After a long wait, Pixpil’s epic adventure Eastward is finally ready to take center stage.
Pixpil, Chinese developers, have been a hit since their first trailer for Eastward was released in 2019. The trailer was stunning, and fans have eagerly awaited its release.
Eastward follows John, a quiet but reliable character, and Sam, a lively protagonist.
John and Sam are set in a world that has been devastated by the mysterious Miasma. They live in an underground community called Potcrock Isle, whose only rule is to never travel to the surface.
After a series of unprecedented events, the duo is banished and forced to find somewhere new to call home.
This journey will see John and Sam go from strength to strength while meeting a host of charming characters and unraveling Sam’s past.
Eastward is an inspiring coming-of-age story with dark undertones, which can sometimes be disturbing.
Eastward’s strength lies in its characters, who are quite the odd couple, John’s stoic demeanor is constantly being challenged by Sam’s cheerful attitude to life. They are a joy to watch.
The developers did a fantastic job writing an engaging adventure, even though there is no voice acting. The only problem is the slow pacing and some sections feeling a bit too long.
Eastward is a visual feast with a magnitude of intricate detail encapsulated in its brilliant pixelated art style.
Every vibrant setting is full of beautiful details that hide so much. The lighting is used well to create a variety of moods.
It is admirable that the NPCs and characters are animated beautifully with many expressions that reflect their emotions.
Ultra Age Review: Tough indie action game with satisfying combat and stunning visuals
Eastward looks fantastic, and Pixpil’s three-person design team did an incredible job creating this world. They kept me entertained the entire time.
Joel Corelitz’s soundtrack is an eclectic mix of nostalgia and bliss that nicely supports the visuals.
Each retro synth tune does a fine job of adding extra atmosphere to each scene and level, especially during the boss fights.
Eastward is essentially a survival game. Players will need to control John, Sam, and alternate between them.
Each character has their own unique set of abilities, which makes them stand out. John will do all the fighting. What a man to have on your side.
He uses several different weapons to protect himself and Sam. The players will begin with his cooking pot and gradually increase their arsenal as various weapons become available. To increase their abilities, all the items can be upgraded.
On the other side, Sam has a magical ability that allows her to stun enemies and leaves John with damage. Over time, she can upgrade and learn new abilities.
For the most part, the flow of combat will be stunning enemies with Sam, then switching to John to attack them.
Most of the time, players will be circling the enemy and attacking them with a powerful weapon.
It can be repetitive to fight if you stay put in one spot for too long. This is because enemies will respawn if you return to the same area.
However, I feel the enemy’s difficulty matches the pace of the narrative, slow but impactful, so it can be a shock once you enter a new area.
The boss battles are impressive and feature some of the best puzzles in the game. I love that bosses sometimes appear entirely out of nowhere. It keeps the players guessing.
Eastward is filled with so many beautiful locations
Outside of combat, John and Sam will mainly be exploring and completing puzzles. They travel on the Charon train to many cities, which are full of treasures and hidden areas.
Puzzles have been carefully designed and become more difficult as the players progress. There will be different puzzle designs. They will require you to use John or Sam together or separately.
Eastward also features some side quests scattered around various cities. These will mainly be fun mini-games that help mix up the gaming loop.
One of John’s hidden talents is that he is a fantastic cook. Players will cook up meals that will give him different buffs, depending on the recipe.
A fun mini-roulette game adds additional ingredients to the recipe.
Eastward will also feature a side story about Sam’s favorite game Earth Born which may be a nod to Earthbound. Players can play Earth Born during the adventure and meet other Earth Born fans for humorous skits.
Players can also collect prizes through a gacha system that is based on Earth Born.
VERDICT
Eastward is a great indie title that spans around 30 hours of gameplay, telling a captivating story. Eastward’s stunning art direction and breathtaking animation will grab your attention.
You will be captivated by the way John and Sam bond through each heartfelt situation.
Although it took a while, Pixpil has created a classic.
Eastward is available on the Nintendo Switch and PC starting 16 September.