Gamertell Review: Eternal Eden for PC
by at May 21, 2009 8:49 am
Sections: 2D, Developers, Exclusives, Game-Companies, Genres, Indie, Originals, PCs, Reviews, Role-Playing, Windows
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As wonderful as the 3D, expansive and elite RPGs are, there’s something special about a classic JRPG. The midi music and the sprite based characters and environments remind you of a simpler time, when you’d wait years for a game, because there weren’t 50 similar ones also available, and when you’d get it, you’d play it for months.
Eternal Eden is an original game inspired by and based on those classic JRPGs. If you have fond memories of sitting in front of your SNES playing Final Fantasy II or Lufia & the Fortress of Doom, it may leave you feeling nostalgic.
The downfall of a utopia
Eternal Eden starts with a young boy named Noah finding himself in a dilapidated tower. Monsters are hiding in plumes of smoke, and a mysterious voice is talking to Noah, urging him forward. Once he reaches the end, the voice tells him he’s gone through the challenges better this time, and maybe he can be redeemed. He encounters the Serpent of Persuasion, a snake sinners must face and defeat. The snake defeats him.
Noah then wakes from the encounter in his own bed, though he retains a ring he found during the dream. We learn that Noah and his friends live in an idealic utopia. No one suffers from old age or illness, and they remain in the prime of their lives for all eternity. Anything they need is provided by Eden Tower.
It’s the Princess’ 900th birthday, and Downey, Noah’s best friend, wants to present her with the best pie. He convinces Noah to visit Eden Tower to take the forbidden Wisdom Fruit to put into a pie for her. After she eats it, she turns into a monster and runs through a mysterious gate. Meanwhile, Eden Tower’s door shuts, savage storms ravage the land and people start growing old and falling ill. Noah, Downey and Downey’s rival Jean chase after the Princess.
Does Eternal Eden look familiar? It’s intentional.
I was impressed by Eternal Eden‘s story, once I began playing the game. True, the core of it is the typical tale of a group of friends going on a journey where the outcome effects the fate of the world. However, the execution is different from the games it is inspired by, offering a message of redemption and drawing upon religious archetypes
Personally, I sort of thought of Eternal Eden as a sort of casual RPG as I experienced it. I found I could start the game and play through a dungeon or a bit of the story for as long or as little as I wanted, then go. There are plenty of save slots, and the ability to have it in a small window meant I could play while talking with friends online or listening to music.
The influence of other JRPGs from the past is very evident. The main menu and battles are similar to the NES and SNES Final Fantasy games and the world map and dungeons are similar to the Lufia games. Even the music sounds like it would have fit right in with one of those classic games. (I kept mistaking the some dungeon music for tracks I’d heard in FFVI. Some players may not be as pleased by the similarities, but it’s evident that it was done as an homage to those legendary games.
The only downside was the script. The English major in me would see awkward sentences or desriptions and want to jump in and rearrange or substitute words. I’d say 90% of the dialogue is fine, but the other 10% is suspect. So there’s a good chance, in every long conversation, that you’ll encounter a sentence or grouping of words that will leave you going, “Huh?”
A handy game for old school RPG fans to have on their PCs.
Gameplay-wise, Eternal Eden doesn’t offer anything new. The staples of established JRPGs are all present in the battles, dungeon exploration and graphics. The translation, though sometimes awkward, is even reminiscent of NES and SNES generation RPGs.
If you’ve been playing RPGs since the days when the NES, Genesis and SNES reigned supreme, Eternal Eden will be a pleasant experience. You may even start feeling a bit nostalgic.
Site [Eternal Eden]
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