The Star Named EOS Review | PlayStation 5

A good story can be told through any medium imaginable, a children's fairytale book, oral storytelling by campfire, or a point-and-click video game, such as is the case in The Star Named EOS. Telling a story-rich adventure in this way lets the player focus entirely on a laid-back experience to thoroughly enjoy whatever creative puzzle the game throws their way at their leisure.

 

Gorgeously drawn flower fields in lush detail accompanied by a voiceover of a caring mother extending her hand in a surreal landscape is how The Star Named EOS begins. Gentle keystrokes alongside her narration ease you into the perspective of the main character Dei, who seems to be having a flashback at this moment. It is easy to instantly appreciate the beautiful art style and animation with the brief character shown.

From the minds of Behind The Frame: The Finest Scenery, a game in which you are a painter in the middle of her creative process and in search of a great opportunity in her career, there are many parallels in regards to both the charming puzzles and dazzling art style. Silver Lining Studio, the developers, have attained that unique formula clearly. For those who finish The Star Named EOS and crave more dashing personal narratives, it is worth looking into that previous entry as well.

The art of a great puzzle game is one in which every puzzle is related in a way to the story it is trying to tell, and The Star Named EOS understands this assignment clearly. From utilizing your camera in distinct ways to having a compass guide your way through each level, all puzzles seem specifically made to advance the story, give you context, or understand each character more intimately, which makes them a joy to figure out.

As the beginning title cards appear, the recommendation “Use headphones for the best experience” urges players to immerse themselves as best as possible. And with good reason. The original soundtrack created for The Star Named EOS shines, as each stage has its particular set of music, from curious piano strokes to elevating violins, and a theme song with lyrics and a caressing voice that embodies the essence of the profound narrative.

 

At times looking at your surroundings from a fixed perspective and others being able to move around an established area, the game, in its brief runtime, keeps things intriguing all of the time, with you carefully having to scour every inch of the beautifully rendered painting around you for a clue as to what to do next or where to move something in your way.

Counting with the voice of voice actor Suzie Yeung of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth fame, the few lines of dialogue make them feel extremely valuable. As the audio in general, from the sound design to the voices spoken it feels like it underwent special care, and it shows. A multidisciplinary dialogue between different forms of art in which the benefit is to the player.

Before each chapter, there is a heartwarming narration by Dei’s mother that encourages him when it all seems aimless. To gently lull a child to sleep with wondrous ideas of a fantastic tale from the moon and the stars while gently explaining to them the dangers of the world is a fragile subject to tackle, but The Star Named EOS successfully manages to do so.

Depending on which chapter you are in the game, the main menu changes accordingly, from a shining bright train track to a decidedly darker hue at other points. Reconnecting with nature and the stars, the pouring of hot coffee exquisitely drawn, and a train track with a long history waiting to be discovered, each story beat has something for everyone, and will keep you guessing through to the end.

 

To travel the world in search of a truth that had been eluding him since he was a child, Dei uses every hint possible in each letter his mother left before she disappeared. Thoughtfully giving him life lessons along the way, all the places are related to his life in one way or another. A train he rode as a kid, a peaceful meadow in the middle of nowhere, his beloved room that he still carries a picture of and a cherished memory.

You can take pictures of anything with your instant camera, and this is encouraged to eventually look at and admire your eye's work with the photo album to reminisce where you have been with the photo gallery in the main menu.

Just like most things in life, even though it feels like the moments are fleeting, going to that album to appreciate every picture you took on your journey can make you rediscover the pleasure of taking pictures just for the sake of it, and even encourage you to take photography in real life.

Opportunities for photo ops such as when a flock of birds quickly fly by are rewarded with trophies within the game. Over the course of 25 attainable trophies to a platinum, each achievement is quite peculiar to obtain, ranging from not solving a puzzle correctly but trying differently, to clicking a certain item in your vicinity, the way to obtain these rewards is just slightly obtuse enough to make you chuckle once you get the notification.

Although there are no hints for the riddles presented, each of the solutions can be easily found if you look closely at your surroundings. As happens with any great puzzle adventure, The Star Named EOS’ mysteries have just the right amount of difficulty to not become impossible and to feel rewarding when you can connect the dots and solve each of them. Some are logical, others make you think outside of the box, and the tools the game gives you as you move on to the next story beat never feel overwhelming.

 

The inability to face the truth when it can fundamentally change your perspective is undoubtedly a tough pill to swallow. As Dei’s mind races as he solves each puzzle and starts questioning where his mother could be, it's a difficult process to know what will happen to him regardless of the outcome. Thankfully, The Star Named EOS’ story is a kind one mainly focused on leaving you on a positive note, not without giving a bit of conflict on the way to keep you invested.

Darkness is everywhere around us, mentions Dei’s mom, and she is not completely wrong, but to poetically take that lesson in his increasingly uncomfortable search for his mother, leaves food for thought in the player’s mind. As said in the title of the name, The Star Named EOS, stars can guide our way whenever we feel lost, as they did hundreds of years ago for sailors in the middle of the sea, and it can nudge Dei to his eventual truth.

Some of the puzzles are rather ingenious. Tasked with finding the pieces of a torn letter from Dei’s mother, you must carefully scour every bit of a beautiful forest in search of them. With the help of items scattered in the scenery that can be then stored in your inventory for future use, the brilliance of The Star Named EOS’ puzzles is how they use the environment and your creativity. One item that could be considered useless can be your saving grace if thinking outside the box.

Breaking the convention rules of most of these point-and-click puzzle games of not having an actual character show up and just having the story be told through words or places, Dei eventually meets a mysterious character who inadvertently aids him in his time of need.

 

This is where, beyond the gorgeous hand-drawn art style put in full display throughout the places Dei visits, it is possible to see an animated character in real-time. There are many moments in The Star Named EOS that can take your breath away, but this is certainly one of the most profound ones.

Across 10 chapters, Dei explores his innermost thoughts while making sense of his mother’s letters, finding himself in the process. A brief narrative most will be able to finish in one sitting, The Star Named EOS is one of those heartwarming stories that when the realities of the world wear you down, it will be there to tuck you in and make you feel safe, as you drift off into a deep slumber.
 

Luis Aviles (@AndresPlays93)
Editor, NoobFeed