Great characters and a sprawling mystery aim to bring a new world to life in this RPG from legendary developers
We all know of Bioware, how they redefined computer roleplaying games with each new entry. But over the last decade much of what had made them great had left to other studios. One such pivotal member of the studio was Mike Laidlaw, who along with Yellow Brick Games, a new studio of veteran developers, aims to bring that magic back with the Action-RPG Eternal Strands.
Decades ago the lands of the Mayda were rocked by a magical cataclysm known as the Surge; at the heart of it was the Enclave, the magic capital of the world. In an instant it became sealed off from the rest of the world, protected by a deadly barrier called the Veil. Now that the dust has settled and outlying kingdoms have stabilized, a band of Weavers is set to investigate.
We take control of Brynn, apprentice of the caravan’s point, as she is sent out to investigate the barrier. As things tend to do in these situations, a dragon chases the group into the Enclave, where we become trapped. Our mentor is also injured, so we are tasked with taking on expeditions into the areas of the Enclave in the hopes of making contact with its inhabitants and solving the mystery of the Surge.
While the beginning hours are exciting and do a good job getting us hyped for the game, the central plot becomes dull rather quickly, relying on familiar tropes throughout, all of which have been done better elsewhere. With each intriguing question that arises in Eternal Strands as to what is going on and why, there is an equally mundane and boring answer. But the way we learn such things is not. Due to great character writing and excellent worldbuilding, I remained invested to see it through, regardless of its narrative.
Accompanying us in our band is an eclectic group of characters, from an obsessive supply manager to a struggling married couple, to my personal favorite, an introverted historian and codex compiler. As we progress in the game their developments and interactions become a driving force to want to continue playing. As the temporary leader of the group we have to hear every side and choose dialogue choices accordingly, and while it doesn’t really change the outcome of the story other than romance options, it changes personalities and how they might sound. The voice acting in Eternal Strands is also very good, and there’s not a bad apple among the core band. It really helps give weight to the stakes of the story, inasmuch as it relates to the characters themselves.
The game might not be open world, but each map we get to explore as we venture deeper into the Enclave is large enough, and full of secrets, that exploration remains constant. There are plenty of chests, materials and lore entries to discover with each foray into any particular biome.
Unfortunately, it’s the combat that really detracts from the experience. As a Weaver we have a wide set of tools and skills, from swords and bows to magic consumables. The magic spells acquired from each of the areas Shadow of the Colossus‘-style giant bosses are all unwieldy to use, even when locked on to an enemy, and using our melee weapons, which are slow and clunky, is no better.
Progression is also slower than it should be. Brynn has a limited inventory space for materials that we gather out in the field and these resources are used to upgrade camp stations, as well as craft our gear.
Where the game shines the brightest is in its presentation. The visuals are bright and colorful and the accompanying musical score is well done. The fanfare each time we take down a boss helps get the blood pumping. But more than the visuals or music is the quality of the sound design. Playing with good surround sound or 3D headphones is recommended; hearing the thumping of a titan or beating wings of a drake far off in the distance is appropriately epic, but the environmental noises like spreading fire and shattering ice remain just as entrancing.
Eternal Strands had been on my radar for awhile. A game from Mike Laidlaw, one of the main creative forces behind Jade Empire and Dragon Age: Origins, that somehow managed to mix elements from those titles with Breath of the Wild and Shadow of the Colossus? You couldn’t get me to sign up faster. And while I’m glad I did get to experience it, I can’t say it’s an easy recommendation. For each high there seems to be frustrating faults, hopefully which can be addressed in a sequel, for I see much potential in both the studio and the world of the Mayda.
This review is based on a Steam code sent to SideQuesting by the publisher. Images and video courtesy publisher.
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