I really, really wanted to like this game. A graphically gorgeous Metroidvania with a deep combat system and RPG elements? Sign me up. However, this game falls short in too many ways for it to be an overall enjoyable experience. The story here has some surprising depth to it, with a lot of lore and world-building on display. There's also an interesting twist on the usual "good vs evil" formula. However, there's a handful of typos, grammatical errors, and strange delivery in this game, which is indicative of the game's overall quality: great in concept, erratic in execution. The graphic and musical parts of this game are probably its strongest aspects. The game is gorgeous and vibrantly colored throughout, although it goes a bit overboard with the particles in some areas. The game's audio component is similarly beautiful, and I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of music on display here. I can tell that there's a good game to be had here, but it's held back by poor design decisions and too much fake difficulty. It's very easy to get lost in this game, and not know where it is you're supposed to go next. Your map will give you a vague idea like "Find X item" or "Go to Y place", but will offer little to no directions on how to achieve your goal, making it into a guessing game. The controls of the game also leave much to be desired. I found myself constantly frustrated as I watched my character get juggled and stun-locked by enemies, often because the controls didn't do what I intended them to do. I don't mind difficult games in the least, but when none of the mistakes feel like my fault, there's a problem. It's also very easy to get knocked off ledges by enemies, falling down several screens and having to re-do some sections. Enemies also felt like they randomly didn't follow their combat script, which made some fights overly difficult. There is definitely enjoyment to be had with this game, but player beware, because it will fight you every step of the way.
