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4 people found the following review helpful:
Interactive Masterpiece, August 19, 2023by Heli N. Only recently, a few weeks ago did I discover this magnificent piece of interactive fiction, through a recommendation of a friend on discord. It's difficult to find a similar game to Eternal among the COG/HG or the Twine games, I'm usually used to playing. Having 13 vastly different epilogues and massive story branching, it's the only game that truly satisfied that itch for "meaningful choices deciding and changing the course of the story". With that out of the way, let's continue with the review. Narrative Depth and World-Building: "Eternal" unfurls its narrative tapestry in a world where the tendrils of magic intertwine with political intrigue, forming a richly textured tableau. Within this expanse, cultures thrive, politics simmer, and characters navigate a maze of motives and desires. The narrative, a product of the author's narrative acumen, captures the essence of immersive storytelling. This world breathes, the characters, multifaceted and layered, pulse with life. As players traverse through its labyrinthine paths, the tale adapts, branches, and sprouts like an ancient oak, offering a multitude of possible endings, each a testament to the player's choices. Gameplay Mechanics and Choices: Navigating "Eternal" is an exercise in thoughtful engagement. The role bestowed upon the player isn't a mere observer but a puppeteer pulling the strings of a protagonist's destiny. Choices, numerous and consequential, serve as the bricks that pave the player's journey. These decisions hold power, forging alliances or breeding enmity, shaping the fate of both the player character and the realm itself. "Eternal" revels in ethical ambiguity, inviting players to grapple with dilemmas that resonate long after reaching one of the many epilogues. Emotional Impact and Character Development: The emotional depth within "Eternal" is borne from the author's masterful character crafting. Heroes and villains alike step onto the stage, each woven with motivations, flaws, and internal battles. These characters, intricately designed, evoke empathy, disdain, and everything in between. Emotion intertwines with the choices made, creating a tapestry of interlinked stories where the heartstrings of players are deftly pulled. The emotional engagement breathes life into the choices, imbuing them with significance that resonates profoundly. Narrative Complexity and Replayability: "Eternal" thrives within its intricacy, offering a myriad of paths that branch and diverge. The narrative, a labyrinth of threads, weaves a complex tapestry of intertwined destinies. The promise of alternate outcomes beckons, rendering each playthrough a voyage of discovery. The allure lies not only in the destination but in the multitude of journeys that lead there. The expansive network of storylines ensures that each iteration is a new adventure, and the labyrinthine narrative beckons explorers with the allure of hidden gems. Writing Quality and Descriptive Power: The author's prose is a symphony of words, a brush that paints vivid landscapes within the theater of the mind. The textual descriptions are not mere vessels of information but conjurations that evoke sights, sounds, and sensations. The written words are a portal to worlds imagined, a testament to the transformative power of storytelling. The descriptive prowess adds depth to the experience, elevating it beyond mere reading to immersive participation. Conclusion: "Eternal" by Endmaster stands tall as an interactive fiction magnum opus, bridging the gap between player and protagonist, crafting connections through moral quandaries, and etching narratives that resonate. Its narrative symphony, character symposium, and the intricate dance of choices combine to forge an experience of enduring impact. The myriad of endings and labyrinthine paths invite players to explore with each replay, and the lingering emotional resonance testifies to its prowess as an interactive narrative. Pros: + Complex and immersive narrative Cons: None worth noting; the game excels across all dimensions Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Remove vote | Add a comment
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1 people found the following review helpful:
Entertaining, period., February 25, 2021First and foremost, as with any IF work, the idea of agency should be taken into consideration. Your choices have rationale, and when you execute these choices, they make significant impacts. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Remove vote | Add a comment
9 of
14 people found the following review helpful:
An extremely long fanfic-style dark fantasy story , February 2, 2021Edit: There are several alternative takes on this game available in the comments. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Remove vote | View comments (4) - Add comment
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6 people found the following review helpful:
A novel in CYOA style., January 15, 2021by DerPrussen By no exaggeration, some of the paths in this story are a novel by themselves. This is a piece of grim-dark fantasy genius. Eternal isn't a story about a King that has a strong democratic personality that lets any peasant speak to him as they like. This is the story of an Empire's last-ditch effort to stay strong by building a race of super soldiers. You can be one of those supersoldiers Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Remove vote | Add a comment
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6 people found the following review helpful:
One of the best, January 8, 2021by Sublimis When I first read this story, I was searching for a new experience in the realm of story games. I played through quite a number of games where I did not feel much agency as a player. I had to deal with cliché tropes in stories, and the author's personal bias on certain issues. I'm glad to say this is not one of those games. Eternal brought a much needed shock to my tastes. It was simply both pleasing and a joy to read at the same time. It stirred within me various emotions like, anger, frustration, happiness, contentment, etc. For a work to be able to do this is simply astonishing. I truly felt immersed in the world of Eternal, and had control of my player's fate. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Remove vote | Add a comment
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4 people found the following review helpful:
Fantastic Fantasy., December 29, 2020by tmanaking This story is a great read. Now due to it being so long there are some typos and the like that slipped through. Even with that minor gripe, I must confess that this story is nothing short of spectacular. The world building is in a class of its own. The characters are fleshed out and really seem alive. This is a fantastic read and I highly recommend it to any fan of dark fantasy. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Remove vote | Add a comment
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5 people found the following review helpful:
A more suitable escape than suicide, December 25, 2020by ninjapitka Where to start? Eternal is by far my favorite Interactive Fiction piece from any site or publication. EndMaster certainly has his own style of writing, disregarding most conventional methods. It draws you in, and is highly effective for the story medium. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Remove vote | Add a comment
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4 people found the following review helpful:
Eternal, December 15, 2020This game is one of the first I ever read on CYS, and it's still one of my absolute favorites to this day. The protagonist's inner struggle between the Emperor he's been conditioned to serve since birth, and the increasing amount of evidence that everything he's ever been taught is false, was engrossing to read. Indeed, the character's thoughts and feelings as his mindset slowly shifts from the person he was raised to be to who he wants to become, is so detailed and fleshed out, that you can actually immerse yourself in that pain and self-doubt. Every moment in the game feels special and unique, and the surrounding characters and their motivations are so well-written that their death, treason, suffering, ect. hits you right in the gut. Even his enemies have reasoning for what they do, and the game does a good job of showing you their perspective, until you (and, of course, the protagonist) no longer know what to do. The game isn't some glorified rape and murder fantasy, it's a genuine work of art that deserves to be a best-selling novel, and the fact that we all get to enjoy it for absolutely free is just an extension of the love and consideration that EndMaster put into this masterpiece. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Remove vote | Add a comment
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