izigame.me

Critically, I would say it's a 7/10. You know, one of those solid 7/10 games you love despite the flaws.
Emotionally, 10/10. Love it. Enthralled by it. Ticks many boxes of things I personally enjoy.
The gameplay has some rough edges when it comes to combat, with some design choices around the a limited inventory I can either take or leave. - Though, while these flaws never fully went away for me, there is a learning curve to some of the combat that does result in some satisfying moments when you get the hang of things.
None of the gemaplay flaws stand in the way of the enthusiasm I feel to venture out and climb all over this beautiful looking world, looking for codex entries, armor schematics while learning more about the world, its history and its people.
Audiovisually, it's pleasing. The world is bright and colourful. I am sucker for that and it is what caught my attention in the first place. Yes, it is reminiscent of other games with stylised, colourful artstyles. There are elements that set Eternal Strands apart, such as the distant vistas. Seeing what look like cities far off on the horizon does convey the feeling of being in a vast world. And it's not as if the actual playable areas feel small either. The verticality does give a sense of scale. That said, I can see there's a limited set of art assets (e.g. building architecture), but the use of those assets still works. It feels economical in way that doesn't detract from the whole.
As for the audio: the supporting soundtrack is rarely overbearing, but it's always pleasant. I do notice the music and I am happy when I do. The moment when you return to camp and the camp music starts playing? I like that. It's nice. A welcome home.
And back in camp, your journey is further supported by writing and a voice cast that makes learning more about the weaver band (=the team) satisfying in its own way. I am not well-versed in literature to say anything worhtwhile about the depth or complexity of your companions, but I can try.
The dialogue never feels as if it's trying to hit a word count. It's not overly elaborate and it gets to the point while having enough flavour to not be stale. It feels lighthearted, yet it knows when it is time to be serious. All of the characters have distinct personalities as well as their functional role within the team, making it easy to understand who they are and what they do. E.g. Oria is the mother hen as well as your personal mentor. Casmyn is the quartermaster and pragmatist of the group. And so on.
Overall, the flaws in gameplay aren't stopping me from enjoying this adventure.
P.S. You can pet the ... Well, it's Arva. You can pet Arva.
It's the little things.