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 features a gear-grinding loop where players mount expeditions from a base camp to open-ended areas to fight monsters and collect crafting materials.
- 2Players can pursue story objectives, which in the second half of the game often involve returning to previously visited locations.
- 3Combat involves fighting standard enemies like wolves, wasps, and robots, with an elemental damage system allowing for freezing and fire attacks.
- 4Giant monster fights are a highlight, described as similar to Shadow of the Colossus but more accessible, requiring players to climb and attack weak points.
- 5These giant monsters must be defeated once to learn a new spell, and then again in a specific way to upgrade that spell.
Tips:
- The crafting system is forgiving, allowing substitutions for materials, so focus on collecting decent materials rather than obsessing over specific drops.
- The game's exploration and discovery elements are strongest in the first half.
- The giant monster fights are well-implemented and offer a more bite-sized experience compared to similar games like Monster Hunter.
- Consider the game a
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