*Played on Steam* This game is an absolute gem, especially of you loved the Alien movies. It looks exactly like you're in the film, down to the smallest details. The game is terrifying to an extent that I often had to take breaks to calm down. There's very little gore compared to many horror games and there's nothing that's outright disturbing such as the case with Outlast. What makes it so frightening is the Alien. The AI is unreal. The thing is always, ALWAYS hunting you. It can hear you, smell you, even trick you. You can hide, but that only works for so long as it will eventually learn your hiding places. I have never felt so immersed in a game in 20 years of playing. It's runs exceptionally well, even on my potato computer and yet looks stunning. It looks, and I don't exaggerat, just like the 1979 movie. This is a must buy, even if you aren't a Alien fan.
*Note* Steam edition, not GOG Eastward is a beautiful, fun, and captivating adventure that reminds me of the pixelated games of the Gameboy Era. The characters are memorable, the gameplay is smooth and creative, but more than anything, the game is eye candy. Every location is in stunning detail. You'll visit underground towns like the City of Ember, massive forest settlements, a post-apocalyptic Chinatown, and more as you follow a young girl with amazing powers and her rugged adopted father that reminds one of Joel from The Last of US. The story is very unique and feels like a breath of fresh air when compared to the constant shooters and battle royals that we see these days. My one and only complaint is that the game is designed to be played with a controller. Using mouse and keyboard simply doesn't work as it should. This was an easy fix as I just plug my Playstation controller into my PC, but if you don't have one you simply will not be able to play it well.
This game is mind boggling to me. The sheer amount of resources, logistics, and tools it gives you to play with is baffling. This isn't a game you beat in a few hours, it's a game you can easily put years into. I lose myself in crafting the most efficient system, spending hours upon hours only to unlock something that changes everything. I've seen people's games that are so complex and so efficient that they deserve a degree in operations management. It's definitely worth the price and, if it's your type of game, will certainly eat your weekends away.
The gameplay, graphics, and sheer creativity of this game is wonderful. It's a blast to play and I grew very fond of my party. This said, the game has one serious issue; its not finished. As of right now you're limited to level 5 and act 1 of the game. This wouldn't be so bad if not for the fact that every update forces you to restart. I've seen the same cutscene 4 times now. I know how every decision will pan out. Iunderstand the mentality of prerelease games and how it helps developers raise funds and smooth out gameplay, however this has been early access for far too long. A complete game would be an absolute gem, however as of now it's just frustrating to create a character, level up, and complete quests, only to come back the next day and all your progress is gone.
I have enjoyed this game immensely so far. Every run is different than the last, with some runs ending in disaster while others make you feel unstoppable. Every run, whether good or bad, gives you points towards permanent upgrades that drastically change the pace and way you play. I found myself instinctively knowing when to head back to the spider before a wave hit and quickly learned how to use every second of my time as productively as possible. The world itself is beautiful and full of fun surprises. You may stumble into a giant cavern complete with its own small biosphere. You may discover a long lost relic that gives you a huge advantage against the "aliens". I found myself pushing to discover the next part of the wall beyond the clouds. The only complaint I have is the ending which could use some work. As of now it feels too abrupt and slightly unsatisfying, however seeing as how the game gets continuously updated, I firmly believe this will be fixed soon. All in all I'd give it a strong 9/10.
