LOVE ETERNAL is an experimental horror and challenging precision platformer that surprises at every turn, becoming one of the most unexpectedly haunting tales in recent years.
Myths and legends have existed as long as humanity has. A 1973 short story called “Chac Mool” by Mexican author Carlos Fuentes recounts the tale of an archeologist finding an ancient Mesoamerican sculpture, promptly bringing it home. Some days after, the entity within the cursed figurine takes hold of the poor man’s consciousness, to catastrophic consequences. LOVE ETERNAL, ubiquitous title and all, is an ambitious video game that defies conventions. Primarily experimental horror, but also putting the precision in precision platformer, this is a deceptive experience that broke me more than once. Just when you think you have a hold of where the narrative is going, think again.
Spoilers will be avoided at all costs because this is a one-of-a-kind ride that I would never want to ruin for anyone. That said, the Steam page of LOVE ETERNAL mentions, “Play as Maya, a child stolen from her family on the whim of a lonely, forsaken deity.” This simple sentence with grand consequences does not give much to go on until you start unraveling the mysteries of this stunning 2D pixel-art platformer one level at a time. Maya finds herself in a labyrinth of the mind that she must deftly solve with precise and punishing platforming controls reminiscent of Super Meat Boy and Celeste.
As a gaming journalist, I find myself always questioning if I am “good enough” at games. I have turned down the difficulty when I have struggled and even turned on the Assist Mode in Celeste. I would have done the same in LOVE ETERNAL. There is no such option, to my dismay. This was the first time the game broke me. Its challenges seem insurmountable at times, leaning on a perfect flow state that is difficult to achieve. Based around a reverse gravity mechanic to move your miniature sprite up and down across each level, this idea is taken to extremes that will test platforming pros.
There is a fire burning in me. I need to prove myself. I need to let my peers know that I can beat a video game without any help. That is why I defeated Sekiro, I reckon. On the other hand, LOVE ETERNAL had me yelling obscenities in Spanish (they come naturally), stuck in some late stages because I simply could not get the momentum right. At times, I was on the verge of tears, being tortured by the relentless and unforgiving precision needed. Near the end, I was ready to throw in the towel, failing my test of how stubborn I really thought I was. But I did it. And the reward was glorious.
Its atmosphere is second to none. Impeccable sound design, from every footstep, click when flipping, raindrop, and ominous soundtrack, all feed into a dreamlike scenario. Playing with headphones on, the dynamism of sound effects, from the strenuous thoom when saving to the four-legged footsteps of an indescribable being off-screen, grips rattlingly. There are forces beyond our human comprehension, and LOVE ETERNAL does its best to recreate this premise.
Going in blind into an unknown experience is powerful, even more so when the video game itself wants you to come in as clueless as possible. I know it is ironic for me to say so in an article about my impressions. But there is a reason I have been purposefully vague. LOVE ETERNAL is a masterclass in deception, surprising in unnerving ways at every moment. I could certainly say it could end up being among the most impactful gaming experiences of the year. Or my life. So, go in brave, decisive, and barter with a god. May you fare better than those who came before you.
LOVE ETERNAL is out February 19th on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam.
