I had to find the fun, but it was so worth it!

[Serde]

The Devs seem pretty active here (which is fantastic) so just wanted to share some feedback.

Initially I was using melee combat to deal with every small enemy because I thought resources were important. Clearing out the region and taking on every foe. Unfortunately the melee combat against smaller enemies feels dreadful so I almost put the game down.

However, I have now reached the Bastion... The game clicks here. High thin walkways, more straightforward level design and A LOT of wooden floors makes this area an absolute highlight. Enemies are asking to be flung into the abyss, fires spread throughout the level without my involvement and climbing towers becomes utter chaos because every platform has a chance of burning to the ground. THIS is what Eternal strands sandbox is, playing with your powers whilst the enemies add to the fun by providing their own unique elemental twists.

I don't know quite what to suggest for the first area. But I feel it could really make a lot of people bounce off - and this is incredibly unfortunate! Enemies take just a little too much punishment. The Ice caves are just a little too mean because the blackrock ice crystals take too much punishment to destroy before you have fire powers. It just makes it all feel a bit like you are powerless and must resort to the melee system to survive - which is this games most dull aspect unfortunately. I understand this area is one you are meant to revisit and discover new things later in the game. I.E Ah! Now I have Ice resist I can look in those caves! But natural player curiosity lead me into them and they are frustrating at this point because mechanically you are limited and naturally fall on the wrong things. Again, I don't know what to suggest, but I think your first area being tweaked to just go a little easier on players or let them know the ice is something you can come back and think about later more obviously would stop people bouncing off!

This is really a fantastic game and I want it to succeed. I am having so much fun with it, but I was close to dropping it when the first area had too much friction (not difficulty) in it's mechanics versus what felt appropriate to do. I don't know if anyone else posting here feels this way but I feel like any feedback to developers can be taken as a positive. Please keep working on this game/make more! Loving your work.

[MishaXG]

Loved the game till i realise there was a inventory limitation. I really hope they ll take it away, but keep the ''you lose all your items, except X ones you choose to keep''.
For now will just wait for that to happen, cause i already know it ll kill my fun if i keep playing like that.

Still a great game design, fun fights where you can choose your style, a really good surprise overall.
First area feels a bit weird i guess, but all areas arent meant to be done from the get go apparently (even if like me or you apparently too), we will try to get in areas we shouldnt be in yet xD

[Aeekto]

Originally posted by MishaXG:

Loved the game till i realise there was a inventory limitation. I really hope they ll take it away, but keep the ''you lose all your items, except X ones you choose to keep''.
For now will just wait for that to happen, cause i already know it ll kill my fun if i keep playing like that.

Still a great game design, fun fights where you can choose your style, a really good surprise overall.
First area feels a bit weird i guess, but all areas arent meant to be done from the get go apparently (even if like me or you apparently too), we will try to get in areas we shouldnt be in yet xD

this was basicly the most frustrating thing the first 15 minutes of playtime.
You get different kinds of rarity of the same material and each uses it's own slot while the slots are so ridiculous limited, you have to throw most of the loot away.
With these hard limitations this game is a NO for me.... i could live with the sluggish movement when changing directions, but not with these frustrating limitations.

[Lugulbanda]

i played it until i reached the first big boss, and noticed its not only the item limit that is annoying its this u have to fight a Mountain of HP with a needle, and not all ur hits hit the target even if u stand straight in front of it... this boss fights are grind fights its ok in Multiplayer with lots of people but in a game like this, its the fun killer number one just in the start region... sorry no thats no fun fighting a boss for hours only to scrap 50 percent of its HP... down..

[Shenanigans]

Originally posted by Lugulbanda:

i played it until i reached the first big boss, and noticed its not only the item limit that is annoying its this u have to fight a Mountain of HP with a needle, and not all ur hits hit the target even if u stand straight in front of it... this boss fights are grind fights its ok in Multiplayer with lots of people but in a game like this, its the fun killer number one just in the start region... sorry no thats no fun fighting a boss for hours only to scrap 50 percent of its HP... down..

Youre def playing wrong then everyboss has some way to break a part on them and that takes a good chunk of hp down, also youre clearly not keeping up with reforging weps/making new ones if youre doing 0 damage

[Savatage79]

I just think climbing on big bosses Is never that fun because you're battling the jankiness of the camera, your stamina is depleting, you're climbing slower than molasses, theyre flailing you around and by the time you get to the spot your stamina is gone and you fall off.

Holding on never seems to work, I think that needs improved and I think you need to regain some stamina when you "hold" on.

It's an ambitious game segment that never fully feels amazing even in games of the past that did that sorts thing.