Eternal Strands, developed by Yellow Brick Games, pays homage to iconic action-adventure titles, blending features from classics like Breath of the Wild, Shadow of the Colossus, Dragon’s Dogma, and Monster Hunter into an exciting new experience. Although it’s the studio’s first release, the team boasts a wealth of industry expertise, with many members bringing years of knowledge to the project.
Eternal Strands centers its gameplay around the three distinct powers that the main character, Brynn, utilizes during her journey through the Enclave. She has the ability to incinerate or freeze foes using her Flame and Frost powers, while also manipulating enemies and objects in her surroundings through Telekinesis. To ensure these abilities are both enjoyable and impactful, Yellow Brick Games has developed an intricate system that enhances the interactive nature of the game world.
Eternal Strands Uses Complex Physics-Based Thermodynamics
In Eternal Strands, Brynn harnesses her powers to shape the environment and interact with creatures around her. With her Telekinesis ability, she can lift and hurl objects, including foes. However, it’s her mastery of Frost and Flame that truly expands her capabilities, offering players a deeper experience of her abilities.
Laidlaw highlights the significant challenge of ensuring that the powers in Eternal Strands not only feel satisfying to use but also interact meaningfully with the game’s world and enemies. He emphasizes the need to create a thermodynamic system where heat is more than just a representation of fire damage; it should reflect a tangible experience of heat crossing a certain threshold.
“Rather than sticking to the traditional recipe, which would typically involve exploring the power and its interactions with various objects, we take a different approach. We present the power alongside a simulation grounded in physics and thermodynamics, focusing on heat and cold.“
Designing an Open World That Could Be Used as a Weapon Presented Some Challenges for Yellow Brick Games
Creating a semi-open world that incorporates thermodynamic principles and features reactive environmental elements posed significant challenges for Yellow Brick Games. Laidlaw emphasizes that focusing on extensive destruction, such as allowing Brynn to “tear down pillars” or utilize her Frost and Flame abilities to manipulate the surroundings, required all environmental components to possess realistic weight and properties for effective interaction.
St-Laurent highlights that identifying the parameters for every element in the game was likely the biggest hurdle during the development of Eternal Strands. Laidlaw agrees, noting that this systematic method has been incredibly beneficial for the team. St-Laurent further emphasizes that these systems empower players to “create their own fun using the tools we offer.
Ultimately, it transforms the way players interact with their surroundings, making the world an integral part of their strategy.