[PS5] Review of ELDRADOR CREATURES: Shadowfall

Wild River Games and Schleich have teamed up again to bring us "ELDRADOR CREATURES Shadowfall," a turn-based strategy game for PS5 inspired by the popular figurine line. This release is a sequel to ELDRADOR CREATURES, which launched in 2020 on PlayStation 4. Stepping into the mythical land of Eldrador, players will navigate through four distinct worlds, each led by formidable dragons. The Stone World is under the watchful eye of the Stone Dragon, the Ice World is controlled by the fierce Ice Dragon, the Jungle Dragon reigns over the Jungle World, and the formidable Lava Dragon governs the Lava World. Your adventure starts in the fiery Lava World, where you’ll encounter the menacing Shadow Dragon and its ominous shadow creatures.

You’ll be able to select from four levels of difficulty: Easy, Normal, Hard, and Very Hard. On Easy, enemies deal 60% damage, have 60% health, and grant you 90% experience points. Normal provides a balanced challenge. Opting for Hard means enemies deal and have 130% damage and health, with 110% experience rewards. For those seeking a test of skill, Very Hard raises the stakes further with 160% enemy damage and health, along with 120% experience points. Which level of challenge suits your playstyle?

As a turn-based strategy game, ELDRADOR CREATURES Shadowfall allows you to tactically control your forces on the battlefield. Use the left analog stick to direct each character’s movements within their range. Strategically decide who moves and attacks, bearing in mind that certain statuses, such as frozen, restrict a creature’s ability to both move and attack in the same turn. Plan carefully before ending your turn and anticipating the enemy’s actions. When an enemy is within reach of your skills, use L1 to select them and X to carry out your attack.

Each creature has a particular set of skills. Take the Lava Smasher, for instance, its "Smash" skill can punch a nearby enemy back a square. This can be strategically advantageous, like propelling an enemy into lava for extra damage on their turn! You might also use it creatively to bash one creature into another, causing damage to both. Mastering such tactics is key. To unleash more potent skills, you’ll need Mana. Gather these blue orbs scattered across the battlefield to perform powerful moves, while simultaneously denying your opponents the same advantage.

Lava Smasher’s special Mana-driven ability, Comet Smash, lets it jump to an empty space, damaging all nearby creatures and setting surrounding tiles on fire. Another example is Lava Hyena’s Firewall, which involves a straight-line dash that ignites any tile passed over. Remember, Mana collected is pooled for the entire team. You can have one creature collect Mana, setting another up to wield game-changing skills.

Gold acquired throughout your journey can be exchanged for upgrades, enhancing team capabilities across the board. These upgrades might boost health, improve skill damage, grant more starting Mana, or increase the number of creatures you can command. As your team conquers battles, members earn experience points, leading to level-ups that bolster stats and potentially unlock powerful new skills.

Regarding trophies, this Cross-Buy game offers a full trophy list, including a coveted Platinum trophy, for each of the PS4 and PS5 versions available with a single purchase. Trophies range from achievements like completing the tutorial, defeating large numbers of enemies, and collecting Mana, to winning strategic battles with specific conditions or styles of play.

Return to Eldrador to explore its four rival worlds and discover which combination of creatures gives you the edge in strategic combat. Each creature brings unique stats and abilities, like the Lava Hyena’s ability to slip past enemies—an invaluable trait under the right circumstances. The game, with its engaging voice-acting, truly brings the world of Eldrador to life. Available as a Cross-Buy for $19.99, this title delivers great value with its double-version download, each with its own set of rewarding trophies.

This ELDRADOR CREATURES Shadowfall review is based on a PlayStation 5 copy provided by Wild River Games.