https://youtu.be/LPndqwsh4LM
Leaving Lyndow is a short first person adventure game set in the universe of Eastshade by American independent game development company, Eastshade Studios who is currently developing the upcoming open world exploration game, Eastshade.
Leaving Lyndow takes us on a journey as Clara as she says her final goodbyes to Lyndow, a town that she grew up in as she heads off to her next adventure. She finishes up packing, talks to her mother and visits a few locations with precious childhood memories and encounters family and friends that have meant a lot to her while growing up. Many are skeptical about her new dangerous journey ahead with the Guild of Maritime Exploration. However, it’s your choice how you want to respond.
The first look at the universe of Eastshade is a spectacular one. Right off, we can tell the environment and world-building is very pretty. Eastshade is unique in the way that a walk in the forest reveals different types of flora. Many seem similar but the colors are mostly vibrant. As we look onto a lake, we can see that Eastshade is a different place (if its inhabitants haven’t made that clear already) especially with the moon sitting like a sun over the lake. Leaving Lyndow’s quick venture into this different time frame allows us to absorb this world. For example: Bloomsac flowers that make tea. In terms of the inhabitants, they are not human and we can tell that with their facial features, rather more fantastical beings who all have their mouths covered.
Leaving Lyndow is a linear adventure. Its goals are simple and guided in its short adventure which lasts about an hour or so. Playing as Clara, when done with all the packing, there are three locations to visit. These places will allow you to have interactive and choice-based conversations with family and friends. The flexibility of having a choice of where to go first or how to respond to concerns makes it feel more personal. There are little mini games such as seeking out dolls for a cousin. These games are simple and adds to the story. On the other hand, it is about exploring each area to trigger certain memories. The movement itself is fluid. The linearity will not let you leave an area if you have not triggered all the events and will make us go back to continue our exploration.
Leaving Lyndow is a simple game. As a debut game release for Eastshade Studios, it shows a lot of potential, especially for the upcoming full length open world adventure. Visually, the world is stunning and creative with new environments and different species. As a one-sitting game, Leaving Lyndow packs a good bit of interactive gameplay ranging from choice-based conversations to mini-games and puzzles. We can order different types of tea and take a peek at Clara’s life before she sets off on the adventure. While it does sometimes feel like we are merely stepping into a snippet of someone’s life, the world we discover in the different locations brings up beautiful memories. There are a few very minor technical issues but nothing that hindered the game itself.
Leaving Lyndow was released on February 8, 2017 on Steam and Itch.io.
Be sure to check out our podcast interview with Eastshade Studios here.