Cronos: The New Dawn Hands-On Preview – No, Seriously, Don’t Let Them Merge

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Titled “Cronos: A New Beginning“, this forthcoming survival horror game hails from Bloober Team, creators of Layers of Fear, The Medium, and the remake of Silent Hill 2. In this narrative, players assume the character of a Traveler inhabiting a shattered future following an incident called “The Change”. While specifics about “The Change” are sparse, it seems to be linked to a contagion spread by those who rejected quarantine, leading to mutated creatures known as Orphans. However, there remains a glimmer of hope in “Cronos: A New Beginning“, as the Traveler possesses the ability to journey back through time and rescue certain individuals, potentially those with the power to counteract “The Change”.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but be captivated by the enigma and despair that lie at the core of “Cronos: The New Dawn‘s narrative.” The gameplay is equally intriguing, mirroring the captivating setup of its story. Recently, Game Rant embarked on a journey to Kraków, Poland, where the game’s prologue unfolds, and I was fortunate enough to play the initial hours. This brief taste served as an enticing sneak peek into what awaits the Traveler next, yet it was also sufficient for me to dust off my dormant survival skills reminiscent of “Dead Space.

Save the Past, Save the Future

In the beginning, our objective was to locate the Prior Explorer, an individual who arrived earlier and met a tragic end. Our pursuit of them functioned as a guide, familiarizing us with the game’s mechanics and introducing us to the Orphans. Just like any other player might expect, we began with a standard pistol, learned how to enhance it and combat the Orphans, and eventually figured out how to obtain fuel cells for our flamethrower. These fuel cells can be found at various points throughout the game, but until we acquire an upgrade, we’re limited to carrying only one at a time. The flamethrower is useful for stunning standing adversaries or burning their remains, which aligns with one of the key features in Cronos: The New Dawn—the merging mechanic.

Players are able to load up each weapon blast as well, a crucial tactic when confronting even the simplest adversaries.

As a gamer, I’ve found that in the world of Cronos: The New Dawn, Orphans have a unique ability to fuse with their deceased counterparts, making them bigger, stronger adversaries. There’s a limit to their mutations, but they can still absorb others for self-healing at their peak. This alteration in combat mechanics has been quite surprising, as initially I faced single enemies, learning to identify weak spots and navigate the environment. However, the cityscape soon transformed into a graveyard of sorts, allowing Orphans to empower themselves at almost any moment. Being someone who doesn’t take kindly to being told what to do, I decided to test their merging ability, hoping I could still defeat them despite the marketing message urging players not to let them merge. To my dismay, it turned out that I couldn’t kill them, no matter how hard I tried.

In a safe location, I decided to explore and see what would happen. I discovered myself in an underground network with a fuel cell dispenser close by. Only a few adversaries were present, along with some explosives for added excitement. I eliminated one or two of them, hoping to combine their forces, which led to a monstrous enemy that proved relentless and hard to defeat. No matter how many bullets I fired from my pistol, it wouldn’t die. Chasing fuel cells, stunning it, and attempting to destroy it became my desperate strategy – but to no avail. In the end, I was defeated. Will I ever attempt such a reckless action again? Definitely not. The captivating aspect of combat in Cronos: The New Dawn lies in this very challenge.

In my journey across the desolate landscape, occasionally pausing to appreciate its hauntingly beautiful fog-shrouded vistas, my main concern became ensuring that Orphans did not combine. I grew more vigilant with my flamethrower, using it only when the Orphans started merging. I positioned myself as a barrier between the Orphans and decaying corpses to hinder their merging. Somewhere deep within, both intellectually and instinctively, the battle strategy evolved from “eliminate all enemies” to “keep them separate.” If they merged, I understood that my survival would likely be impossible, and this understanding gave combat a clear purpose. I was determined to do whatever it took to prevent them from merging, thus enriching the gameplay experience of “Cronos: The New Dawn“.

Cronos: The New Dawn seems to combine the mass market appeal of Resident Evil 4, the psychological terror of Layers of Fear/Silent Hill 2, and the ‘stomp horror’ of Dead Space into a unique and recognizable experience. This is one occasion where blending elements works, and I’m eager to see how the narrative, the Traveler, and gameplay evolve as the story unfolds within the game.

To start off, the initial part of the game is filled with environmental challenges and a strong focus on survival and action. During this time, I had to be constantly vigilant, looting, upgrading, and monitoring enemy movements. Somewhere in the process, I developed a habit of crushing every enemy body I encountered, as it provided a sense of security in areas strewn with corpses. This ritual didn’t necessarily prevent another enemy from merging with them, but it became my comfort zone. Interestingly, it also helped me gain an advantage when one of these enemies turned out to still be alive. In the game Dead Space, I stamp on everything out of habit, but in Cronos: The New Dawn, I do so to ensure my survival.

The Traveler Must Survive

After discovering the predecessor, my focus shifted towards reaching a nearby apartment building. Once there, I hoped to go back in time and save a person named Eddie. Although the specifics of why I was rescuing him and how it would occur were still vague, it was during this cutscene that my biggest worry became apparent: The Traveler I’m controlling seems devoid of personality. They are portrayed in a mechanical manner, more like an empty canvas on which the player is expected to project themselves. This approach can work, but given that many survival horror games feature compelling protagonists, it felt somewhat unexpected. However, not everything about Cronos: The New Dawn is as it appears.

Following our conversation with Bloober Team’s lead writer Grzegorz Like, co-directors Wojciech Piejko, and Jacek Zieba, I inquired about this intriguing aspect. To my slight surprise, I discovered that the enigmatic character known as The Traveler is a woman. Interestingly, the game offers no personal insights about her, much like Samus’ suit in the Metroid series. Emphasizing the theme of change in Cronos: The New Dawn, Zieba explained that the Traveler at the end of the game undergoes a significant transformation compared to her initial state. Additionally, Like mentioned that this evolved version of the Traveler is vastly different from her original self.

You can count on some unexpected turns that will significantly alter your understanding of this game at this stage. By the end, the narrative takes a completely new direction. Initially, it involves a massive mission to save humanity, but eventually, it delves deeply into personal and psychological aspects.

They strongly suggested she would transform since change is inevitable, and with the game’s cataclysm known as “The Change,” it sparked my curiosity in a manner I hadn’t contemplated earlier. As for the evolution of the Traveler within the narrative, I can’t comment on that, but it certainly gives me a compelling reason to revisit whenever Chronos officially launches. In any case, I persistently battled to reach Eddie’s apartment complex.

While journeying, I encountered an anomalous Orphan who appeared to be observing, addressing, and apparently discussing (which became clear to me because I recognized myself as a woman). This Orphan morphed into a challenging battle, and after some trial and error, I managed to defeat it decisively once I understood the strategy. Fundamentally, this Orphan was unusual because it could only be harmed by targeting its vulnerable areas, which were fortified. To expose these weak points, I had to torch it with my Flamethrower or detonate environmental explosives. Meanwhile, of course, it persistently tried to eliminate me. Once I located all the explosives (and an extra fuel source), the boss battle became a breeze. It wasn’t the hardest fight, but it relied on using the environment effectively to my advantage.

After that, I went into the past and the preview ended.

Cronos: The New Dawn Merges the Old and the New

After experiencing the first two segments of “Cronos: The New Dawn,” I find myself eager to explore more due to its compelling direction and the strong influence of Bloober Team’s psychological horror roots. While some aspects suggest a shift towards mass-market horror, as hinted by Piotr Babieno in an interview with Eurogamer last year, there remains a significant exploration of psychological themes within the game.

In essence, Cronos: The New Dawn seems to combine the mainstream popularity of Resident Evil 4, the psychological terror reminiscent of Layers of Fear/Silent Hill 2, and the dread of Dead Space into a distinctly new experience. This unique blend is something I’d only accept in this game, and I’m eager to see how its narrative, the Traveler character, and the gameplay evolve as the story unfolds.

For the purpose of this advance review, our team at Game Rant was offered travel and accommodation. The upcoming title “Cronos: The New Dawn” is presently scheduled for a 2025 launch date.

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2025-07-28 18:38