Question to those who purchased the game: how is the writing?

[Ingel Riday]

TLDR: Title

_______________________________

I've looked up this game a bit today, and I've seen some positive signs.

- The gameplay footage looks fine, like a fusion of Immortals: Fenyx Rising with Shadow of the Colossus.
- Soundtrack sounds good (Austin Wintory is a master of his craft).
- The staff roster at Yellow Brick Games reads like an industry "who's who" list. It's actually very impressive, and I'm sure it speaks well to the technical chops of the project.
- Not a single DEI / ESG consulting firm in sight, as far as I can tell.

So on, so forth. Nothing dire. Bottom Line: it looks like Yellow Brick Games got all its ducks in a row and avoided the leeches. Everything I've seen speaks of a level of quality that a lot of Western games have lacked in the past year (looking at you, Flintlock: Siege of Dawn, Unknown 9, and Dragon Age: Failguard).

But man... I don't know, something feels off. I'll be real, here: I'm wary and leery nowadays about Western games. After so many awful "modern audience" titles, I'm always looking for patterns and red flags before buying anything... and eh, I can't shake the feeling that Eternal Strands is falling into some of those patterns.

The main character being a dime-a-dozen 21st century warrior woman with nary a hint of femininity or curves, running around with a set of utterly androgynous character animations, liberated from any personal foibles or shortcomings that might make her compelling (according to IGN, she comes across as way too perfect). The effeminate male tiefling with his curly long locks and robes that look like a dress. Honestly, the whole cast looks like a permutation of the Dragon Age: Veilguard cast. It's so unappealing to me.

Paired with the animated cut-scenes, which scream "modern audience" in their style and tenor, and several reviews noting that this game is very dialogue heavy and safe... I'm just kind of beside myself with suspicion. So many familiar patterns. If not for the caliber of the staff behind this game, i would honestly just immediately write it off and move on with my day.

So yeah, to the people who have bought it... how is the writing? Is it good? Does it avoid the pandering and cliches that have infested the industry as of late? Am I mistaking smoke for fire and everything is fine?

Because I'd love to show some support, but I'm burned out on modern Western tropes. I don't have it in me to endure them anymore, and I'm not getting good initial vibes from the characters.

Edit addition: adjusted the title so it doesn't get cut-off in the discussion main page.

[gatsu]

I watched the stream of this game. In first 15 minutes you already have obligatory "diverse" they/them "companion" that looks like a dude but sounds like a woman.
Also not a single one of them looks like manly man. Just soy everywhere.
Maybe mining canary maybe not.
Take it as you will.

[Delta]

Originally posted by gatsu:

I watched the stream of this game. In first 15 minutes you already have obligatory "diverse" they/them "companion" that looks like a dude but sounds like a woman.
Also not a single one of them looks like manly man. Just soy everywhere.
Maybe mining canary maybe not.
Take it as you will.

Damn, no wonder no one is buying this game, then.

[[BIO] Orangecoke]

Originally posted by Delta:

Originally posted by gatsu:

I watched the stream of this game. In first 15 minutes you already have obligatory "diverse" they/them "companion" that looks like a dude but sounds like a woman.
Also not a single one of them looks like manly man. Just soy everywhere.
Maybe mining canary maybe not.
Take it as you will.

Damn, no wonder no one is buying this game, then.

Why do you say no one is buying it? It’s a multiplatform title. Then again it’s also on Gamepass.

[Ingel Riday]

Originally posted by BIO Orangecoke:

Why do you say no one is buying it? It’s a multiplatform title. Then again it’s also on Gamepass.

I think he's saying that because, as of now, the peak player count on Steam is 574 players. By comparison, Concord hit 697 players.

But yeah, you have Xbox Series X and PS5 sales figures to take into account alongside Gamepass engagement. It might be doing great over there, but using Steam as an indicator of interest... hm. Since the industry goes out of its way to obfuscate actual sales numbers whenever possible, you're usually stuck making partially-educated guesses based on what info you do have (Steam DB).

Edit addition: also, the well has been kind of poisoned regarding the "probably doing great on consoles, though!' stance. That's what people said about Concord, and nope. That's what people said about SS: KTJL, and nope. That's what people said about Kenzera: Tales of Zau, and nope. That's what people said about Dragon Age: Veilguard, and oh my nope. That last one did so bad sales-wise that EA wouldn't even mention total sales during its most recent press release. Instead, it shifted to talking about how Veilguard "...engaged approximately 1.5 million players." Whatever that means.

So "it's a multiplatform title [and might be doing great on the consoles]" isn't likely to change his opinion on the matter.

[VastGirth]

The writing is generally pretty good. It's mostly lightweight so far but has made me chuckle a couple of times. Nothing cringe so far. Nothing that amazing either tbh.

Way way better than Veilguard, albeit not in entirely dissimilar style. If you hate "quippy" style writing you will hate this, although it is done reasonably well here.

Regarding player counts, I expect most people are playing on GP. I know I am,

[gatsu]

While watching the stream I saw they already had to mention how our poor poor MC has been oppressed by some evil bad man telling her she is not up to her role but now she is in a better diverse (non men) companionship that can see her potential.
The sheer amount of time I have seen this crap in the last decade is staggering.
They just can't think of anything else.

[Ourobyss]

Originally posted by gatsu:

I watched the stream of this game. In first 15 minutes you already have obligatory "diverse" they/them "companion" that looks like a dude but sounds like a woman.
Also not a single one of them looks like manly man. Just soy everywhere.
Maybe mining canary maybe not.
Take it as you will.

I love these takes on fictional characters.

[GuNNuP]

Originally posted by gatsu:

I watched the stream of this game. In first 15 minutes you already have obligatory "diverse" they/them "companion" that looks like a dude but sounds like a woman.
Also not a single one of them looks like manly man. Just soy everywhere.
Maybe mining canary maybe not.
Take it as you will.

honestly how attractive the male is in the first starting cast, makes me think the target demo is Teen Girls. Rather than being woke. because the writing is somewhat competent compared to an agenda driven game like Dragon's Age.

[Ingel Riday]

Originally posted by VastGirth:

The writing is generally pretty good. It's mostly lightweight so far but has made me chuckle a couple of times. Nothing cringe so far. Nothing that amazing either tbh.

Way way better than Veilguard, albeit not in entirely dissimilar style. If you hate "quippy" style writing you will hate this, although it is done reasonably well here.

Regarding player counts, I expect most people are playing on GP. I know I am,

Not to single anyone out, but VastGirth... you are a good dude. Your posts on this forum are consistently helpful, non-inflammatory, and clear. I appreciate it, and I hope you have a great day over there.

[GuNNuP]

Originally posted by gatsu:

While watching the stream I saw they already had to mention how our poor poor MC has been oppressed by some evil bad man telling her she is not up to her role but now she is in a better diverse (non men) companionship that can see her potential.
The sheer amount of time I have seen this crap in the last decade is staggering.
They just can't think of anything else.

you didn't play the game... litterally she was in no position of leadership, the leader got injured, she surved a drake, and while the leader is on the mend from the veil, the main character took over by appointment of said leader. Where they question if she's capable. (we want this as though our MC should not be a Mary sue.)

The other caravan's she was apart of was unable to find a clear path to where she is looking for. The wall.... so she found this bird lady that finally found a rout. Nothing about an evil man. Everything about those other Weavers didn't want to take the risk. while the people she found did. and got hurt. Because of said risk that other weavers didn't want to take.

[gatsu]

Originally posted by GuNNuP:

Originally posted by gatsu:

While watching the stream I saw they already had to mention how our poor poor MC has been oppressed by some evil bad man telling her she is not up to her role but now she is in a better diverse (non men) companionship that can see her potential.
The sheer amount of time I have seen this crap in the last decade is staggering.
They just can't think of anything else.

you didn't play the game... litterally she was in no position of leadership, the leader got injured, she surved a drake, and while the leader is on the mend from the veil, the main character took over by appointment of said leader. Where they question if she's capable. (we want this as though our MC should not be a Mary sue.)

The other caravan's she was apart of was unable to find a clear path to where she is looking for. The wall.... so she found this bird lady that finally found a rout. Nothing about an evil man. Everything about those other Weavers didn't want to take the risk. while the people she found did. and got hurt. Because of said risk that other weavers didn't want to take.

I literally stated I saw the stream. What is the point of saying I didn't play it?

No.

I clearly saw the interaction with one of the chars when they just had to say how the dude from the previous party just wouldn't see how great MC is.

Normally I would never even consider this as anything out of the ordinary but we don't live in normal times. This ♥♥♥♥ is so on the face its on the border of disgusting.
To many times I heard about this "oppression".

"I'm tired boss"

[Llamedos]

Originally posted by gatsu:

Originally posted by GuNNuP:

you didn't play the game... litterally she was in no position of leadership, the leader got injured, she surved a drake, and while the leader is on the mend from the veil, the main character took over by appointment of said leader. Where they question if she's capable. (we want this as though our MC should not be a Mary sue.)

The other caravan's she was apart of was unable to find a clear path to where she is looking for. The wall.... so she found this bird lady that finally found a rout. Nothing about an evil man. Everything about those other Weavers didn't want to take the risk. while the people she found did. and got hurt. Because of said risk that other weavers didn't want to take.

I literally stated I saw the stream. What is the point of saying I didn't play it?

No.

I clearly saw the interaction with one of the chars when they just had to say how the dude from the previous party just wouldn't see how great MC is.

Normally I would never even consider this as anything out of the ordinary but we don't live in normal times. This ♥♥♥♥ is so on the face its on the border of disgusting.
To many times I heard about this "oppression".

"I'm tired boss"

There is an conversation option you can select before you go off to find the watchtower at the start of the game where the MC asks how the scry(?) works and explains she is unsure because her former leader would often wander off and leave her without support. The leader is referred to as he.

You can make probably argue that either way although personally i find that interaction a good way to explain whats going on without breaking immersion. That said things do get more mary sueish later on with some of the potential dialog options.

For disclosure im basing this on a play through of the demo.

[Unembellished Genius]

Originally posted by gatsu:

Originally posted by GuNNuP:

you didn't play the game... litterally she was in no position of leadership, the leader got injured, she surved a drake, and while the leader is on the mend from the veil, the main character took over by appointment of said leader. Where they question if she's capable. (we want this as though our MC should not be a Mary sue.)

The other caravan's she was apart of was unable to find a clear path to where she is looking for. The wall.... so she found this bird lady that finally found a rout. Nothing about an evil man. Everything about those other Weavers didn't want to take the risk. while the people she found did. and got hurt. Because of said risk that other weavers didn't want to take.

I literally stated I saw the stream. What is the point of saying I didn't play it?

No.

I clearly saw the interaction with one of the chars when they just had to say how the dude from the previous party just wouldn't see how great MC is.

Normally I would never even consider this as anything out of the ordinary but we don't live in normal times. This ♥♥♥♥ is so on the face its on the border of disgusting.
To many times I heard about this "oppression".

"I'm tired boss"

Youre so lost in the sauce you see culture wars in everything. I feel sorry for you.

[Raynn von Valancius]

To be fair, with the current quality most games are launching with, the Gamepass model is definitely the less risky option so I do expect most of the population to initially use that route.

Gives you a chance to try the game out at a tenth the asking price and if it's garbage you save money. If the game is solid, you can then buy it. I feel like the 10-20 dollar difference is worth not fully rewarding a garbage title. We're getting so many of them these days it seems like the smarter choice.

Definitely wish I had taken that route with Starfield and saved the 100 bucks and I did use that method with Veilguard and won there.

[teg]

. If you hate "quippy" style writing you will hate this, although it is done reasonably well here.

Oh man I hate that style of interaction. The "marvel" style. I want a game that takes itself seriously.

Thanks for pointing this out.