Yahtzee Croshaw reviews Eternal Strands, a gear grinder with extraction elements and giant monster fights, comparing it to Monster Hunter and Shadow of the Colossus.
Walkthrough
- 1The game is a gear grinder with extraction elements. Players mount expeditions from a base camp to fight monsters, collect crafting materials, and pursue story objectives.
- 2Combat is standard, with enemies having spongy health bars. An elemental damage system allows for freezing and burning, but freezing enemies is often the most effective strategy.
- 3Crafting recipes are unspecific, allowing players to substitute materials, which reduces the pressure to grind for exact items.
- 4Giant monster fights are a highlight, described as similar to "crawl around a big bastard's armpits, knifing his sensitive areas" from Shadow of the Colossus, but more accessible. These fights are used to learn and upgrade spells.
- 5The game is compared to a "Fisher-Price Monster Hunter" or a theme park version, offering large-scale fights without the lengthy commitment of the latter.
- 6The first half of the game focuses on exploration and discovery, while the second half involves repetitive quests in previously visited areas.
Tips
- Focus on exploring and collecting materials, as crafting recipes are flexible.
- Utilize the elemental damage system, particularly freezing, to make combat more manageable.
- Appreciate the giant monster fights as a core and well-implemented mechanic.
- The game is a good demonstration of fundamental game design principles, akin to Picasso's early realistic work.
The game is considered a very solid starting point for the developers, demonstrating their understanding of game design principles. The primary reward is learning new spells from giant monsters and upgrading them through subsequent encounters.
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