You play as a young hero tasked with entering a mysterious labyrinth to save your homeworld from a great evil. The labyrinth is a non-linear, interconnected dungeon (reminiscent of the first Dark Souls firelink shrine hub). Every time you die, you do not simply respawn at a checkpoint.
Instead, you are resurrected via a magical crystal, but you age by one year.
Starting at age 18, you can theoretically age up to 80+. As you age, your physical stats (Strength, Dexterity, Vitality) shift. You become wiser (increasing magic stats) but physically weaker (losing raw melee power and stamina). This forces the player to evolve their playstyle over the course of the game—from a nimble warrior-dodger in their 20s to a wise, spell-slinging mage in their 60s.
Buy only if:
Avoid if:
Better on: PC, PS4, Xbox One (all run at 60 FPS). The Switch port is the worst-performing version.
In Chronos: Before the Ashes , you play as a hero on a lifelong quest to save your homeland from a great evil. The game's standout mechanic is its aging system: each death ages your character by one year, making physical attributes like Strength harder to level up while unlocking powerful Arcane traits. Core Gameplay Basics
Combat Mechanics: Precision is key. You can hold the block button to ready your guard, but pausing or interacting with items clears this input. Use the buffer system to avoid mashing buttons, which leaves you vulnerable even if it doesn't drain stamina.
Starting Out: Choose between a Sword (Agility-based) or an Axe (Strength-based) at age 18. Note: Selecting the sword is recommended for those seeking certain achievements, as the axe has been known to glitch specific trophies. Chronos- Before the Ashes Switch NSP
Exploration: Books and scrolls often contain flavor text, but they are also vital for finding key puzzle information or hidden items. Major Game Milestones & Bosses
The journey takes you through several distinct regions, each culminating in a guardian boss fight:
The Island & Krell Realm: Your first major objective is finding the Krell Guardian. You'll need to locate the Krell Hammer and the Sun Stone to progress.
The Pan Chapter: After the Krell, you face the Stone Golem and eventually the Pan Guardian. In this area, you can find the Krell Kite Shield (Block 300), which is more effective than your starting wooden shield but slower to parry with.
The Labyrinth: A complex area featuring the Labyrinth Guardian and unique rewards like the Labyrinth Scythe.
Final Encounter: The game concludes with a battle against the Dreamer. Key Collectibles Locations Dragon Hearts: These act as your primary healing items. Heart 1: Early in the game (approx. 10 minutes in). Heart 2: Found in the Krell Guardian area. Heart 3: Located during the Pan chapter. Weapons: Krell Hammer: Found in the Krell area. Pan Spear: Obtained in the Pan region. Mace: Requires the Stone Golem's eye to unlock.
For a full gameplay walkthrough of boss strategies and puzzle solutions: 04:19:01
Chronos: Before the Ashes on Nintendo Switch is a "Souls-lite" action RPG and prequel to Remnant: From the Ashes . While it features a unique aging mechanic You play as a young hero tasked with
where dying makes your character one year older and progressively more magic-oriented, the Switch port suffers from significant visual and technical downgrades Performance and Technical Report Frame Rate: Generally targets
, but suffers from occasional drops and stuttering, particularly during boss fights.
Noticeably lower resolution and "muddy" textures compared to other platforms. Handheld Mode: Reviewers from Nintendo World Report
noted that the handheld experience is less robust and can be visually "ugly". Legibility Issues:
Small text on computer terminals can be nearly impossible to read in handheld mode, hindering lore discovery.
Some players reported game-breaking issues, such as a known collision bug in the piano/organ puzzle
that could halt progression unless the game language was swapped to English. Nintendo World Report Gameplay Mechanics Aging System:
You begin at age 18. Every death adds one year. Young characters are agile and strong; older characters (after age 20 and every 10 years following) unlock permanent perks Avoid if:
but find physical stats harder to level, while magic (Arcana) becomes cheaper.
Focused on sword-and-shield melee rather than the gunplay of its sequel. It is often described as "sluggish" or "slow-motion" by some reviewers. Difficulty: More accessible than standard
games, though imprecise hitboxes and clunky camera controls on Switch can add artificial difficulty. Nintendo World Report Availability & Pricing Chronos: Before the Ashes Review - Review
For those who prefer to manage their digital library offline or use emulation/CFW (Custom Firmware), the NSP version of Chronos: Before the Ashes offers a few advantages:
Important Note: Always dump your own NSP files from a legally purchased cartridge or eShop download. We do not support piracy. Supporting the developers (Gunfire Games / THQ Nordic) ensures we get more unique titles like this in the future.
The Joy-Cons are serviceable. The lack of analog triggers is irrelevant here. The only complaint is that the "target lock" button requires a firm click, which can feel awkward during intense fights. Pro Controller support is excellent.
The Switch lacks analog triggers, but Chronos uses simple commands. The mapping is comfortable: ZR for dodge, R for heavy attack, Y for light attack. There is no gyro aiming (since no ranged weapons), so you lose nothing in transition.
On the Switch, the game runs at a target of 30 FPS. It is not a graphical powerhouse—textures are muddy in handheld mode, and draw distances are noticeably shorter than on other consoles. However, the art direction saves it. The labyrinth has a dreamy, Greco-Roman aesthetic that looks painterly even at lower resolutions. In docked mode, the game holds a steady 30 FPS during exploration, though particle-heavy boss fights can cause minor stuttering.
Before Gunfire Games developed the hit Remnant: From the Ashes, they created a VR exclusive titled Chronos. Years later, they stripped away the VR requirements and brought this hidden gem to standard consoles, including the Nintendo Switch.
Chronos: Before the Ashes is an action RPG that blends the combat difficulty of a "Soulslike" game with the dungeon-crawling structure of a classic Legend of Zelda title. For Switch owners looking for a dark fantasy fix, this NSP title offers a unique mechanic that distinguishes it from the crowd: Aging.