I Played Chrono Odyssey — It's Better Than I Expected, But Still Mid

Finally, I got some hands-on time with Chrono Odyssey over the weekend during its closed beta. I spent several hours with Chrono Studio’s upcoming MMORPG. And honestly? It’s better than I expected, but still mid.

Going in, I’d already seen a wave of early impressions, most of them negative. The developers pitched the game as a next-gen, visually stunning experience, but the reality doesn’t quite hit that mark. The graphics aren’t as polished as the trailers made them seem, and there are consistent performance issues — frame drops, clunky animations, and random stuttering. Players also reported that the combat, which was hyped as a standout feature, feels awkward and repetitive.

Now, after playing it myself, I get the frustration. That being said, I see potential. The visuals aren’t bad, just not mind-blowing. The action combat is fast and responsive, but not particularly impactful or layered. Managing Stamina and Vigor gets annoying fast; you end up relying on basic attacks more than anything else. Skill usage feels limited and flat, though I’m guessing things improve as you level up. Boss fights are the standout, though — they’re tough, engaging, and force you to learn or grind. Unfortunately, the questing system is a mess, and the fast travel setup is painful. Seriously, the sheer amount of running around from point to point is absurd.

So, will I be there on launch day? Only if the price is right. New World — which is what Chrono Odyssey is being compared to — was $40 at launch. That seems like a fair price for this game. Hopefully, Chrono Studio will clean things up significantly. There’s something here; it just needs more time in the oven. And by that, I mean the game needs to cook for like another year or two.