As a Metroid fan (saga mother of the genre) I've seen several metroidvanias that compete in order to get as close as they can to Metroid franshice.
But some of them are unique, like, they have their own atmosphere, their own artistic direction, their own laws. And this game is, at this moment I'm playing it, the BEST of these games.
Like playing Super Metroid for the first time again, that is the feeling this game gave me. And that's not something that just any game can do.
If you've read any amount of reviews for this game you have probably seen that a major complaint is the difficulty level... That's not wrong. So, if you suck at platform games don't buy this game.
However, it is because of the games difficulty that every milestone feels like a huge success, and every new skill you earn feels like a game changer. The sense of accomplishment you feel when you finally beat a boss that you've tried so many times to defeat is amazing.
As to controls, everything feels tight and spot on. No lag. I jump when I want to jump, and I land where I think I should land. Reaction time pays off if you have it, because the controls will respond in kind.
Sound Effects and Music... OH MY GOODNESS THE MUSIC. I have not heard a soundtrack of this caliber in a LONG time. The songs composed for the various areas fit perfectly. The sound affects are spot on as well. The different surfaces all yield a new sound to enjoy, and even the gears turning are enjoyable.
Game Play Notes- It is important to note that if you die you risk losing all the Geo (money) you have collected. You have to go back to where you died and defeat your spirit which was left behind to get your money back, and to restore your ability to have full Soul (magic). If you die before defeating the spirit you left behind you lose everything. Also, this game requires A LOT of exploration. I have beaten the game, seen one of the multiple endings, and I still haven't been everywhere there is to go. (thanks to the DLC.) I'm still enjoying new surprises!
The story is fun, but be prepared to do some digging and reading to fully understand it. It's easy to get lost in the exploration and lose sight of the actual story line sometimes.
...There you have it. If that sound's appealing, buy it. If you get it on sale, you're not smart to pass it up. If you don't have good eye-finger coordination, stay the heck away because you won't succeed.
This game caught me by complete surprise and captured my heart like nearly everyone else.
I recommend you pay attention to everyone you "listen" to because nearly everything said reveals something or is funny (Zote the Mighty - I love this guy he is hilarious)
If you'd like to check out some gameplay & laughs here's a Floating Head's journey through the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiMbKnbVh7o&list=PLTC-IAlpSfbp69AaKxHhgNRlthKtzQNlN
Exploring the world they created within this game is a wonderful escape. You could easily sink many many hours into the game and still not run out fo things to do or areas to explore. It's a wonderful escape.
The story is slow revealing. I got the main bit but from the game itself but had to have a conversation with other players to reveal more details and oh my gosh, this story is pretty deep and legendary.
I believe this game is a must-play is you like getting into the story of games and enjoy platformers & boss fights.
One of the best, although also one of the hardest Metroidvanias of all time. Visuals and soundtrack are stunning and the world is huge. If you like the genre and are up for a challenge, it's a must have.
