Eastward was announced quite a while ago in 2018. It looked like it was going to be another amazing indie game from a small creative force and that assumption has proven to be right. Reviews for the game, on multiple platforms including the Switch, are high on aggregate sites like Metacritic.
Like any major release, Eastward is not without faults though. It is relatively bug-free, which is a huge win for the game. In that sense, there is nothing truly detrimental about the game. Still, it would be nice to see the developers fix the following issues with some future patches to make this great game even better.
8 Add Co-Op
The core gameplay hook of Eastward allows players to switch back and forth between John and Sam. This can create some fun puzzle challenges along with interesting ways to combo attacks in battle. The problem is that swapping between both characters can sometimes feel like patting the head and rubbing the stomach at once.
The AI-driven character won’t do anything and they can also take damage. If this game allowed co-op gameplay then it would alleviate some of these issues.
7 Speed Up Characters
There is no run button or speed-up technique in Eastward. For the most part, the game adapts the characters' movement speed depending on their current scenario. While this is generally fine, at times, getting around can be a bit too slow. There is a fast-travel system in New Dam City via the subway, but it runs to very distinct areas.
Traversing the city can also take some time as there are many levels. A slow movement speed combined with a limited fast-travel system makes traveling a chore. A run button would go a long way.
6 Add In-Game Rewards For Achievements
There are in-game achievements for Eastward, a fact that is excellent on paper. For platforms that support console rewards such as the PS5 with Trophies, this is great. The Switch does not have an internal system like this so achievements can feel hollow.
Disgaea 6, which is an exclusive Switch RPG right now, solved this problem. It too had in-game achievements but accomplishing them gave players actual rewards. Adding in a system like that for the Switch version of Eastward would be nice. Even a simple reward of money, or Salt as it is called in the game, would be appreciated.
5 Add A Dodge Or Block
Combat can get hectic quickly because there is no dodge or block button in the game. There isn’t even a lock-on button which is, comparatively, less of an issue.
Enemies can often surround the party, making it easy for them to hurt John and Sam. Bosses are very problematic because of this since dodging a huge blast, for example, is not an easy task with the movement speed. Adding in a block or dodge button would help.
4 Add Selectable Save Slots
To the game’s credit, the checkpoint system is very generous. Eastward will save every time players enter or exit a screen. The odd part about saving is that players can only use one save slot at fridges.
If players try to load up a game they will see two autosaves next to the two most recent manual saves. It’s a confusing setup that doesn’t harm the game overall but it would be better if players had more control over manual saves.
3 Add A Skip Button
There is a downside to the checkpoint system. The game will only save up to the point where players enter a screen. So, for example, if players enter a boss arena and die, they have to watch the related setup or cutscene prior to the bids starting. This can make repeated deaths frustrating if players have to sit through these setups multiple times.
In the case of bosses, it would be nice if there was an option to immediately retry it without revisiting the story beat. Adding a skip button, or even a fast-forward button like in Disgaea 6, would be great.
2 Add Difficulty Levels
Another thing that could help alleviate battles would be to include difficulty settings. Adding in an Easy, or a Hard mode for the hardcore, would be appreciated. The developers could even add in accessibility options.
A lot of AAA and indie games have done that in 2021. In Dodgeball Academia, for example, players were allowed to adjust how much damage they received and how much power they attacked with. Options like that are even better than static difficulty settings, but either one would be good for the next patch.
1 The Game Intro
The in-game loads, from screen to screen, are fine on the Switch. They’re not as snappy as the other consoles but they’re not an issue. However, getting into Eastward is an issue. There is a warning screen that players have to click through followed by several logos that can’t be skipped.
The intro movie can be skipped, although the anime-like cutscene is well-worth revisiting multiple times. After that, there is a slow pause of blinking lights before players can actually see and press through the title screen. The process takes a minute when it should really only take ten seconds. A skip button or a reduced intro sequence of warnings and logos would be the solution here. It’s not the end of the world if this doesn’t get fixed but it would make the game a lot smoother from the start.