If you’re interest is mostly in keeping things moving and full of compelling combat you’ll likely be a bit disappointed, as there’s a very slow and deliberate pace to the game, but if you keep moving along your patience will be rewarded with consistent quality in the form of engaging puzzles and what’s often a touching story. That’s what Eastward has really done, somehow feeling familiar with its smart two-person puzzle designs, evolving character capabilities, and consistent surprises as you make your way along your journey. What’s typically more impressive is when games forgo the comparison, simply delivering a fantastic experience with their own sense of style. When it comes to pixel art action-adventures the normal standard that is compared against would be The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.The combat and slow pacing may not be to everyone’s taste, but those looking for a change of pace will undoubtedly enjoy Eastward. A culmination of well-written characters, a father/daughter relationship and the incredible visuals mean Eastward will leave you thinking about it long after you complete it. Whilst the story does go a little dark at times, there is a warmth oozing through Eastward that will wrap you up tightly. It also incorporates the gacha style collectibles that can be bought for in-game tokens that provide the party with useful items. It is introduced early on in your adventure and can be played in most locations where you find the set-up, and can even be accessed from the main menu once the main game has been completed. Items, party members and fast travel spots all carry over to your next run, so don’t expect to complete it in one sitting. A run ends when you either die or those seven days are up. It does add a roguelite spin to these RPG games however you have seven days to kill the Dragon King. This harks back even further than Eastward, reminiscent of the early Dragon Quest and EarthBound games. It would of course be remiss to talk about Eastward without mentioning Earth Born, the RPG within an RPG that all the kids play in Eastward. But each one offers some prophetic levels of insight, making them doubly exciting once you find one. The only way to save the game is by finding the refrigerators around the world, and sometimes, these can be few and far in between. I only mention this because Quick Resume has become something current-gen users will likely take for granted now, but it is unavailable in Eastward. It is also worth noting that Eastward does not have any specific Xbox Series X|S enhancements. There may be a bit of head scratching the first time you encounter these, but these will quickly become second nature the more you play. John has plenty of other objects at his disposal to help navigate through the environmental puzzles. There is some minor puzzle solving to be done to help break up these dungeons, however. Most enemies can be dispatched by swinging the pan around by smashing the X button at times it feels a little basic, especially when exploring longer dungeons. Combat in Eastward differs from the traditional RPG sense, moving away from turn-based into a more action setting. John is armed predominantly with a frying pan that he also uses to cook meals for the duo using food found through exploration. John initially takes on the role of protector for Sam, but as you progress, Sam begins to come into her own. New Dam City is a particular highlight to explore, reminiscent of the busy streets of Hong Kong. But then you start exploring the wider world and things really do start to pop out of the screen. It looks slightly sun-drenched and weathered in the first few hours. Coupled with this is a conscious colour palette that can’t help but make you feel warm inside. The detail on every building, environment and character feels so meticulously done, you will find yourself constantly distracted taking in every little detail. It has a top-down point of view with a pixel art that is near perfection. You only need to look at one image of Eastward to know that this is a love letter to the RPGs of old. Much like an older generation RPG that Eastward is clearly inspired by, there is no voice work, but the emotions and personalities still come across wonderfully. Characters in Eastward are all fantastically written. The opening hours allow you to get to know them a bit better, as well as their place in society. The residents might not want to be educated, however.Įastward follows Sam and John on their adventure. Sam doesn’t share these feelings of worry, and wants to educate the other residents of Potcrock Isle that things are much better again above the surface. A toxic plague forced humanity underground years before, and the fear remains. The thing is, Potcrock Isle is a subterranean settlement, and there is a deep fear of what is above the surface.
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