Dino Hazard: Chronos Blackout

Basically it’s Earthbound/Undertale meets Dino Crisis meets Cyberpunk. My wife’s boyfriend says it’s like if Undertale had a baby with the isle. It's always nice to discover a new dinosaur game. Tbh for me any game with a dinodex is automatically an S tier game. What is this some sort of Jurassictale?! The game is amazing. As a fan of the Dino Hazard franchise, Jurassic Park, and connoisseur of content related to dinosaurs, I loved it. The story is captivating, filled with elements of Brazilian culture, and always leaves you wanting to know how it will end. Part 3 really surprised me with the characters and story going places that I didn't even imagine but that made the narrative even more interesting. The plot is helped by playing it several times so as not to miss anything and, of course, complete all the DinoDex creatures. You will be able to recognize elements based on several other franchises. The aesthetics of cyberpunk and 1993 Jurassic Park blend together surprisingly well. While the whole "dinos on an island and everything goes wrong" thing is clearly like Jurassic Park, the whole "big game hunters go there to hunt dinos" thing is just like Carnivores and Carnivores Ice Age. Basically this game is a mix of Jurassic Park, Carnivores, Pokémon, Zelda, Earthbound and Undertale. Overall I really liked the game! I love the subject of paleontology, and in the game the dinos are really well represented and the soundtrack is very good! If you're an old-school gamer who’s into pixel art, you’ll quickly fall in love with this one. The art is beautiful, it’s got an awesome soundtrack, gameplay is tough, but fair, and the controllers are very tight. A great sci-fi story with dinosaurs! I highly recommend it, especially for dinosaur fans. 8/10

In an indie scene flooded with pixel-art RPGs, Dino Hazard: Chronos Blackout roars louder than most. Developed by the Brazilian studio BoneCollectors, this game is more than a nostalgic nod to 16-bit classics—it's a unique blend of science fiction, survival, and prehistoric chaos, wrapped in a lovingly-crafted retro aesthetic. Set in the year 2147, the game drops you into Chronos Island, a cutting-edge science facility turned nightmare zone after a power blackout releases rogue dinosaurs and unhinged AI systems. You play as a diverse team of scientists, engineers, and survivalists racing against time to uncover what went wrong—and to make it out alive. The writing is surprisingly thoughtful. It touches on themes like corporate ethics, ecological conservation, and the dangers of unchecked technology without becoming preachy. The character banter is charming, and each party member feels like more than a combat unit—they're personalities with history and purpose. The game borrows classic turn-based JRPG mechanics but spices them up with modern twists. Each character has unique skills and scientific "disciplines" that affect how they interact with the world. Instead of just grinding for EXP, you’re analyzing dino DNA, repairing machinery, or using tranquilizer darts instead of brute force. Combat is tactical and rewards preparation. You'll need to exploit enemy weaknesses, manage your stamina and supplies, and use the environment wisely. Random encounters are replaced with visible threats on the map, which makes exploration feel tense but fair. Resource management and base-building are also part of the mix. As you repair and expand Chronos' facilities, you unlock crafting systems, research upgrades, and even the ability to tame dinosaurs. These layers give Chronos Blackout a satisfying sense of progression. The pixel art is vibrant and expressive, clearly inspired by 90s RPGs but with smoother animations and great lighting effects. Environments—from lush jungles to sterile labs—are distinct and atmospheric. The dinosaur designs strike a nice balance between scientific accuracy and stylized flair. The soundtrack is excellent, mixing tribal percussion, synth-heavy sci-fi themes, and tension-building exploration tracks. The sound design adds to the immersion, especially the chilling moments when a raptor’s screech echoes just off-screen. One of the game’s most unique features is that it actually supports real-world paleontological research. A portion of the revenue goes toward Brazilian scientific initiatives, giving players a chance to support education and conservation with their purchase. It’s a rare and commendable fusion of game design and real-world impact. Dino Hazard: Chronos Blackout is one of those rare indie RPGs that feels crafted with love, intelligence, and purpose. It might not reinvent the wheel, but it polishes every spoke to a shine. The combat is smart, the writing is solid, and the dino-centric setting sets it apart from its genre peers. Whether you're in it for the tactical battles, the pixelated prehistoric creatures, or the sci-fi thriller narrative, this is a journey worth taking. Jurassic Park meets Chrono Trigger, with a PhD in environmental science. Rating: 8/10

¡¡¡ESPAÑOL YA!!! Edito: Ya está en español, juegazo, lo mires por donde lo mires.

I wanted to like this game but the story is not well developed and is non-immersive. The combat system is also clunky and non-intuitive.

Unfortunately I can't currently recommend this. Originally purchased early access a while ago, I found it interesting and waited till a couple of updates after it reached version 1.0. Seem to still be a lot of bugs which hinder any joy to be had. Randomly unable to open inventory(on either keyboard or gamepad), during battle available items wouldn't show, just to name a few. Balance seems questionable, as one early part there is a dino in the way to getting your first teammate, but it would immediately one shot kill my character before I could even choose an action. I had to repeat the battle about 5 times to be able to finally get a chance to attack. The combat seems interesting, with the ability to either kill or pacify dinos, but it's hard to commit any more time to this as there are still many issues.

Incrível ver a dedicação dos produtores em deixar tudo bem caprichado. Cada detalhe pensado com carinho. E a fidelidade com a realidade científica faz tudo ficar ainda mais acolhedor. Dinossauros tinham/têm pena SIM, e dá gosto de ver as representações lindas em pixel art. Claro que ainda há bugs pra corrigir, mas é só questão de tempo. Nostalgia bateu forte com o Jurassic Park de Mega Drive! Já não basta o livro incrível do Tito e a divulgação científica colossal da Aline: agora eles lançam um jogo brabo! Cheguei no segundo capítulo e já quero aproveitar os próximos dias pra zerar! Satisfação!

Разработчик, который сделал патч СПЕЦИАЛЬНО для меня ( https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1287540/view/3905248409748715023?l=russian ) в течение часа после моей жалобы, не оставил мне шанса на отрицательный обзор :) Поддержка у игры отличная, на самом деле. По несколько патчей в день. Но всё ещё сыровато...

A experiência que tive com esse jogo foi decepcionante. E escrevo isso com pesar, pois acreditei muito nesse projeto e dei todas as chances que pude a ele. Como não se empolgar com um jogo brasileiro independente sobre DINOSSAUROS? Mas infelizmente, depois dessas mais de 100 horas jogadas, o que fica é um gosto amargo de decepção. Mesmo tendo passado por muitos reparos desde que adquiri, o jogo ainda tem muitos problemas. Boa parte dessas 100 horas foi só de resetar o jogo e iniciar novos saves, porque tinha momentos em que jogar era impraticável e só começando tudo de novo para conseguir avançar (um pouco) na história. E mesmo com a maioria dos bugs consertados (não todos, pois às vezes os controles somem na hora da batalha e o spawn das criaturas ainda é muito irregular), senti muita falta de um direcionamento ao jogador depois de terminada a fase do "final boss". Não consegui atingir o final verdadeiro porque fiquei rodando no mapa durante dias sem nenhuma pista do que fazer. Isso é muito frustrante, e dá a impressão de que o jogo ainda está inacabado.

I didn't really know what to expect. As a real-life palaeontologist, it's definitely up my alley in terms of the theme. I never played Undertail, but have to admit the gameplay is not, for me personally, the style I'd usually enjoy. I find combat opportunities - and thus the opportunity to level grind and gain stats - frustratingly sparse. That's more to do with MY preferences than anything wrong with the game, however. I suppose I'd expected a little more action-oriented combat on the world map, e.g. the SNES and Genesis Jurassic Park games by OCEAN. So, it just took my by surprise. Now, that said, I do overall recommend and enjoy it so far, 5 hours on. I still find some crash issues - particularly with trying to use the map - and it's difficult for me to work out how to do anything in the map screen. If a character is KO'd, it asks me to revive them at the hospital, though it is not at all apparent how to even get there. I'm sure in time I'll figure that out - and I don't expect a game to hold my hand entirely. I just found it odd that the "hospital" - judging by the map - seems to be difficult to access this early in the game, so if, say, Victor is KO'd, you're a bit out of luck, it seems, in terms of reviving him. It is definitely a "trial and error" sort of game. Pros and cons aside, if you're into palaeontology, give it a try. I think - based on the Let's Play videos I have seen of Undertale - that if you've played THAT game, you have a good idea of what you're in for, gameplay-wise. If you're looking for an action-oriented survival horror game, this isn't that. It's very much turn-based, so you are given ample time to take action when your "turn" comes up. I think it has promise, to make that clear.

This game is dumb. You don't see progression in the game; you can buy whatever gun you want; they don't make a difference. Elemental damage sometimes hits hard, sometimes don't... why? because ♥♥♥♥ you, that's why. And the bosses are all RNG. You hit the boos one, turn the next you don't... again why? because ♥♥♥♥ you, that's why. If you want to play this game, don't progress after chapters 4 or 5 I'm throwing this game in the garbage. Mano o jogo parecia bom, temática maneira ambientada no Rio e demais. Mas é so isso, o jogo é muito aleatório niveis? armaduras? status? armas? todos são desnecessários quer enfrentar dinossauros? compre baits e pronto. quer enfrenta os robos? só fugir deles é mais pratico. Cyberspaço? não va nele alem do necessário. nem consegui finalizar não sei se é o penultimo boss ou o ultimo, o bixo da dano totalmente aleatório as vezes nada de dano as vezes insta ko e ainda da status negativos que vc não pode curar.... pq? seilah porque nunca entendi pq nao pode usar itens no cyperespaço... enfim... joguem pra tirar suas próprias conclusões.