Why I Am Hopelessly in Love With ‘Eastward’ GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Opinion News > Gaming

Why I Am Hopelessly in Love With ‘Eastward’

It's so far beyond what I was hoping it would be

By Rob Rich Rob Rich News Reporter College for Creative Studies Rob is a freelance tech reporter with experience writing for a variety of outlets, including IGN, Unwinnable, 148Apps, Gamezebo, Pocket Gamer, Fanbolt, Zam, and more. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on September 17, 2021 03:54PM EDT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Gaming Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming

Key Takeaways

Eastward is an absolute gem of a game that does every single one of its influences justice.It pulled me in right from the beginning, and even its minigame can make hours feel like minutes.Just look at it! Listen to it! Eastward is that rare type of game that shot way past my initial expectations and has already lodged itself firmly in my heart. This kind of thing doesn’t happen often, but I know everyone who plays video games has experienced it at least once. Where you play something that may not be perfect (because what is?) and won’t appeal to everyone, but it seems like it was made for you. Like the people who made it somehow tapped into your brain and knew exactly what you wanted before you did. I knew I wanted to play Eastward when I saw a handful of screenshots, and I knew I had to play it once I watched the trailer. However, I was concerned that I’d built it up too much in my head, and it wouldn’t live up to my unrealistic expectations. Sure—stuff like that happens all the time. But thankfully, that wasn’t the case. It didn’t just meet my expectations or even exceed them. Eastward shattered them like a centuries-old glass bottle being hit with a reinforced frying pan. Comparing games to other games and forms of media is trite, I know, but it’s the quickest way to explain what I mean. Eastward feels like massive fans of Earthbound made their own version of The Legend of Zelda, then had Studio Ghibli create the art and music. I am in love with this game.

Right From the Start

The story does that thing I love where it just sort of drops you right into the middle of it. I don’t mean 'in medias res' so much as "nothing's explained and you have to learn as you go." The wordless (and gorgeous) intro does a fantastic job setting the stage, then boom—you’re in the thick of it. There is no awkward exposition and none of that hero with amnesia as an excuse to explain everything to you nonsense. Here’s the world, here are the characters, now go! Though I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I technically spent most of my first couple of hours in Eastward not playing it. You see, there’s this game within the game called Earth Born (which I’m sure isn’t a nod to Earthbound), and even though it’s basically a mini-game, it sucked me in. It’s a simple RPG-lite affair, but it also requires multiple attempts to finish, and you can buy items in the main game to augment this smaller one. As enamored as I’ve been with the cute little side game, Eastward proper has been a heck of a ride so far. The undeniable Earthbound vibes did lead to some confusion once the combat started, as I sort of defaulted to expecting turn-based RPG fights, though. Not that this is a bad thing, of course. In fact, quite the opposite. It has a very distinct classic adventure game feel that I think I prefer over what I’d originally wanted.

It s Also Stunning

Really though, it’s Eastward’s style that’s got me completely transfixed. Everything about this game’s presentation from the soundtrack to the visuals has been a delight. I wish I could highlight some of my favorite audio tracks but the trailer will have to suffice for now. It’s fantastic, right? As for how Eastward looks, well, I know art is subjective but this is one of the most beautiful games I’ve seen in quite a while. All of the colors are so vibrant, and the lighting effects do a stellar job of setting the mood or creating atmosphere. And the designs are incredible. Across the board, the characters, buildings, monsters, and environments are all amazing. There’s so much imagination on display here it almost makes me jealous. I went into Eastward desperate to like it because I was instantly pulled in by its look, and it hasn’t disappointed in the slightest. Not just on the visual front, which as I’ve mentioned is incredible, but in all other aspects. I’ve been enjoying myself so thoroughly due to, well, everything about it. I want to see and hear what’s next, find more hidden supply boxes, discover more cooking recipes, meet more characters, and smash more monsters with my frying pan. I want to find out where the story goes. And, of course, I need to beat Earth Born. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire The 150 Best Dog Captions of 2022 for Instagram Razer Blade Stealth 13 Review: A Massive Leap in Ultrabook Performance Finding the Fun in 'Pokemon Shining Pearl' The 50 Best Selfie Captions of 2022 Klipsch RP-5000F Review: Klipsch Delivers Another Classic Cities: Skylines Review: An Addictive City-Builder Monster Hunter Rise Review: The Hunting Party Comes To Handheld Pokemon Sword/Shield Review: A Culmination of Complacency HAVIT 5 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad Review: Keeping Your Laptop Cool With Five Adjustable Fans Godfall Review: The PS5’s First Exclusive Game Becomes Bland and Incoherent Cyberpunk 2077 Review: Flawed and Unfinished Masterpiece Music Streamer WhoIsFelyce Wants to Create Connections Through Music Hades Review: Raise A Ruckus In The Underworld The Joys of Upgrading Late Huawei P30 Pro Review: Why I Still Love This Phone An Open Plea to Mobile Game Developers: Please Use Larger Text Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies