the Ashes*. *Before the Ashes* launched on December 1, 2020, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Stadia.
Critics noted that while the gameplay felt traditional, the integration of VR elevated the overall experience.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Gunfire Games
- Publisher
- Gunfire Games / (original version) · THQ Nordic / (Before the Ashes)
- Platforms
- Original version / Microsoft Windows / Before the Ashes / Microsoft Windows / Nintendo Switch / PlayStation 4 / Stadia / Xbox One
- Genre
- Action role-playing
- Released
- Original version / March 28, 2016 / Before the Ashes / December 1, 2020
- Modes
- Single-player
- Director
- David Adams
- Designer
- Nicolas Fikac / Marcus Luna DeLeon / Richard Vorodi
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Chronos was the first title released by Gunfire Games, a studio co-founded by David Adams, the founder of Vigil Games who created the Darksiders series. The game was announced on June 11, 2015, during a press conference held by Oculus. It was among the first titles unveiled for the Oculus Rift VR headset and became the headset's launch game when it was released on March 28, 2016.
In Chronos, the player controls a customizable protagonist on a quest to kill a dragon inside a labyrinth. The game is viewed from a third-person perspective with a fixed camera similar to early Resident Evil games. Combat involves slashing enemies with melee weapons and blocking attacks with a shield. A distinctive mechanic is that upon death, the player can only reenter the labyrinth one in-game year later, causing the player character to age and altering their attributes. As the player progresses, they solve puzzles, acquire new weapons, unlock magical powers, and level up by improving strength, agility, arcane, and vitality.
An overhauled version of the game, titled Chronos: Before the Ashes, was announced in September 2020 by THQ Nordic. This version removes the VR requirement and serves as the prequel to Gunfire's 2019 game Remnant: From the Ashes. Before the Ashes was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Stadia on December 1, 2020.
Reader's Guide
Chronos holds significance as the debut title of Gunfire Games, a studio founded by David Adams, who previously founded Vigil Games known for the Darksiders series. The game was notable for being among the first titles announced for the Oculus Rift VR headset and for serving as a launch game for the platform. Critics compared the game to The Legend of Zelda and Dark Souls series, and while some noted that gameplay-wise the game was traditional, the incorporation of VR was seen as elevating the experience. The game received generally positive reviews on Metacritic. Its legacy includes the later release of Chronos: Before the Ashes in 2020, an overhauled non-VR version that connects the game to Gunfire's later title Remnant: From the Ashes as a prequel. This expanded the game's reach beyond VR to multiple platforms including Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Stadia.
Did You Know?
- Death in Chronos causes the player character to age by one in-game year.
- An overhauled version, Chronos: Before the Ashes, was released on December 1, 2020.
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