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
- 1Players control Brynn, a generic fantasy adventurer investigating a sealed-off land.
- 2The game features a base camp where players craft items and prepare for expeditions.
- 3Expeditions involve exploring open-ended areas, fighting monsters, and collecting crafting materials.
- 4The combat system includes elemental damage (freeze and fire) but can become repetitive against standard enemies.
- 5A key feature is the crafting system, which allows for flexible material substitution, reducing the need for specific grinding.
- 6Giant monster fights are a highlight, described as similar to Shadow of the Colossus but more bite-sized, requiring players to learn new spells and upgrade them by defeating the monsters multiple times in specific ways.
- 7The game is compared to a "Fisher-Price Monster Hunter" due to its accessibility and streamlined approach.
- 8The first half of the game emphasizes exploration and discovery, while the second half focuses more on repetitive story quests.
- 9The game is seen as a strong foundation for the developers, akin to Picasso's early realistic work, demonstrating their understanding of game design principles.
Tips
- Focus on exploring and collecting materials broadly, as the crafting system is forgiving.
- Engage with the giant monster fights to learn and upgrade spells, as these are a significant part of the experience.
- Appreciate the first half of the game for its sense of exploration and discovery.
Eternal Strands is a well-executed debut that showcases the developers' understanding of game design, offering a unique blend of familiar mechanics with its own twists, particularly in its boss encounters and crafting system.
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