The Star Named EOS

Among the vast stretch of indie games stands The Star Named EOS—a game, poetically intriguing, as it fuses puzzle, photography, and storytelling elements. Silver Lining Studio has brought out this hand-drawn adventure through the eyes of a young photographer named Dei. Through a series of photographs, mysterious and revealing of the steps of the protagonist's mother, players step into the skin of someone living in a world where past and present intermingle, and truth is represented by the delicate balance between darkness and light.

Capturing Memories: Related Gameplay and Mechanics

The Star Named EOS metacasts as a core puzzle-adventure game about the art of photography. Players slip into the role of Dei, armed with a camera and a set of jaded photographs left behind by his missing mother, and this forms the central game mechanic: the recreation of those photographs in the present day, which becomes at once baffling and deeply rewarding.

The puzzles of The Star Named EOS are very nicely done, alright to find the middle ground between being accessible but complex. Instead of frustrating a player, they will engage one enough to be interesting yet never quite being actually a block to progression. Through solving these visual riddles, players will progressively unravel the pieces that make up Dei's family history and, in so doing, reveal a touching mystery.

What sets this one apart from the rest, however, are the panorama sceneries. These are hand-painted, sprawling views, not just nice to look at but actually existing and full of interactive elements, coming with some very well-concealed puzzles. The effort one makes in moving through them is equivalent to flipping through a gorgeously illustrated storybook, and every new scene unfolds further new wonders to discover.

A Symphony of Sight and Sound

The Star Named EOS is indeed a treat to the eyes, with lovely graphics and a fully-voiced dialogue that brings the world to life. The hand-drawn art style feels similar to Studio Ghibli movie fans, where every frame would feel like having been hold in a living painting. From sun-dappled forests to seaside towns and other environments in the game, there are crowds of details and atmospheres.

A very special mention needs to be made of the voice acting, adding substance and emotion to the characters. Warm and sincere, Dei's sojourn comes across through the narrator to suck players right into his story, and echoes of his mother's voice have created a bittersweet undercurrent to the adventure.

In many respects, The Star Named EOS places me in mind of another independent synopsis gem: What Remains of Edith Finch. Both games deal with family mysteries and the power of memory, using really innovative gameplay mechanics to tell deeply personal stories. Where "Edith Finch" does, however, is shift into some highly surreal, at times very dark elements in its narrative; The Star Named EOS keeps a considerably more gentle, wistful tone throughout.

Review: 8.5/10

The Star Named EOS displays the power of independent game development: it is bespoke and emotionally resonant, shining brightly against the increasingly crowded marketplace. It's a blend of puzzle-solving, storytelling, and visual artistry that comes together to create something greater than the sum of its parts.

Pros:

• Stunning hand-drawn visuals
• Engaging puzzle mechanics centered on photography
• Emotionally resonant storytelling
• Fully voiced with excellent performances
• Charming panoramic environments to explore

Cons:

• Too slow for some players
• Puzzles might not be challenging enough for hardcore puzzle lovers
• The gameplay is relatively short