Eternal Hope
- July 8, 2022
- Doublehit Games
- 2h median play time
Eternal Hope is a dark and bleak, 2D puzzle platformer that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster that will stick with you for a long time. It is incredibly short, but looks and sounds great during its brief stay.
"Eternal Hope" is a poignant indie platformer with a heavy emphasis on narrative. Players control Ti'bi, a young man on a quest to resurrect his deceased lover. Traverse through a vibrant and dynamic world, solve puzzles, and confront various beings to bring back the soul of your beloved. The game offers a unique blend of storytelling, exploration, and a touching message of love and loss.
Reviews
- Beautiful graphics and art style that create a compelling atmosphere.
- Engaging story with emotional depth, touching on themes of love and sacrifice.
- Puzzles are generally well-designed and not overly difficult, making for a fun experience.
- Controls can feel clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay moments.
- The game is quite short, leaving some players wanting more content for the price.
- Some puzzles require precise timing and can lead to frequent deaths, which may detract from the overall enjoyment.
- story53 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its emotional depth and aesthetic appeal, while others criticize it for being underdeveloped and clichéd. Many reviews highlight a lack of character backstory and a disjointed narrative that feels rushed or simplistic, detracting from the overall experience. Despite its potential, the storytelling often comes across as shallow, leaving players wanting a more cohesive and engaging plot.
“At the start of the story, a strange creature talks our nameless character into a dangerous journey.”
“The transitions throughout the game were seamless and the storytelling was beautiful.”
“Really beautiful game with a touching story.”
“The female character has no backstory as to how she survived or how she met the male character, and there is no indication of why they fell in love - simply that they were a male character and a female character who spent time together.”
“It's never made clear, and not in a thought-provoking or morally complex way - in a lazy one, which makes it feel like the devs simply didn't care to follow through on the plot of the story they have created.”
“The story is nothing to write home about: a sappy little drama in which no emotion is ever earned.”
- graphics26 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the cute and elegant art style that creates a compelling atmosphere, while others note that it feels familiar and lacks innovation. Some players appreciate the stunning visuals and charming aesthetics, but criticize the silhouette graphics for not effectively conveying depth and perspective. Overall, the graphics are generally well-received, contributing positively to the game's appeal despite some gameplay shortcomings.
“This game certainly wins out for its graphics, creating a compelling atmosphere and chilling visuals using very simple artwork.”
“Love the graphics and art style though - very cute - and the soundtrack was beautiful!”
“A great game with gorgeous 2D art style.”
“I have nothing to say about the graphics and art style; you have seen it all before.”
“It's the usual push and pull boxes, pull levers, horrific deaths... if you played Limbo, this is pretty much exactly that but with a minor twist on the art style.”
“Aesthetically, the game is decent.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a mixed experience, featuring a blend of limbo-like platforming and puzzle-solving mechanics that, while enjoyable, often feel derivative and clunky. Players appreciate the responsive controls and puzzle variety, but many criticize the slow pacing, unintuitive mechanics, and some frustrating design choices, such as fall damage and color schemes that obscure important elements. Overall, while the game offers a decent short experience with a good story, it lacks the polish and innovation needed to elevate it beyond mediocrity.
“I recommend it to play if you prefer short time platformers, limbo-like gameplay or if you are in search of a good story.”
“The game has good ambience, a nice flow, responsive controls and good puzzle variety, with cool mechanics to solve them.”
“The gameplay has a limbo-esque feel to the puzzles/platforming mixed with a game like chronology where you can change the environment around you for a short period of time to accomplish various things.”
“A pretty short puzzle platformer that's fairly derivative of previous games; it's nothing you haven't seen before both in plot, theme, and mechanics.”
“The game mechanics feel clunky and unintuitive, and the color scheme means some blocks for puzzles go unnoticed for a short but frustrating minute or two; wouldn't recommend it.”
“The gameplay is extremely slow-paced and not all that interesting or challenging.”
- music13 mentions
- 77 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and emotional impact, enhancing the overall experience with a fitting soundtrack that complements the visuals and story. Many players find the audio to be a standout feature, contributing to intense moments and adding depth to the gameplay. Overall, the combination of delightful graphics and enjoyable music creates a memorable atmosphere for players.
“The music is really good!”
“Love the graphics and art style though - very cute - and the soundtrack was beautiful!”
“Beautiful music fits the game and it's an adventure you'll not forget.”
“Such a waste because I love the art style and music, and though the story delivery is clumsy, it had potential.”
“Besides, the album of soundtracks makes the game sadder; I'm going to cry whenever I play this game.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its melancholic themes of sacrifice and love, creating a touching narrative that resonates deeply with players. Many reviews emphasize the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, with some describing it as an emotional rollercoaster that combines beautiful art and sound with engaging puzzles. Overall, it is praised for its well-balanced emotional depth, making it a memorable experience worth playing.
“It is a melancholic and touching theme about sacrifice.”
“The depths you'd go through for love ❀ what a touching, thrilling puzzle platformer I experienced, and I'd do it all again!”
“Eternal Hope is a dark and bleak 2D puzzle platformer that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster that will stick with you for a long time.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game excels in creating a compelling atmosphere through its impressive graphics and chilling visuals, despite utilizing simple artwork. Reviewers highlight the effectiveness of the overall ambiance, contributing to an engaging experience.
“This game certainly wins out for its graphics, creating a compelling atmosphere and chilling visuals using very simple artwork.”
“+ effective atmosphere”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for its ability to blend sadness with comedic elements, particularly highlighted by an ending that evokes both laughter and melancholy from players.
“The story is sad, but I couldn't help but laugh at that ending. I'm just sitting here, half laughing and half sad! XD”
“The humor in this game is top-notch! I found myself chuckling at the clever dialogue and unexpected situations.”
“I love how the game balances serious moments with hilarious jokes. It keeps the experience light-hearted and fun!”
Critic Reviews
Eternal Hope
+ Charming narrative + Effective atmosphere - Clunky controls - Punishingly difficult - Short experience (Reviewed on PC, also available on Xbox One)
55%Eternal Hope Review
Eternal Hope had potential, and it has great presentation qualities. However, the lack of meaningful plot direction and unresponsive controls make the adventure more of a slog than it should be.
44%Eternal Hope Review
Gorgeous visuals don't quite make up for inaccurate and clunky platforming.
60%