It’s comforting to experience these familiar mechanics within a new setting that essentially has you trapped deep underground, and it's another component that adds to the game's nostalgic blanket. The cooking mechanic from Breath of the Wild - where recipes are followed to cook health-restoring meals - is also present in Eastward, along with a foot-tapping jingle while it’s cooking.
Everything from the life hearts to the victory tune when opening chests is present, with the addition of bomb placement in dungeons, brain-teasing puzzles, and collecting heart orbs in order to gain another life heart space. Speaking of a silent lead, Eastward’s mechanics - and occasionally its sound design - is clearly inspired by The Legend of Zelda. The drastic change from upbeat, ego-satisfying victory themes - accompanied by your character’s air punch - to sudden, sporadic notes bathed in mystery and melancholy is a delight to experience during gameplay. Their relationship is synergic, as these interchangeable characters can be switched to better suit your needs during combat and puzzle-solving. Despite being a silent protagonist, John’s care towards Sam is showcased through his actions, or in our case, objectives. The main characters John and Sam - a silent, hard-working digger and his white-haired, adopted child - ignites Eastward’s small-scale story, before it gradually expands with fantastical elements and uncapped imagination. Despite most of the population accepting the Mayor’s word - and deeming any talk of a habitable world above absurd, one girl is adamant that there is beauty on the surface. Generations who grew up underground have accepted that there is nothing above for them, cemented by the overbearing Mayor. Set in the near future, the subterranean civilization dwelling in Potcrock Isle was established by people who fled the above world when a toxic threat invaded. The narrative at the core of Eastward is somewhat familiar - think Levi, Furlan, and Isabel from Attack on Titan: No Regrets during their days living underground and wondering what sights awaited them above.
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With so much to observe, interact with, and discover, you will never get bored exploring the world of Eastward, nor will you ever find where the last five hours have gone. Developed by Pixpil with publishing duties by Chucklefish, Eastward fuses the nostalgia of RPG adventures with its own collection of quirky characters, its map of unique passing towns, and its relentless, engaging storytelling. If video games are built to transport us to escapism, then Eastward is our one-way ticket out of the humdrum.
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