Eternights is a 2023 dating sim action role-playing game developed and published by Studio Sai. The game was released digitally for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Windows on 12 September 2023.[4] It was released physically for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on 16 November 2023.[5] The game was released for Nintendo Switch on 17 October 2024.[6]
| Eternights | |
|---|---|
 Steam cover | |
| Developer(s) | Studio Sai |
| Publisher(s) | Studio Sai |
| Engine | Unity[3] |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Action role-playing, dating sim |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Eternights received mixed reviews from critics and sold 150,000 units by April 2024.
Gameplay
editCombat in Eternights is that of a hack and slash game. Dodging an enemy attack with precision slows down time, giving the player a better opportunity to attack. Hitting an enemy enough times within a short period creates a combo, allowing the player to perform a stronger attack or a finisher.[7][8] Attacking enemies or performing Perfect Dodges charges the Elemental Gauge, and parts of the Gauge can be used for an Elemental Fist attack that breaks enemy barriers if the player succeeds in a quick-time event.[9] SP can be spent during battle to use special abilities which are granted through other characters.[10]
Choosing certain dialogue options while talking to other characters can increase the protagonist's Social Stats, as well as his relationship level with other characters. Increasing the relationship level with another character grants the protagonist new abilities in combat.[8]
The game includes a calendar system, where doing certain tasks causes time to pass, changing what activities are available.
Premise
editAn anti-aging drug called Eternights mutates people into monsters, and supernatural events begin to occur. An 18-year-old boy (who is named by the player) is attacked by an unknown woman named Delia who cuts his arm off using her scythe, and another woman he met on a dating app replaces his lost arm with a magical, glowing one that can also transform into a sword, allowing him to fight the monsters. Along the way are his best friend as well as the pop star idol he loves.[11]
Reception
editPre-release
editBefore release, Eternights drew comparisons to the Persona video game series due to its premise of teenagers fighting supernatural enemies while including social and calendar elements in the gameplay.[7][8][12] Writing for Kotaku, Kenneth Shepard praised the game for including a gay romance option, but considered the character writing in the game's demo to be superficial and the combat to be "flimsy as hell", noting a "lack of weight" to attacks and movement in the game's action sequences.[12] Reviewing a preview version from the Summer Game Fest Play Days, Push Square's Liam Croft was impressed by the game's cutscene visuals, and called the dialogue options "engaging", though "occasionally creepy".[7]
Post-release
edit| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | (PS5) 68/100[13] (PC) 75/100[14] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Destructoid | 5.5/10[15] |
| IGN | 9/10[16] |
| Push Square | 7/10[17] |
| RPGFan | 8.6/10[18] |
Eternights received "mixed or average" reviews from critics for the PS5 version, while the PC version received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[19]
Sales
editBy April 2024, Eternights had sold 150,000 units worldwide.[20]
References
edit- ^ "Eternights release date moved up to September 12, physical edition due out this holiday". Gematsu. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ Romano, Sal (29 August 2024). "Eternights coming to Switch on October 17". Gematsu. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ Saver, Michael; Pung, Julia; Stanton, Devon (2024-01-04). "Made with Unity: 2023 in review". Unity Technologies. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
- ^ "Eternights release date moved up to September 12, physical edition due out this holiday". Gematsu. 2023-08-23. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
- ^ "Eternights Physical Release Date!". Blerdy Otome. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ "Eternights coming to Switch on October 17". Gematsu. 2024-08-29. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ a b c Croft, Liam (2023-06-19). "Preview: Eternights Puts Some Indie in Your Persona". Push Square. Gamer Network. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
- ^ a b c Bains, Callum (2023-06-25). "Anime action RPG Eternights is like a very horny Persona". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
- ^ Bowling, Audra (June 19, 2023). "Eternights Hands-On Preview Impressions". RPGFan. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
- ^ Bowling, Audra (2023-09-11). "Eternights Review". RPGFan. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
- ^ Whitson, Hank (30 August 2023). "Dev of Persona-Like Game Eternights Discusses Romance and Important Characters". Game Rant.
- ^ a b Shepard, Kenneth (2023-06-19). "30 Minutes With That New Persona-Inspired Dating Sim". Kotaku. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
- ^ "Eternights (PS5)". Metacritic.
- ^ "Eternights (PC)". Metacritic.
- ^ Handley, Zoey (2023-09-11). "Review: Eternights". Destructoid. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
- ^ "Test Eternights : coup de coeur pour l'ARPG-dating sim" [Eternights review: favorite for the ARPG-dating sim]. IGN France (in French). 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
- ^ McCormick, John Cal (2023-09-11). "Review: Eternights (PS5) - A Surprisingly Charming Apocalyptic Dating Sim". Push Square. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
- ^ Bowling, Audra (2023-09-11). "Eternights Review". RPGFan. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
- ^ "Eternights". www.metacritic.com. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
- ^ fkkcloud | Eternights - OUT NOW [@fkkcloud] (April 25, 2024). "Exciting news!! Eternights hits 150k units sold worldwide!!!! 🚀 Honestly, didn't expect to hit this milestone. I learned so much, and the next game is progressing well. Can't wait to show what's next" (Tweet) – via Twitter.