And that’s not because of the lack of violence, bombast, and badass redheads, either. The more complex answer is: I don’t think it was made for me. “So then why don’t you love it?” I hear you ask. I feel like this game has done everything possible to make me love it, from an incredible soundtrack, beautiful pixel art animation, a compelling story, and a wonderful central relationship that weathers everything this post-apocalyptic world throws at it. If you’ve ever felt the guilt of letting someone down after they’ve just expressed their love for you, you’ll be somewhere close to understanding how I feel reviewing Eastward from PixPil. Keller Gordon is a columnist for Join The Game. Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft should make note of games like Eastward - they'll have plenty of ingenuity to borrow. It renews my confidence in originality in gaming when a team like Pixpil can produce something on par with the big money behind major studios. Nowadays it is so tempting to devote all my gaming to a badass new console, but indie diamonds like this one prove how much story can be told with so little processing power. It's games like Eastward that remind me that it's okay to let the PS5 sit idle next to the TV. I did expect more musical flair and originality from a game that oozes quality elsewhere, but it satisfied me enough. The transitions between cutscenes often meant cutting off one tune and beginning another just as I was starting to enjoy one track, a cutscene or change of location interrupted it. I didn't love the repetitive synthy tunes at first because they sounded a little lazy, but over time some of the more hidden elements of the game's music jumped out at me, like a piano backing I hadn't noticed or a guitar lick I enjoyed. It took me a few hours with Eastward to appreciate its music. Join The Game New Game 'Never Yield' Is A Speedy, Stylish Side-Scroller With Tons Of Replay Value What interesting shops awaited us around the next corner? What monsters were going to try to rip me apart while I bashed them with my frying pan? As John and Sam traverse dark dungeons or New Dam City's bright, Japan-like streets, I felt as though I was part of their story. It's like each individual dot was crafted with the utmost care. Each pixel blasts color through the Switch's limited screen. Pixpil's tiny team managed to pack incredible detail into each part of Eastward's map without sacrificing quality in other aspects like writing or character development. As characters discover hard truths, profess feelings or show compassion, you can see it on their faces: Pixpil proves that you don't need high-resolution graphics to convey sincere emotion. It's especially jarring when that darkness appears in pixelated form. Though the game does have too many cutscenes, the more significant ones play out like an off-Broadway drama there's tension, pain, and loss.

Join The Game This Remake Of A Beloved Game Has The Style - But Lacks A Little SubstanceĮastward expertly toes the line between lovable and genuinely dark.

They are a beautiful pair, and when they're not taking down monsters, the adorable Sam is usually inhaling something delicious John cooked on his handy frying pan. Together they form not only a formidable fighting duo, but a father-daughter-like relationship (they're not actually related) that tugs at your heartstrings at several moments during your playthrough. Sam is a rambunctious young girl with bright white hair and supernatural abilities. An unlikely pair - and an unlikely weaponĮastward follows two main (and very lovable) protagonists, John and Sam, who, unlike their names, are quite unique: John is a laconic, blue collar digger who sports a flannel and wields his trusty frying pan as a weapon. It's no easy feat, but Eastward passes the test with flying colors (and pixels). Shanghai developer Pixpil's newest title, Eastward, is a triumph that stretches the standard for indie game development it masterfully combines popular tropes from older titles and genres without feeling hackneyed and stale. They ask themselves 'How can we create a game as inventive as Fallout, as artistic as Zeldaand as gripping as The Last of Us?' Like Shakespeare himself, they rummage through venerated titles crafted by the old guard and snag anything useful to them. An unlikely pair of adventurers fight their way through a mysteriously crumbling world in Eastward.

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