Bloober Team has released its second survival horror game in less than 12 months, Cronos: The New Dawn, following the successful remake of Silent Hill 2. This new title promises an experience filled with elements such as time travel and soul harvesting, set in a post-apocalyptic environment in Nowa Huta. However, the reviews have been mixed, reflecting both positive and negative aspects of the game.
Promising, but perhaps we expected more
Reviews began to be published after the lifting of the embargo, and the reception has generally been moderate. GamesRadar gave Cronos a score of 3.5/5, highlighting its immersive atmosphere, which manages to create a unique character despite the obvious influences from iconic titles like Dead Space and Resident Evil. However, they also noted that the game is excessively sparse in its item economy, which affects the combat experience.
For its part, IGN gave it a rating of 7/10, emphasizing that while the game offers solid horror action, it does not represent a new era for the genre. Critic Tristan Ogilvie noted that Cronos lacks innovation in its combat, making it a monotonous and predictable experience. Despite this, the setting and narrative were well received.
In Game Informer, the rating was 7.75/10, where the family-friendly gameplay was praised although the frustrating implementation of jumpscares that sometimes lead to deadly situations was criticized. Endless Mode also joined the conversation with a score of 7.9/10, and an analysis that emphasizes the need for innovation driven by the scarcity of ammunition.
In summary, Cronos: The New Dawn presents a promising approach in narrative and atmosphere, but faces significant criticism in its combat and resource economy, leaving players with mixed feelings about its overall quality.
