Eternal Strands Review – Magic Weaver

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In its very first scenes, Eternal Strands skillfully intertwines a captivating fantasy setting, where magic is depicted as delicate strands. This world immediately piqued my curiosity, making me eager to explore and discover more about its origins and the distinct cultures of its various locales. Although the construction of this world with visually stunning landscapes that cater well to the physics-based magic system adds to the wonder, I found the specifics of Eternal Strands’ narrative less fulfilling as I delved deeper into the story.

The narrative of Eternal Strands frequently employs well-worn fantasy themes, like an enigmatic magical calamity causing drastic change and a formidable, seemingly invulnerable force to be steered clear of at all costs. Yet, the background history gives the setting a sense of authenticity, introducing intriguing NPCs that spark curiosity about their past and inspire repeated interactions, as well as creating a melancholic atmosphere that urges exploration through its richly detailed lore and optional artifacts.

In Eternal Strands, the game’s history is creatively presented through the art of weaving, which isn’t common in action-adventure games. For instance, spells are given a fresh twist by being represented as fashion choices instead of arcane runes. If you prefer battling enemies over delving into historical details, that’s perfectly fine. However, for those who appreciate lore, the writing is rich and rewarding to explore.

Currently, the unfolding events in the story aren’t as captivating as the intriguing historical occurrences that preceded them. However, the main characters are well-drawn and their dialogue, skillfully voiced by Rebecca Hanssen as Casmyn, adds depth to her character, particularly the subtle toughness she brings to the gentle words of the horned quartermaster, leaving you eager to learn more about her (and her romantic storyline is delightful!).

In this game, you play as Brynn, a newly appointed scout who explores the wilderness beyond the camp’s safety to gather resources, investigate perilous locations, deal with threats, and discover the cause of a mysterious catastrophe. Brynn’s character develops based on the dialogue choices you make with other characters, enabling you to mold her optimistic nature and spirited demeanor into being more assertive, jovial, or stoic. These decisions influence how other characters view Brynn, and in some cases, open up the opportunity for romance.

What makes Eternal Strands captivating is its intricate magic system. Brynn possesses the ability to manipulate forces like gravity, ice, and fire, and these powers have a significant impact on both the game world and its inhabitants based on how they are utilized. At their core, these powers enable Brynn to hurl, freeze, and burn enemies, but they offer more tactical possibilities for combat and exploration as well.

For instance, Brynn can utilize her gravity powers to leap high into the air, grab a fallen sword to impale an enemy, or she can use ice to solidify the atmosphere and create a temporary bridge to cross over a chasm, or freeze an elusive enemy in place so they become easier to hit. Similarly, Brynn’s magic affects the game world realistically–fire magic can melt icy terrain, ice magic can freeze water bodies, and gravity magic can stack loose objects that haven’t been secured.

In this game, Brynn shines most when facing towering adversaries that guard every terrain – from fire-spewing dragons to bulky mechanical beings. These formidable boss-type enemies require careful planning, as they often have vulnerabilities you must reach by scaling their bodies. I finally defeated a fire-breathing dragon by climbing onto its leg and riding it, attacking the area where its fiery breath couldn’t touch while freezing its wings with ice magic when it attempted to fly. As for one of the armored constructs, I won by freezing its foot to the ground, stripping off its chest armor using gravity magic, and then utilizing Brynn’s own gravity magic to launch myself upward, instantly reaching the newly exposed weak spot.

As you traverse the world, optional tidbits about these colossal creatures can be discovered, providing insights into their behavior and potential weaknesses. However, even with this knowledge, you must adapt quickly and devise new strategies in real-time to defeat them. The thrill of overcoming these titans never fades, especially when you spontaneously conceive a winning strategy and witness your efforts bear fruit. The pursuit of these beasts is always rewarding, as each victory rewards you with a burst of rare, high-level resources for crafting superior equipment and weapons, as well as the ingredients needed to create new spells or enhance existing skills.

Battling everyday creatures or standard-sized structures isn’t particularly exciting. Apart from her magical abilities, Brynn is equipped with a sword, shield, bow, and even a two-handed greatsword. These tools can handle the smaller dangers quite easily with some quick button pressing. After three hours into Eternal Strands, I defeated a dragon, used the obtained materials to create a fire-dealing bow, and mostly evaded combat against ordinary enemies by setting everything ablaze from afar. This made navigating through most environments effortless as I could take down most enemies before they noticed Brynn. Only the colossal monsters continued to present any challenge, requiring me to strategize about survival and fighting techniques.

In each location Brynn explores, the scenery is meticulously crafted, ranging from silent and deserted cities to lively and bustling jungles. Certain environments offer Brynn opportunities to use her abilities such as gravity and ice manipulation to traverse them vertically, allowing her to leap between buildings or towers, and occasionally uncover hidden secrets. While these places are seldom challenging to navigate, even when the dynamic weather system presents dangers like poisonous fog, they follow a linear path, guiding Brynn from one side to another to reach her next goal. Despite multiple missions being active simultaneously at times, it rarely feels like you’re truly exploring the spaces. For a game that positions its protagonist as a trailblazer leading the way, Brynn spends a great deal of Eternal Strands following instructions and being directed where she can go once a new area opens up for exploration. Although Eternal Strands empowers you to hone your skills in defeating the colossal monsters scattered throughout its treacherous world, it restricts you in almost every aspect.

Eternal Strands is an uncomplicated action-adventure title. The magic system, which relies on physics, brings excitement and strategic depth to Brynn’s frequent encounters with massive adversaries. However, minor perils often fall short of being engaging challenges and instead become bothersome distractions. Despite the intriguing lore of the world and enjoyable interactions with Brynn’s companions, the main story progression lacks the captivating appeal it could have had in a game where it wasn’t hindered by these shortcomings. Unfortunately, Eternal Strands’ weaker aspects occasionally mar its overall gaming experience; fortunately, its strengths suggest that it has potential to shine more brightly in games less encumbered by these limitations.

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2025-01-30 21:39