Mike Reitemeier
Mike ReitemeierI love seeing hard-working employees of video game companies end up continuing to make games after they depart major studios. With how volatile the industry is, it’s a shame to see talent not get to see the light of day. In the case of Mike Laidlaw, who designed Dragon Age 1 and 2 and directed Inquisition, he leads a fabled legacy in contemporary fantasy RPG gaming. It’s great to see his expertise put to work with new studio Yellow Brick Games, and their debut title Eternal Strands. Let’s see if the magic is still there as we dive into this review!
Eternal Strands see you take control of Brynn, a warrior who also has control of a bow/arrow and magic. Brynn’s traveling with a band of characters a la Dungeons & Dragons, but she is doing most of the “field work”. This means exploring The Enclave, an uninhabited area full of dangerous beasts and robot-like foes. Your progress is monitored by the crew in real-time, as they offer insights and guidance in your journey. They are a big helping hand in figuring out how to quell particularly tough foes, like ones that dodge every bow shot or ones that turn invisible on you.
Brynn will learn new magic spells in Eternal Strands after defeating giant bosses that she must climb to hit weak spots. If this sounds a lot like Shadow of the Colossus, that’s because it’s akin to muscle memory from that game. The similarities are obvious with a stamina bar and a mechanic to hold on once the giant tries to shake you off. While these bosses aren’t nearly as large as the foes in that title, it’s still a rush to manage your stamina and gauge how many hits you can land before you need to jump off or otherwise suffer a great fall.
Aside from tackling these open-world areas, the downtime in Eternal Strands is spent working on upgrades for Brynn and the traveling camp as well. You’ll interact with compelling characters, including an armorer, an alchemist, and the previous leader of the pack. Experimenting is key, as there are a lot of ways to go about combat. I found myself kinetically throwing a bunch of stuff at enemies, then going in close, timing a perfect block to stun them, and finishing them off after that. There are several winning formulas, and I found it fun to figure out how to go about a new group when I was low on health potions.
There’s a lot of other games’ DNA in Eternal Strands, but the end result is something pretty solid, overall. Even if you’re treading familiar waters and get stuck on a boss, it’s worth pushing through for the new magic you’ll unlock, new areas to explore, and deeper lore to unravel. High praise goes to the interesting character designs which are a true feast for the eyes. $39.99 might be worth it for big fantasy RPG fans, but it might be worth waiting for a sale from anyone else who’s not intently curious about Eternal Strands.
A review code for Eternal Strands was provided courtesy of Yellow Brick Games for this review.
Phenixx Gaming is everywhere you are. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Also, if you’d like to join the Phenixx Gaming team, check out our recruitment article for details on working with us.
Phenixx Gaming is proud to be a Humble Partner! Purchases made through our affiliate links support our writers and charity!
28 Eternal Strands
39.99
Pros
- Incredible Character Designs
- Great Worldbuilding
- Satisfying Combat
Cons
- Overused Setting
- Annoying Bosses
