Title: Eternal Strands
Genre: Action, Adventure
Developer: Yellow Brick Games
Publisher: Yellow Brick Games
Release Date: Jan 28, 2025
Style: Cel-Shaded, Vivid
Eternal Strands is an ambitious action-adventure title that blends elemental magic, open-world exploration, and high-stakes battles against towering foes. Developed by Yellow Brick Games, a new independent studio founded by industry veterans, the game follows Brynn, a fearless young Weaver determined to reclaim her people’s lost cultural home.
While Eternal Strands introduces some fresh mechanics and an innovative physics-driven combat system, it also leans heavily on its inspirations, particularly The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Whether this works in its favor or not depends on how much familiarity players are willing to embrace in exchange for an engaging fantasy experience.
[A review copy of the game was provided by the publisher]
Gameplay – A Blend of Magic and Familiarity
At its core, Eternal Strands is a fantasy action-adventure game that allows players to wield elemental magic alongside traditional sword-and-shield combat. Brynn’s abilities—fire, ice, and telekinesis—replace the Sheikah Slate mechanics from Breath of the Wild, allowing her to manipulate the environment and create new traversal paths. The game also features a stamina system, bow-and-arrow combat, and open-ended exploration, all of which will feel instantly recognizable to Zelda fans.
Eternal Strands adds a bit of realism in how its elemental abilities interact with the world. Heat spreads, ice chills, and terrain can be manipulated in real time—offering creative ways to approach combat and puzzle-solving. Players can snap trees to block incoming fire, hurl burning logs at enemies, or freeze lakes to create new paths. This level of environmental reactivity encourages experimentation, making each encounter feel dynamic and strategic.
However, while these mechanics are impressive in concept, their execution isn’t always perfect. Combat and traversal can feel stiff at times, and the stamina system may present a learning curve for players unfamiliar with this style of gameplay.
Combat – Challenging, but Occasionally Frustrating
The combat in Eternal Strands is both strategic and punishing. One of the most notable features is its commitment to realistic friendly fire—Brynn can be harmed by her own elemental attacks, which means players must be cautious when using magic. If she creates an ice pillar and stands on it, she takes damage. If a fire spell spreads too far, it can engulf her as well. While this adds a layer of realism and depth, it also makes combat feel less fluid and more punishing than it needs to be.
Battles involve facing a variety of enemies, from humanoid constructs to massive, towering creatures. Some of the most exciting encounters involve these titanic foes, where players must climb their massive forms, shatter armor, and attack weak points to gain the upper hand. However, attack animations and movement can feel a bit rigid, which slightly detracts from the intensity of these battles. The influence of Final Fantasy XV’s magic grenade system is noticeable, but Eternal Strands struggles to make its combat feel as smooth or satisfying.
Exploration and World Design – A Visual and Narrative Highlight
Where Eternal Strands truly excels is in its world-building. The environments are dense, visually striking, and teeming with secrets. From the wilds to the capital city of Dynevron, the game’s setting feels alive, offering players countless opportunities to discover hidden paths, ancient ruins, and lost knowledge. Every surface is climbable, and Brynn’s magical abilities can be used to bridge gaps, burn barriers, or launch herself across the landscape.
The game also introduces an “unstable climate” system, where changes in weather affect gameplay. A flash freeze can make ice abilities stronger, while a heatwave can turn a wildfire into a deadly weapon. This feature makes the world feel reactive and adds another layer of depth to both exploration and combat.
However, the game’s narrative and dialogue lean heavily on classic high-fantasy conventions. The characters speak with a pseudo-British accent reminiscent of Lord of the Rings, which may feel overly familiar to genre fans. That said, the diverse cast and strong female protagonist help the game establish its own identity within the fantasy space.
Story and Characters – Engaging but Trope-Filled
The story follows Brynn’s journey as she seeks to reclaim the Enclave and uncover its lost mysteries. While the narrative itself is engaging, it doesn’t necessarily break new ground. The plot follows many of the expected high-fantasy tropes, but its execution is strong enough to keep players invested.
One of the game’s strengths is its protagonist, Brynn, who is well-developed and easy to root for. Her adventure feels meaningful, and the mystery surrounding the Enclave’s history adds an intriguing layer to the storytelling. Additionally, interacting with the various characters at base camp provides more insight into the world, making exploration feel rewarding beyond just gameplay.
Performance and Technical Aspects – A Bit of Indie Jank
On a technical level, Eternal Strands runs smoothly, with consistent frame rates and no major bugs or crashes. However, there is a certain level of indie game “jank” present in character animations and traversal. Movement can sometimes feel stiff, and animations—particularly in combat—lack a certain polish that could elevate the experience further.
While these issues don’t ruin the game, they do make it feel slightly rough around the edges. Additional refinement in these areas would help Eternal Strands reach its full potential.
Sound and Music – Serviceable but Unremarkable
The game’s orchestral soundtrack is fitting but doesn’t leave a lasting impression. It follows the traditional high-fantasy formula—sweeping strings, epic brass, and dramatic crescendos—but lacks the distinct personality needed to make it memorable. Fans of Lord of the Rings and other Tolkien-inspired fantasy settings may appreciate the familiar tone, but it doesn’t do much to differentiate itself.
Final Verdict – A Worthwhile Adventure for the Right Audience
Eternal Strands is a game that will strongly appeal to fans of The Legend of Zelda and Genshin Impact. Its vibrant world, engaging protagonist, and innovative elemental mechanics make it a worthwhile experience, even if it occasionally struggles to establish its own identity.
The game’s realistic magic physics, dynamic weather interactions, and large-scale battles against giant foes set it apart from other action-adventure titles. However, its stiff combat, stamina-based traversal, and heavy reliance on Breath of the Wild mechanics may deter some players.
That said, those willing to embrace its familiar elements will find an enjoyable and rewarding adventure. Eternal Strands may not revolutionize the genre, but it successfully delivers an immersive and challenging fantasy experience.
Pros:
✔️ Rich, vibrant world with strong environmental storytelling
✔️ Engaging protagonist and well-executed fantasy narrative
✔️ Elemental magic system encourages creative problem-solving
✔️ Large-scale battles against giant foes add excitement
Cons:
❌ Combat can feel stiff and punishing due to friendly fire mechanics
❌ Gameplay heavily mirrors Breath of the Wild, which may be a turn-off for some
❌ Animations and traversal lack polish
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