It’s wholesome, it's original, it's quirky, and it's full of that special ingredient that turns a little indie into a must-play. Eastward is one of the brightest examples of what are the true qualities of independent development: a real pearl that deserves to be discovered, perfectly able to carve out its space in the niche of instant cult videogames.Ī post-apocalyptic action-adventure framed as a train journey through a cute heartfelt story of discovery, loyalty, and the bonds we form with others, Eastward shines like a diamond on the Switch. Don't call it Zelda-like: not because it's not a formally correct definition but because Pixpil's creature wants to be something more than the classic declaration of love to a title of the past. ![]() Its fluid, well-paced progression, and control movements thankfully allow you to explore and admire the view before continuing because Eastward is all about the journey despite its fascinating destination.Ī strong love for storytelling and the feel of games like Earthbound makes Eastward shine even where the gameplay flags.Įastward is not only the dazzling debut title of a very small development studio in Shanghai, just as it is not just a video game that closely resembles the best Zelda 2D in history. ![]() Referring to the world above as the “Forbidden Land”, with the threat of being sent to an ambiguous realm as punishment for rebellion, Eastward leans on fantasy to flavor its story, without forgetting about its core, real-world values. It’s just also a journey that left me wanting a little more. Eastward is something a fan of pixel art and good music, with a weakness for video game nostalgia, deserves to check out. It’s one of the more promising debuts I’ve seen, and Pixpil has ensured I’ll be incredibly interested in whatever they do next. The wonderful art direction and spectacular animation are warranted enough for Eastward to grab your attention.įor as gorgeous as Eastward‘s graphics are, and as endearing as some of its characters become, and as much as I need its soundtrack on vinyl as soon as possible, it also falls short in some ways that leave its conclusion feeling a bit off. In the future, if there's any justice, we'll be referring to similarly spirited and stylish games as "Eastward-like."Įastward is an amazing indie title that spans around 30 hours of gameplay, told through a captivating story. Simultaneously a throwback and a breath of something new, Eastward is a magic trick of blending familiarity with novelty and grim apocalyptic sci-fi with wide-eyed fantasy. So many little things, from random sprite movements, to the cooking, or RPG mini-game, are charming, yet, the core element of the gameĮastward may have some great art and music, but the gameplay is barebones and the story is so overwritten that the game could easily be completed in a third of the time if the filler were cut away. Although the combat and puzzles are quite typical, the setting, sound and art style are remarkable, making this an essential trek through an incredible world.Įastward absolutely radiates heart, which is why it is tough to be hard on it. John and Sam will cook you up a satisfying adventure you will want to devour whole!Įastward is a game about a journey and the characters you meet along the way. I highly encourage lovers of pixel JRPGs to try this game out for yourselves. I love playing it, I recommend playing it, but I also insist you judge for yourself these character depictions and whether they meet the standards we should expect from games. ![]() But I simply can’t rate this experience highly with how tarnished my view of it all is. ![]() I mean, this game has an entire virtual RPG video game built into it that you can play. But for me, the entire experience was tainted by what I quickly and inescapably perceived as racist and sexually exploitative depictions, which is just such a monumental shame of a thing to tarnish an otherwise incredible experience. It’s beautiful, it’s a story well-told, and it’s very fun to play. It's pixel art and music are one of the best things in gaming during 2021.Įastward takes you on a journey that gives you a fantastic story, great pixel art visuals, magnificent music and a classic RPG gameplay that although it takes hours upon hours to reach the its finish line, you will be having so much fun that you'll never feel tired and want to keep going forever.Įastward is a great game. Only the language barrier should prevent you from playing it, because it is plain and simple fantastic.Įastward is just an amazing adventure full of surprise and great characters. It is beautiful, it is very careful, and it oozes love and know-how everywhere.
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