Yahtzee Croshaw reviews Eternal Strands, a debut game from a new studio. Explore its gear-grinding gameplay, monster hunts, and crafting mechanics.
Walkthrough
- 1Embark on expeditions from a base camp to open-ended areas.
- 2Fight monsters, gather crafting materials, and pursue story objectives.
- 3Return to camp to craft new items using a flexible material system.
- 4Engage in large-scale boss fights that are distinct from regular combat.
- 5These boss fights teach new spells, which can be upgraded by defeating them again in specific ways.
- 6The game is described as a "Fisher-Price Monster Hunter," offering a more accessible experience.
- 7The second half of the game features repetitive story quests that involve revisiting old areas.
Tips
- The crafting system is forgiving; most recipes accept a variety of materials, allowing flexibility.
- Focus on exploring and collecting materials, as the crafting system doesn't require obsessive hoarding.
- Giant monster fights are a highlight and offer a more engaging combat experience than standard encounters.
- The game's first half offers more exploration and discovery than the latter half.
- Consider the game a demonstration of the developers' understanding of game design principles, akin to Picasso's early work.
Eternal Strands is a well-executed demonstration of game design fundamentals, making it a promising start for the developers. It offers a satisfying gameplay loop, particularly with its unique boss encounters and flexible crafting.
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