Eastward (Computer)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Release Date (NA): September 16, 2021
- Release Date (EU): September 16, 2021
- Publisher: Chucklefish
- Developer: Pixpil
- Genres: Adventure, RPG
- Also For: Nintendo Switch
Game Features:
In a world where the surface is forbidden, where robots are commonplace workers and where those thinking of ever going back to the surface are dismissed as "fantasists", you play as John. This native of Potcrock Isle is a miner of a few words who looks after Sam, a child he discovered under cryptic circumstances, in an underground tank.
For decades, humans have turned to the underground to live their lives in settlements without any knowledge of the surface, or the outside world, which has now turned into an uninhabitable barren land where no one returns from. However, Sam adamantly claims to have seen this Forbidden Land before and it is nowhere as dystopian as they make it sound; for the sky is blue and environments are lush green above their underground domicile.
To prove that everyone is wrong, she decides to head to the surface; and being his protégé, John goes after her. But their attempt to reach the surface defies one of Potcrock Isle's fundamental rules and this escapade leads to the Mayor exiling them to the surface, leaving them to their own devices...
But upon leaving the underground settlement, the surface does not seem to be as the foreboding tales recount for the lands are indeed green lands, the sky is indeed blue and wildlife is teeming in the Forbidden Land, which is nevertheless in a derelict state. As they venture across Eastward, Sam and John discover other settlements, make new friends, face unusual enemies and also see a glimmer of hope in bringing harmony back to Eastward’s ravaged lands.
When I first laid my eyes on Eastward, I was enamored by the level of detail that populated its hi-bit universe; and when I finally got to play it, this feeling perpetuated scene after scene. From John’s messy caravan through the cold mining caves through various settlements to the abandoned shopping malls, this game teems with details that make the universe believable. You can interact with virtually any NPC, many of whom have very colorful personalities and you can even save at a fridge whose philosophy-inclined AI will share some deep thoughts with you (don’t worry, there’s also an auto-save option whenever you enter a new area). You’ll even have the option to play a mini JRPG-style game called Earth-Born! The amount of attention paid in crafting the environment of Eastward is truly impressive for an indie team and the effort is laudable.
Akira, Zelda and even The Last of Us are some of the titles that Eastward might be compared to and the inspirations might be noticeable but this indie title mashes up the visuals, gameplay and plot inspirations from such titles to bring something that feels new and refreshing. This is because Eastward cleverly merges gameplay elements from those iconic titles with its own post-apocalyptic universe in an original way of its own. You won’t find dungeons here but buildings to explore; but the exploration will feel familiar to the Zelda-esque dungeon-clearing experience: eliminate monsters on your way, find keys to unlock doors, solve some puzzles, venture off the beaten track and you'll be rewarded with useful items or powerups in storage boxes (not chests!). Of course, you’ll encounter bosses as you near the end of each exploration which will each require different approaches to defeat; not to mention the varied number of enemies you will encounter like carnivorous venus fly traps and giant bugs.
To assist you in clearing those, you’ll also find original Eastwardian options. John doesn’t carry the sword of the chosen one but a trusty frying pan (yes!) and gains access to other weapons later like bombs, the Bang-Bang Gun for short range attacks and the longer range incendiary Scepter of Flame. You'll also get to switch and play as Sam who is endowed with mystical powers (whose origins you’ll uncover as you progress!) which you can use like the Energy Blast to stun enemies.
Sam’s abilities confer her a more defensive approach to combat while John’s is more offensive. But effectively fending off enemies will require teamwork as you can immobilize enemies with Sam's powers and have John bash them up more easily. While cooperation in combat is optional, at other points, you will have to collaborate to help each other progress when they've been separated. You will have to switch between the two and use their unique abilities to solve puzzles to progress which makes for interesting mechanics and livens things up.
Also livening things up with the gameplay are the numerous mini-games that the NPC will occasionally throw at you. For instance, you might get a side gig to collect giant grabs or work in a farm to gather some mutated livestock. These aren't very challenging and don't take up much time but they do bring something new every now and then which helps in making the gameplay feel fresh.
Since you have a frying pan as a weapon, you'll, of course, be able to use it to prepare meals! You’ll get to collect ingredients, find recipes and cook your meals which will restore your heart points when needed. Cooking operates in a gambling slot machine fashion where the more matches you get, the more hearts the meal restores. It’s an original addition that gives the gameplay a flair of its own.
In addition to the detailed environments and original, themed gameplay features, the original soundtrack also gives Eastward its distinct flair of a heartwarming adventure. These are all originally executed to make for a charming indie game.
However, there are a few noticeable downsides to it. In particular, given that it is a narrative-driven adventure game, what struck me is that the plot is a slow-paced one. I played over 2 hours for the game's logo to show up; meaning everything up to that point was mostly a prologue. And only after 3-4 hours in that I got out of Potcrock Isle to finally explore the surface as the proud fantasist that I am.
As for the gameplay, the lack of a fast travel feature is felt, especially when you need to backtrack. Moreover, enemies respawn when you backtrack to an area you've already cleared and this can be quite annoying. However, they offer a fair challenge that doesn’t feel unforgiving and the plot is intriguing enough to bear with this issue.
All in all, Eastward is a charming indie gem that is worth sinking ~30 hours into if you’re looking for an original, refreshing game.
Eastward - Release Date Announcement Trailer
Verdict
- Impressively detailed universe
- Intriguing, original and heartwarming plot
- Themed gameplay features confer a distinct flair
- Varied gameplay elements keeps things fresh
- Slow paced plot
- No fast travel option
- Enemies respawn in previously cleared places
Options
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Can I play online in pirated games? (with ps3hen either enabled or not)
4.90.1?