Once upon a time in a distant era known as the Before Times, a mysterious event sent a group of experienced BioWare developers to different corners of the universe. These developers descended upon the mortal realm like shooting stars, each establishing a game development studio upon landing. Inflexion Games. Summerfall Studios. Humanoid Origin. Worlds Untold. Archetype Entertainment.
While Summerfall Studios seems to be thriving, some of the studios founded by former BioWare developers have faced challenges. Notably, Humanoid Origin and Worlds Untold have closed their doors or paused operations without releasing a single game. Today, we raise a tentative toast to Yellow Brick Games, a studio founded by former Dragon Age director Mike Laidlaw. Their inaugural game, Eternal Strands, is set to launch on January 28th, with a PC demo now available.
Watch the trailer on YouTube
I have yet to try the demo as it was just released, but I am intrigued by Eternal Strands, though with some reservations. It presents a vibrant and dynamic hub-based fantasy action game where players embody a powerful battlemage capable of igniting wildfires, creating ice pathways, and manipulating objects with telekinesis. Essentially, you become a Dragon Age Jedi with elements of Shadow Of The Colossus and a hint of Zelda’s climbing mechanics.
While the game draws comparisons to other titles, I hope it will carve out its own unique identity. The visual style may feel somewhat sterile, but I am willing to overlook this if Eternal Strands successfully captures the essence of mid-tier action games from the 2000s that featured real-time physics systems. Think of games like The Force Unleashed and Psi-Ops – where are my Psi-Ops fans at? The spirit of Midway seems to live on in Eternal Strands, allowing players to freeze a golem in place and use the environment to their advantage.
The demo offers a glimpse of two areas within the game’s world, known as the Enclave, excluding a basecamp area that will expand with NPCs and facilities as the story unfolds. Players can experiment with the crafting system, choosing from three base weapon types – sword and shield, bows, and two-handed weapons – along with a variety of magical spells. The demo is reportedly playable on Steam Deck and progress made will carry over to the full game.
For those eager to experience Eternal Strands firsthand, the demo is available on both Steam and the Epic Games Store.
