Review: Eternal Strands - A New IP With Big Ambitions

Eternal Strands is the first game developed by Yellow Brick Games, a studio founded by Mike Laidlaw, former creative director of BioWare, and known for his work on Dragon Age.

The game was released on January 28, 2025 and is available for PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and also on Day One on Xbox Game Pass. Additionally, the game can be played on cloud gaming services such as GeForce Now, Boosteroid, Shadow and Xbox Cloud Gaming , offering flexibility for players on different devices.

With an average price of of US$ 39.99, Eternal Strands positions itself as an AA title, offering a robust experience without the cost of a TripleA game. The average time to complete the game is approximately 24 to 26 hours, depending on the player's involvement with side quests and exploration.

Yellow Brick Games is made up of industry veterans, including former Ubisoft and BioWare employees, and they wanted to create a game that combined elements from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Shadow of the Colossus and Monster Hunter.

The Breath of the Wild influence is evident in the freely-climbing system and the exploration of an open world full of secrets. The epic confrontations against giant creatures are reminiscent of Shadow of the Colossus, while the cycle of hunting, collecting and manufacturing equipment reminds us of Monster Hunter.

The game also incorporates similar narrative and dialogue elements to those of Dragon Age, with dialogue choices that, while not changing the direction of the story, add nuance to the experience.

The narrative of Eternal Strands revolves around Brynn , a young warrior of the Order of Weavers, who travels with a group of nomadic mages on a mission to recover the Enclave, an ancient bastion of magical power surrounded by a protective veil called The Veil. The Enclave was sealed off after a catastrophic event known as "The Wave", which devastated the region and left the Weavers marginalized.

The story is told primarily through static dialogue with 2D art, which, despite being a design choice to reduce costs, can be interpreted as limiting immersion.

In my opinion, I found the mix between 2D and 3D cutscenes fantastic, as it showcases all of the game's art, from the drawing concepts to the finishing with textures. The dubbing is high quality, with performances that elevate the emotional impact of the interactions.

Unfortunately, there is no dubbing in every available language, which leaves something to be desired when playing the game, as we have many interactions between the characters with important information for the campaign that can be lost in the subtitles, especially for those who have vision problems.

The game world is rich in detail, having a variety of biomes ranging from frozen forests to ruined urban areas. Exploration is rewarding, with secrets hidden around every corner and puzzle mechanics that encourage the creative use of Brynn 's magical abilities.

Combat and Magic

Combat in Eternal Strands combines physical weapons (sword and shield, a bow and two-handed weapons) with magical abilities based on fire, ice and telekinesis. The combat system is fluid and functional, but I felt it lacked visual and tactile impact, which can make battles repetitive over time. The tip I leave here is to always vary your movements, this way the combat becomes more dynamic and fun.

The magic, however, is the highlight. Brynn can freeze enemies, set areas on fire or use telekinesis to throw objects. These abilities can be combined in creative ways, such as freezing a dragon's wings to knock it down or creating vortexes of fire to eliminate groups of enemies.

Exploration is a strong point in the game. With a freely-climbing system which allows Brynn to climb on practically any surface, the verticality of the world is one of the game's strong points, offering multiple routes and secrets hidden in places with hard access.

Progression is based on collecting resources and crafting equipment. Different materials can be obtained depending on how enemies are defeated (for example, freezing an enemy increases the chances of obtaining rare hide). These materials are used to create more powerful weapons and armor, essential for facing the most difficult challenges.

The confrontations against the "Great Foes" (giant creatures) are the most memorable moments of the game. These bosses require strategy and skill, with mechanics that are very reminiscent of Shadow of the Colossus, such as climbing the enemy's body to reach weak points. However, the execution isn't always polished, with controls that can be frustrating at crucial moments. The important thing is to keep an eye on your stamina to be able to climb enemies and have the strength to hit them.

Eternal Strands uses Unreal Engine 5, and offers stylized visuals with an aesthetic that reminds us of Kena: Bridge of Spirits and Immortals Fenyx Rising. The game has been well optimized to run at 60 FPS on consoles and up to 120 FPS on compatible PCs , and supports DLSS and Frame Generation to improve performance.

On Xbox Series X and Playstation 5 , the game maintains a stable frame rate, while the PC version offers greater graphical flexibility. Despite some optimization issues on less powerful PC's , the overall experience is rewarding, fluid and visually impressive.

The soundtrack, composed by Austin Wintory (Journey, Assassin's Creed Syndicate), is one of the game's highlights. The music perfectly complements the atmosphere, from exciting scenes to epic battles, leaving nothing to desire compared to AAA games.

Strengths:

Combat against gigantic creatures.

Weaknesses:

Physical combat against common characters are not very impactful.

Gameplay Tips

Exploration

Use free climbing to access elevated areas and discover secrets. Use Ice Wall to recover stamina during long climbs.

Combat

Block attacks with the shield to preserve your health and use less stamina.

Crafting

Upgrade the Forge to unlock weapon and armor upgrades.

Elements and Strategies

Experiment with elemental combinations, such as freezing enemies and then using physical attacks to break them.

Conclusion

Eternal Strands marks a promising start for Yellow Brick Games. It's an ambitious game that combines elements from several acclaimed titles, resulting in a unique experience. Although it sometimes lacks in execution, the game offers solid gameplay, a captivating world, and truly epic moments. With room for improvement in a possible sequel, the game has us looking forward to what comes next

For action and adventure fans, Eternal Strands is a valuable option in the 2025 catalog, especially for Xbox Game Pass subscribers.