Review of Eastward - A wonderfully strange world I can't escape
Eastward is a strong fan of storytelling and the feeling of games such as Earthbound, which makes it shine even when the gameplay fails.
There is so much competition in the world games industry, so those first few screenshots are more important than ever. Pixpil, a Chinese developer, was certain to know what they were doing. I remember the moment I first saw Eastward in 2019, and it etched itself in my mind. The house is a giant, made entirely of driftwood and surrounded by the most pure cerulean sky. This house is filled with so many details - discoloration, crooked windows and boards sticking out. Although good visuals are not enough to make a game, this detail tells me so many things about Eastward.
Sam is a little girl with white hair and John looks like a black Russian Terrier. His face is completely covered by his fringe and the rest of his face is taken up by his facial hair. John, who doesn’t even speak a word, brought Sam in after she appeared out of the blue in Potcrock Isle. They live happily together, despite being very poor. Then, one day, an apparition who looks exactly like Sam inspires Sam to violate Potcrock’s rule that no one should ever travel to the surface. They are expelled from the surface and taken on a train. It turns out that the surface is…mostly good. However, a deadly substance called Miasma lurks beneath the surface. This is why John and Sam have to move onwards and not settle in the first place that they find.
It is a simple setup that takes many hours to complete. Pixpil took the time to get to know you and Sam before you were sent off. Combat is a last resort and an afterthought. After all, who would want to risk their little girl’s safety? John has a few weapons that he can use when necessary. He starts with a frying pan and some bombs. Then, he acquires a short-range shotgun, and a flamethrower in the next few chapters. This strange arsenal will get you through the friendly post-apocalypse. It was created from a world that has lost some technologies but retained some.
You navigate John and Sam across sections of the map, solving environmental puzzles, and sometimes separating them. This action is reminiscent of classic Zelda. You lose your heart if you touch an enemy.
Although the puzzles are simple enough, I don’t think they will be too difficult for most people. They were easy enough for me. While I want to recognize the effort that went into these puzzles, there are hardly any repeatable solutions so it’s hard not to feel like you’re doing the exact same thing ten times. This is especially impressive considering the few actions John and Sam have. Even though those boss battles are easy, there is no one like the other.
Pacing is the only problem I have with Eastward overall. It’s not about the combat and it’s certainly not about the journey. This is a story about a family who finds a home and wants to settle down. The film’s 35-plus hour duration is spent in cities and towns, where John assists with many errands. You do a lot backtracking and I felt the need to get back in the action.
Eastward is a rewarding slice of life story if you slow down. Each new location brings you into contact with memorable characters. Every town is full of people who have a lot to say in the few lines they have. It is fascinating to learn about Eastward’s communities and their functions. Every dialogue is well-written. This is due also to good localisation.
From the very beginning, I was completely powerless against Sam. This is not just due to the writing but also to the brilliant character sprite animation. She is adorable! She randomly offers a long-suffering John a job, and then she talks enough about herself. As if she never stops talking, her walking animation involves her opening and closing the mouth. Eastward is one of very few games that can be used well with small children.
Eastward is a game about games, specifically Japanese classics like The Legend of Zelda and early Dragon Quest games, as well as other cultural aspects from the Asian diaspora. You will meet Hayao Miyazaki, the founder of Studio Ghibli. His animations include lighting a cigarette and performing radio gymnastics. Pixpil included an entire second game in its game called Earth Born, which is a JRPG.
Eastward is not a copy. It is often a tribute. I won’t spoil the twists and turns, but I will say that the postapocalyptic setting was more than just window dressing. Warning: The story goes to dark places. Although the pace to get there is a bit off at times, there are so many other things to love. I was drawn to the stunning visuals and stayed to experience the kind of friendly, welcoming game that not many developers create anymore.
Pixpil clearly spent a lot of time and effort creating something visually attractive. Recalling handheld Zelda titles like The Minish Cap and the Link’s Awakening remakes, I see that Eastward was far more artistic than Nintendo. These Zeldatitles may be impressive, but Eastward’s team captured my passion for an adventure more than any of those titles. Every character sprite is unique, with a distinctive look like a purple beard or woolly hair. Each building represents the misery of a poor city, with ads plastered on cement and air conditioners shoved in windows.
Eastward’s sound design is also outstanding. The music of Eastward is full 80s synthwave nostalgia. It changes dynamically according to the threat level, battles and mood. The dialogue is all text-based. However, the music gives the characters a voice that enhances their personalities. A nice touch is the clever use vibration on Switch. When the Switch is near a moving train, it vibrates with to reflect the tracks. This is yet another reminder that this game is thoughtfully made.
Eastward is an unforgettable experience. It feels like a passion project. It’s fun and heartfelt, but also emotional and enjoyable. The world of Eastward is unique and captivating, making it difficult to put down. Eastward will be available on Steam and Switch on September 16. I can’t praise it enough.
James King
James is a gamer, writer and developer that covers various different gaming topics. His goal is to promote and encourage more indie game development that brings new and exciting game ideas to life.
