Info about Eternal Strands: Official game description: Just Updated ============ **Eternal Strands: PARASITE Cosmetics - FREE DLC UPDATE** --------------------------------------------------------- **A Killer Collaboration with Grasshopper Manufacture** For this special update, Yellow Brick Games teams up with Suda51 and Tadayuki Nomaru from Grasshopper Manufacture, known for the _No More Heroes_ series and upcoming _Romeo is a Dead Man_, to co-develop the new Gallant heavy armor set and Parasite weapon recipes, which reskin the existing Kinetic Bow, Frost Sword & Shield, and Flame Two-Hander. **What’s New in the _Eternal Strands: PARASITE Cosmetics_ Update?** * **New Heavy Armor Set** **and Weapon Recipes** – Custom-forged for chaos, the new collaboration content brings a unique labyrinth-like twist to Brynn’s attire and arsenal, with the recipes scattered across the various regions of the Enclave. * **Graphics Updates** – The new update brings the integration of Intel’s XeSS-FG and XeSS-XeLL to enhance visual fluidity and responsiveness, alongside an update to NVIDIA DLSS version 4 and AMD FidelityFX™ Super Resolution version 3. * **Bug Fixes & Quality of Life Enhancements** – A number of bug fixes and quality of life improvements based on community feedback bring further improvements to the game in this small Summer update. Just Updated ============ **Eternal Strands: Stargazer - FREE DLC UPDATE** ------------------------------------------------ **A Legendary Collaboration with Square Enix’s Creative Studio III** For this special update, Yellow Brick Games teamed up with Creative Studio III’s Yusuke Mogi, the visionary artist known for his art in FINAL FANTASY XIV Online, to co-develop stunning original content. This partnership brings **The Ark of the Nova**, a powerful new aerial Epic, which wields all three major magic types on the battlefield, providing a formidable opponent for Brynn and the weaverband. Fans will also be thrilled to don **an all-new armor set**, embracing a timeless look with a magical twist. Additionally, **three weapon recipes** allow players to transform existing weapons with breathtaking new visual designs - keeping their favorite gear while giving it a fresh, striking aesthetic. This update doesn’t stop at collaboration – the new free DLC introduces an array of exciting additions and improvements: * **A Brand-New Map** – Step into Starlight Cape, an uncharted territory filled with fresh vertical challenges, a new Elite Ember Servant minion, and additional lore that pull Brynn and her companions even deeper into the Enclave’s mysteries. * **A New Power for Brynn** – Inspired by The Astrologer, this ability unlocks a dynamic drone that synergizes with Brynn’s existing magical spells to provide even more unique gameplay opportunities for players. * **Story Mode Difficulty** – A more accessible way to experience the game’s rich narrative without the intense challenge. * **Dyeing System for Armor** – Players can finally customize their gear’s colors without affecting stats, bringing more personalization to the adventure! * **Tips and Tricks Hub at Oria’s Station** – A central place to learn and master the game’s mechanics, offering invaluable insights for newcomers and veterans alike. * **Bug Fixes & Quality of Life Enhancements** – Numerous bug fixes and quality of life improvements provide a more polished experience, in addition to the improved combat, movement, and numerous other refinements carried over from the previous Day 30 Patch. About the Game ============== Eternal Strands is a **third-person fantasy action game where ARPG-style elemental mastery meets open-zone exploration and improvisation**. Players step into a richly reactive world, not just to follow a path, but to forge one. You play as Brynn, a young Weaver, wielding fire, ice, and kinetic magic as tools of survival, strategy, and power. Whether freezing a dragon’s wings mid-flight or tearing apart the battlefield with physics-driven chaos, every encounter demands quick thinking and creative control, not just reflex. With full traversal freedom, dynamic environments, and colossal foes that must be scaled and outwitted, Eternal Strands invites players to explore on their terms and fight on their instincts. There are no locked builds, no scripted solutions - just raw power, a broken world, and the legend you choose to create. A game where the elements obey you, the terrain bends to your will, and every victory is entirely your own. **The World is Your Weapon** ---------------------------- At the heart of Eternal Strands beats a revolutionary new system for gameplay interactions: heat spreads, cold chills, and real-time destruction allows for unprecedented reactivity in combat. Hurl burning tree trunks at enemies with telekinetic powers, snap nearby trees to block opposing fire, or channel raw telekinetic force to rip boulders from the ground. **Weaver of Magic** ------------------- Wear the Mantle, a magical cloak that channels raw magic into raging flame, chilling ice, and telekinetic force. Combine your growing array of powers with enchanted weapons and armor crafted from slain enemies to create a custom look and style. Block incoming attacks with a wall of magical ice, lash out waves of flame from a massive two-handed blade, or toss enemies off a cliff with raw force. **Stand Against Giants** ------------------------ Face gigantic adversaries and defeat them through a mix of sword, spell, and mobility. Leap onto and climb their massive forms to attack from different angles. Shatter armor or slice at weak spots to diminish their protection. Use ice to pin limbs of a towering foe, arcane flames to burn their fur, or catch lobbed projectiles and turn their attacks back upon them in battles that will leave scars upon the land. **Unstable Climate to Master** ------------------------------ Enhance the effectiveness of your ice abilities during a flash freeze to open up new paths. Use a heatwave to start a wildfire and watch it spread towards enemies as it consumes the tinder-dry trees and grass around it. **A World Rich with Secrets** ----------------------------- Explore the wilds, the capital city of Dynevron, and the secrets beneath as every surface is climbable. Magical abilities can create bridges, burn barriers, or launch Brynn across the world. The next-generation physics system encourages and rewards player creativity in exploration as much as combat. As the Enclave’s secrets unfold, return to base camp to consult with a rich cast of characters. Each are keen to discover the mysteries of what happened to this lost bastion of power and knowledge. A realm of mystery, opportunity, danger, and wonder: **the Enclave awaits.** Release date: Jan 28, 2025 Categories: Action RPG, Open-World Exploration, Spell-based Combat, Environmental Combat, Climbing Gameplay, Monster Hunting, Crafting, Single-player Story - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: No data - Playtime Metrics: No data - Time-to-fun: No data - Player Archetypes: No data Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - Highly Enjoyable & Excellent Value (weight 0.99): Players consistently describe the game as an absolute joy to play, an impressive debut from a new studio, and an independent masterpiece. It offers significant content and value, leading many to recommend it as a worthwhile purchase that exceeded expectations. - Engaging Characters & Stellar Voice Acting (weight 0.64): The game features a diverse cast of well-written, memorable, and likable characters with compelling relationships and development. Reviewers particularly praise the excellent, often top-notch, voice acting for bringing these characters to life and enhancing the narrative. - Rewarding Exploration & Fluid Traversal (weight 0.53): Exploration is engaging and consistently rewarded with secrets, resources, and lore in a semi-open world with distinct, detailed maps. The 'climb anything' mechanic, often compared to 'Breath of the Wild,' is a central and highly praised traversal feature, seamlessly integrating with both exploration and combat. - Dynamic Boss Fights & Strategic Hunts (weight 0.44): Boss battles are a major highlight, consistently described as epic, unique, and puzzle-like, often evoking a 'Shadow of the Colossus' or 'Monster Hunter' feel. Players enjoy the strategic challenge of climbing large enemies, exploiting weak points, and using diverse abilities for takedowns. - Player-Friendly & Respects Time (weight 0.39): Reviewers appreciate the game's accessibility, straightforward design, and streamlined experience, which avoids excessive grind or unnecessary complexity. Its balanced difficulty and thoughtful pacing contribute to a relaxed experience that respects player time. - Innovative Physics-Based Magic System (weight 0.37): The magic system is a standout feature, praised for its unique, innovative, and fun physics-based interactions with the environment and enemies. Players enjoy combining spells and utilizing telekinesis for creative problem-solving and dynamic combat. - Flexible & Forgiving Crafting System (weight 0.35): The crafting and upgrade system is highly praised for its depth, flexibility, and player-friendly design. It allows extensive customization of gear, impacting both stats and visual appearance, with the added benefit of full material refunds on reforging, encouraging experimentation without penalty. - Compelling Story & Rich World Lore (weight 0.31): The story is consistently found to be engaging, interesting, and well-paced, with a deep and imaginative world lore that enriches the experience. High-quality writing and dialogue effectively build the narrative and characters, making players invested in the world's mysteries. - Stunning & Unique Art Style (weight 0.29): The game's visuals are universally celebrated for their beautiful, gorgeous, and stylized art direction, often described as painterly or cartoonish. This distinct aesthetic creates an immersive atmosphere, enhancing character portrayal and contributing significantly to the game's overall charm and appeal. - Accessible & Engaging Combat System (weight 0.26): The combat system is generally enjoyable, engaging, and satisfying, evolving into a dynamic experience that offers strategic depth. It's considered approachable for various skill levels, offering varied approaches through magic and environmental interactions without being overly difficult. - Cohesive Gameplay Loop & Blended Influences (weight 0.23): The core gameplay loop, integrating expeditions, resource gathering, crafting, and monster hunting, is highly addictive and satisfying. The game is lauded for its successful and unique blend of mechanics inspired by popular titles like 'Monster Hunter,' 'Shadow of the Colossus,' and 'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.' Common complaints: - Story, Pacing, Characters Flawed (weight 0.54): The narrative is frequently described as generic, boring, and predictable, suffering from inconsistent pacing with a slow start, a drawn-out middle, and an abrupt ending. Characters are often perceived as bland, one-dimensional, or insufferable, with excessive and verbose dialogue that lacks genuine conflict, often leading players to skip it. The villain's writing and the final boss fight are also criticized for being weak and frustrating. - Clunky, Repetitive Combat System (weight 0.47): Combat is widely criticized for being clunky, janky, and lacking depth, with poor impact feedback and repetitive encounters. Melee combat is often seen as ineffective or uninteresting compared to magic, while spell balance is an issue with many spells being useless or underpowered. The game also suffers from a lack of enemy, boss, and weapon variety, leading to combat becoming dull and tedious. - Excessive Grind and Repetitive Quests (weight 0.38): The game loop is heavily criticized for being repetitive and grind-heavy, particularly for materials, gear, and boss farming. Quests, especially side quests, are overwhelmingly 'fetch quest' variations with minimal rewards and require frequent backtracking to previously explored areas, leading to player fatigue and a sense of 'padding' to extend game time. Boss fights also become repetitive and tedious after the initial encounters. - Technical Instability and Lack of Polish (weight 0.36): The game suffers from significant technical problems, including frequent crashes, memory leaks, and corrupted save files, leading to lost progress and an unplayable experience for some. A general lack of polish is evident in janky controls, inconsistent animations, and graphics that often feel low-budget. These issues, combined with optimization problems and performance drops, detract from the overall experience. - Frustrating Climbing and Physics (weight 0.36): The core climbing mechanic, especially on large enemies, is a major source of frustration, described as janky, wonky, imprecise, and unresponsive. Players report issues with unintended grabs, getting stuck, random direction changes, and character physics that feel floaty or broken, often leading to accidental falls or being flung across the map during combat. These issues significantly detract from boss fights and general traversal. - Annoying Limited Inventory (weight 0.06): The inventory system is widely criticized for being too small, forcing players to frequently discard items or return to base, which interrupts gameplay flow and makes resource gathering frustrating. This arbitrary limitation is perceived as adding unnecessary tedium rather than meaningful challenge. Gameplay feedback: - Dynamic Elemental Combat (weight 0.25): Combat blends various weapon-based attacks (sword/shield, greatsword, bow) with a physics-based elemental magic system (fire, ice, gravity/telekinesis). Players can combine spells, manipulate environments, throw enemies, and exploit elemental weaknesses, offering flexible combat styles from pure melee to pure magic. - Strategic Monster Hunting & Upgrades (weight 0.18): Boss battles are a central feature, often involving massive creatures with unique mechanics, weak points, and destructible armor. Players must strategically climb, attack specific body parts, and use elemental magic to defeat them and harvest 'strands' or essences for magic upgrades and new abilities, akin to Monster Hunter. - Deep Crafting & Gear Progression (weight 0.18): The game features an extensive crafting system where players gather diverse materials and blueprints to forge, reforge, and upgrade weapons and armor. Progression is largely tied to improving gear and camp facilities, offering build variation and specialization through material choices, reminiscent of Monster Hunter. - Expedition-Based Core Loop (weight 0.16): The core gameplay loop involves going on expeditions from a central hub to several large, distinct maps (not a true open world) to gather resources, complete quests (including fetch quests and boss hunts), and then return to camp for crafting and upgrades. Exploration is encouraged, with lore notes scattered throughout the zones. - Variable Difficulty & Playtime (weight 0.12): The game offers multiple difficulty settings, ranging from easy to hard, with some players finding normal difficulty not very challenging initially, while others find it tough. Main story completion typically ranges from 20-30 hours, extending to 30-60 hours for completionists. - Versatile Protagonist & Climbing (weight 0.08): Players control Brynn, a Weaver capable of wielding three weapon types and elemental magic (fire, ice, kinetic). Brynn possesses an exceptional, stamina-limited climbing ability, allowing her to scale almost any surface or giant creature, similar to Zelda: Breath of the Wild. - Linear, Story-Driven Experience (weight 0.06): The game features a story with various characters and dialogue, often presented in a visual novel style, though some reviewers found the plot slow-burning or thin at times. The narrative is generally linear, with player choices influencing protagonist personality rather than major plot points. Performance notes: - Solid performance on diverse hardware (weight 0.12): Many players report smooth gameplay and stable framerates on a wide range of PC setups, including high-end rigs and some older machines. The game is often described as well-optimized, capable of running at high settings without major issues, and performing smoothly even during chaotic encounters. - Sporadic performance drops, optimization concerns (weight 0.11): Despite generally good performance, some users report sporadic frame rate drops in specific zones, particularly demanding boss fights, or the hub area. Concerns about overall optimization, potential memory leaks, high resource intensity on some rigs, and issues with certain settings or hardware (like Intel Arc GPUs or GPU overheating) are also mentioned. Input lag was noted by some players. - Persistent game-breaking crashes (weight 0.05): A notable number of players experience frequent and often severe crashes, including at launch, during specific game sections, or midway through playthroughs. These issues are sometimes linked to settings like DLSS, frame generation, or specific hardware configurations, leading to frustration and lost progress. - Minor bugs, rare non-critical crashes (weight 0.04): Most players experience few to no bugs or glitches during their playthroughs. Occasional, non-critical crashes are reported (e.g., once or twice in many hours), which generally do not significantly disrupt the overall gameplay experience. - Reliable autosave prevents loss (weight 0.02): The game features a robust autosave system that frequently saves progress, often right before crashes occur. This effectively mitigates the impact of crashes, ensuring players rarely lose significant gameplay progression. Recommendations: - Game highly recommended, good value. (weight 0.49): Many players enthusiastically recommend the game, praising its unique blend of action-adventure and monster-hunting elements, often compared to titles like Monster Hunter, Zelda, or Shadow of the Colossus. Reviewers frequently give high scores (7-9/10) and find it enjoyable, especially noting its value, whether at full price or when purchased on sale. - Try the game's demo. (weight 0.3): A consistent and actionable suggestion from players is to try the free demo before committing to a purchase. This allows prospective buyers to experience the core gameplay, understand its mechanics, and determine if it aligns with their preferences without any financial risk. - Eager for future content. (weight 0.3): Players express significant excitement for the developer, Yellow Brick Games, and their future projects. There is a strong desire for sequels, DLC, or further expansions to the current game's world and mechanics, indicating high satisfaction and a wish for the studio's continued success and evolution. Other player notes: - Strong Debut, Future Potential (weight 0.17): Yellow Brick Games, a new studio led by Mike Laidlaw (known for Dragon Age), has made a strong first impression with this debut title. Many players are excited for the studio's future projects, hoping for sequels, DLC, or refined mechanics in subsequent games, and praise their decision to release a demo, underscoring significant trust and anticipation. - Desired Feature Enhancements (weight 0.03): Players express wishes for more complex skill trees (especially for magic), increased enemy and magic variety, and quality-of-life improvements such as inventory management options (e.g., teleporting supplies) and co-op mode. There's also a desire for more cape crafting/improvements to enhance gameplay mechanics. - Subtle Character Representation (weight 0.02): The game features a non-binary character and a strong female protagonist, with players generally noting that these elements are handled subtly without being overtly political. Some reviewers express a desire for more character customization options and the choice of a male main character in the future. - Broad Appeal & Engagement (weight 0.01): The game is perceived as suitable and enjoyable for a wide audience, including kids, teens, and adults. Its engaging gameplay and narrative twists contribute to its broad appeal, making it a generally fun experience for many demographics. - Fantasy Action RPG Adventure (weight 0.01): Eternal Strands is an action RPG set in a fantasy world filled with magic and monsters. It offers many hours of adventure and is considered a solid product by reviewers, providing a substantial gameplay experience. Emotions: - Satisfaction (weight 0.32): Players feel satisfied due to the game's high overall quality, encompassing engaging combat, a rich story with well-developed characters, and a unique magic system offering creative problem-solving. They appreciate the beautiful art direction, smooth performance, and consistent delivery on its promises, often exceeding initial expectations for an indie title. - Frustration (weight 0.14): Players frequently experience frustration due to clunky and unreliable climbing and combat mechanics, often leading to unfair deaths or difficulties in boss encounters. Technical issues such as frequent crashes, poor optimization, and a flawed save system also contribute significantly, alongside repetitive quests, excessive dialogue, and restrictive inventory management. - Disappointment (weight 0.12): Players express disappointment when the game fails to deliver on its potential due to a combination of technical issues, unpolished combat, and repetitive gameplay loops. A weak or generic story, bland characters, and excessive, unskippable dialogues often lead to a loss of motivation and a feeling that the game overstays its welcome or simply isn't worth the price. - Excitement (weight 0.11): Excitement stems from the game's unique and creative magic system, dynamic physics interactions, and epic boss fights that offer vast experimentation. Players are thrilled by the overall high quality, innovative gameplay, and the promising potential for future content or sequels from the developing studio. - Joy (weight 0.08): Joy in the game is sparked by its engaging and fun gameplay, particularly the innovative magic system and epic boss battles, which often allow for creative problem-solving. Players also express great pleasure from the charming characters, rich story, beautiful art style, and the overall immersive world, frequently leading to a desire to replay or spend more time exploring. - Enjoyment (weight 0.06): Players find enjoyment in the game's core gameplay loop, which often involves engaging combat, satisfying boss fights, and creative use of its unique magic system. The immersive world, interesting characters, and well-developed story further enhance the experience, supported by appealing visuals and rewarding exploration. - Appreciation (weight 0.02): Players appreciate the game as a remarkable debut from a small studio, highlighting the evident passion and care in its development. This includes the stunning visuals, captivating art direction, rich world-building, and strong voice acting, alongside innovative gameplay mechanics like the magic system, all delivered with good optimization and performance. - Surprise (weight 0.02): Players are pleasantly surprised by the game's unexpected high quality, often exceeding their initial low expectations for a debut or less-hyped title. This surprise stems from engaging gameplay, depth of world-building, strong voice acting, and well-implemented mechanics that prove to be genuinely enjoyable. - Boredom (weight 0.02): Boredom arises from the game's repetitive quests, monotonous dialogues, and unengaging combat encounters, especially in the late game. Players find the grinding for resources and upgrades tedious, contributing to a feeling that the game lacks depth, overstays its welcome, and fails to maintain captivation. - Hope (weight 0.01): Players express hope for the game's future potential, primarily in the form of sequels or DLC that expand on the story, characters, and unique mechanics. There's also a strong desire for continuous improvements, bug fixes, and refinements, driven by the belief in the developer's talent and commitment. - Love (weight 0.01): Players deeply love the game for its immersive qualities, often citing the compelling story, endearing characters, and captivating art style. The innovative and open-ended magic system, coupled with satisfying combat and the overall passion evident in its development, contributes to a strong emotional connection. - Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance typically stems from clunky or inconsistent game physics, repetitive fetch quests, and bothersome inventory limitations that create artificial playtime. Players also find certain character dialogues and story themes to be overly earnest or cheesy, contributing to a sense of irritation. - Anticipation (weight 0.01): Anticipation is driven by a strong desire for future content, including sequels, DLC, and expansions that build upon the game's compelling world and mechanics. Players are also eager to continue playing, explore more, and see how the game and studio evolve with potential quality-of-life improvements. - Anger (weight 0.01): Anger is primarily triggered by severe game-breaking bugs, frequent crashes leading to lost progress, and poorly designed or "unfair" combat mechanics, especially in boss fights. These issues often combine with finicky controls and a general lack of polish, leading to an unplayable or deeply frustrating experience that makes players rage quit or uninstall. - Relief (weight 0.01): Players experience relief from finding a well-optimized and functional game that works as expected, especially after initial concerns or in an industry often plagued by unfinished titles. This includes the alleviation of common stressors like tedious grinding or harsh penalties, and a smoother, more enjoyable gameplay experience once mechanics are understood. - Sadness (weight 0): Sadness is predominantly felt upon completing the game, particularly when players are emotionally attached to the characters and world, leading to a sense of loss at the adventure's end. It can also stem from a mixed experience with a promising game that ultimately falls short, making it difficult to recommend. - Fun (weight 0): Fun is derived from the game's dynamic and creative combat, especially when utilizing spells to interact with destructible environments and effectively defeat large enemies. The enjoyment of traversing the game world and the sheer entertainment of its mechanics contribute to an overall positive and engaging experience. - Optimism (weight 0): Optimism is centered on the belief in the game's future potential and the developer's ability to improve and expand upon its successful elements, particularly the innovative magic system. Players hope for future games from the studio to build on this solid foundation and for continued active engagement from the developers. - Confusion (weight 0): Confusion arises from an initial overload of story jargon, unusual controls, and unclear narrative direction or cinematics, making it difficult for players to grasp the game's mechanics or plot. Some also express confusion over low player counts despite personal enjoyment of the game. - Engagement (weight 0): Engagement stems from the compelling gameplay, which includes a well-designed crafting system and strategic use of environmental elements, often within relevant quests. Players are also drawn in by the intriguing characters, captivating story, and rewarding exploration.}