Eternal Strands [PlayStation 5] | REVIEW

Eternal Strands has been on my radar for some time, especially after seeing previews last Summer that sung the game’s praises, but I’ve been stung by some of these sort of AA-type releases before. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case this time around, with the game offering a wonderful fantasy adventure that I was charmed by from start to end. Sure, it can be a little rough around the edges, but ultimately, it delivers a journey full of wonder, excitement, and some imaginative use of magic.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Eternal Strands takes place in a world that was once shaped by Weavers, magic users capable of manipulating the elements to make the world a better place. However, after a mysterious event known as the Surge, they withdrew into a sealed-off region called the Enclave, all whilst finding themselves faced with hostility from those that they once helped. Players take on the role of Brynn, a Weaver that’s simply looking for a place to belong in the remains of the world alongside her group of friends.

The setup of the game is intriguing, drawing players in with rich lore and strong environmental storytelling. The early hours are especially compelling, with major plot developments and intriguing characters pulling you into its universe and instantly making the world feel like one you simply need to see more of. It throws a few surprises your way, whilst the nature of the Weavers and their capabilities acts as the perfect backbone to the narrative. It definitely had me engrossed, and whilst the momentum of the storytelling does subside a little as you progress, I still found myself wholly invested in Brynn’s plight right until the very end.

At its core, Eternal Strands is very much your traditional action-adventure, with combat at the forefront. Brynn can wield a sword and shield, a two-handed weapon, or a bow, with players able to switch between the three whilst mashing out combos to excitedly rush at foes. Admittedly, it’s nothing you wouldn’t have seen before, but it’s effective at ensuring physical battling brings with it plenty of intensity.

“Eternal Strands delivers an enjoyable adventure thanks to its memorable world, clever magic mechanics, and exhilarating Ark battles.”

Then you have Brynn’s elemental magic that adds a layer of depth to each showdown, with fire, ice, and kinetic abilities allowing for creative tussles that make the most of your advanced skillset. I never grew tired of freezing enemies in place to halt their swift manoeuvres, setting the ground ablaze to weaken foes surrounding me, or simply using telekinesis to fling tricky opponents off cliffs, with your capabilities offering a welcome sense of creative experimentation that ensures battles with foes never feel like simple button-mashing affairs. They’re used in exploration too, whilst the unpredictable nature of the weather around you ties into the efficiency of your elemental capabilities in some genuinely clever ways.

Some of the coolest instances of combat within Eternal Strands comes with its massive Ark battles – towering giants that Brynn must scale while dodging their attacks and breaking apart their armour… think of something along the lines Shadow of the Colossus but with a more action-orientated twist, and you’ll have the right idea. Every battle with an Ark feels like a cinematic event, and even though the mechanics can be a bit repetitive at times, the thrill of taking down one of these gigantic foes never fades. They definitely feel like the highlight of Eternal Strands and help differentiate it from some of the other similar titles in the genre.

Exploration plays a major role in Eternal Strands, with a semi-open world structure that encourages gathering materials, unlocking Loomgates (fast travel points), performing tasks to see your allies’ personal stories play out, and discovering hidden treasures as you venture off the beaten path. Instead of traditional levelling, Brynn’s progress is tied to crafting and upgrading her gear, with new armour and weapons created using materials gathered from the environment and defeated enemies. It ensures that it always feels worthwhile to explore the land and destroy any enemies in your path, though I must admit that it could also feel a little bit grindy at times too.

Check out some screenshots down below:

The world itself is gorgeous, with diverse biomes seeing you venture through lush forests, crumbling ruins, majestic mountains, and more. The environmental design feels rich and immersive, with some truly exquisite landscapes to gaze upon that really do give Eternal Strands an alluring fantasy vibe. Admittedly, the semi-open world nature of the game can see some areas feeling a little empty, but it still manages to capture a sense of wonder that always makes exploration enjoyable.

I’d be remiss not to mention that the climbing in-game can feel a little off. It works well and it rarely glitched out at all, but it could feel a little floaty and clunky. I don’t know, maybe it was more of a ‘me’ thing – especially after spending so many hours with climbing-heavy titles such as Assassin’s Creed or the Horizon series – but it just felt a little unnatural in places. But hey, it’s a small complaint and one that’s easy to forgive when the world itself feels so interesting to uncover.

Add to that a wonderful soundtrack and some strong voice acting and it’ll be clear that Eternal Strands really has a lot going for it. Sure, it has some of that AA-type jank that you might expect, but it never hurts the experience. In fact, I was impressed at just how good everything felt to play, and whilst it has its imperfections, it’s clear a lot of love and ambition went into delivering an endearing and engaging experience.

Developer: Yellow Brick Games
Publisher: Yellow Brick Games
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), Xbox Series X|S, PC
Website: https://www.eternalstrandsgame.com/