It has been a long time, and I mean a very long time since I have been this invested in a video game like I am with Eternal Threads, to the point I am thinking about it outside of my gaming sessions. The last time I remember experiencing a game in this way was when I was playing ‘Heavy Rain’ back in the day, where I would be piecing together my choices on a little A5 notepad trying to figure out who the killer was. So Why am I ‘this’ invested in the game? Why can’t I stop thinking about it after I turn off the Xbox?
Let’s have a look shall we and I’ll tell you why.
Set in a future where humanity has dealt terrible damage to the world by experimenting with time travel, you play ‘Forty-Three’ (a time fixer). You are given the task of fixing a corrupted timeline in the past in order to fix the future. The idea is that by saving someone in the past, their lineage could count for thousands of lives in their future (your present).
The time period you are sent back to us in Alderbeck U.K. during 20th May 2015. The location is a shared house in which a house fire killed all 6 roommates. Tom, Raquel, Ben, Jenny, Neil, Linda. Your job is to fix the corrupted timeline in order to save all 6 and help fix the future.
How you save them leads to the gameplay, which is unique, immersive and highly original. So let’s take a look.
First off there are two ways to play ‘Eternal Threads’. There’s the normal mode that contains all 197 events and 54 decisions, or the abridged mode that contains 121 events and 37 decisions, however, even though this is an easier way to play you won’t be able to fully explore the house or get the best ending and secret ending. So I would recommend playing in normal mode for the best experience.
Now ‘Eternal Threads’ is completely a non-linear experience. You view the events of what transpired in the week leading up to the fire that killed all 6 using a device that allows you to see what transpired played out in holographic form. You can choose to watch these events in any order you wish via your visualiser device. For me I decided to watch the events play out in order to get the full story played out as it happened.
You have 197 events in total but these can change on your timeline down to the decisions you make. Each decision creates a ripple effect and leads to new events made viewable or a potential event that offers up an alternative outcome to the one you have viewed previously due to altering a corruption point and making the choice of how a critical event plays out.
It’s a unique way to gameplay as it’s both super chill to play but also gets you really invested in the story. I’ll round back to the point I made at the start of this review about my being really invested in the story. By being able to watch these events in any order and change the outcomes to affect the end event you become connected with these characters. You want to do everything you can to make sure they all survive in the end.
And by being able to go through the timeline and change choices to create new events paths you can see more of these people’s lives and also solve a personal issue for each character to ensure you get the best possible ending. There is also a secret ending that leaves Eternal Threads open to a possible sequel which I would welcome with open arms.
Performance-wise the acting of each character was done in such a believable and well-played-out way that you (again) connect with them. Even the side characters (Ian in particular) were lovable and really added to the story. So a round of applause to each performance.
Graphics-wise Eternal Threads has a really nice authentic and realistic style. The house feels like a character of its own due to the set design in each room. With it being the primary location for the game which you will be exploring it’s important to make sure that the design doesn’t feel stale too quickly. It feels lived in. Being able to unlock new rooms in the house also adds to the mystery. You sometimes feel like something might jump out at you (not that type of game) due to the lighting of each room but also down to the flashlight overview as you move around.
You really feel like you’re walking through the wreck of a once-loved house. But there is also a nice touch where the set design can change due to choices you make affecting the timeline. For example one of the first choices you make for the character of Linda is whether to leave the rock and roll posters up in her room or pack them away. The choice you make affects the design and aesthetic of the room. So play around and see where things take you.
Overall ‘Eternal Threads’ is an outstanding first game from Liverpool developers ‘Cosmonaut’. I can’t recommend Eternal Threads enough. With its replay value of wanting to see different events play out down to the choices you make and its immersive and beautifully written story, ‘Eternal Threads’ is a game you will be thinking about days after you finish playing.
Fingers crossed for a sequel. Eternal Threads gets a 10/10.
Eternal Threads Trailer
Eternal Threads Console edition is available now for Xbox One, Xbox Series S and X, Playstation 4, Playstation 5 and Nintendo Switch.
This review was based on a Xbox Series X playthrough.
Read more reviews here https://invisioncommunity.co.uk/category/review/
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