Beebom Score
As far back as I can remember, my whole childhood has always been about games like Super Mario Bros, Contra, Double Dragon, and more. But, by the time I grew old, Castlevania and Metroid gave me a taste of Metroidvania games and what they had on offer. Whether it was exploring the unknown or the nostalgic 2D views, there was always something these games delivered that nothing else could.
Thanks to a copy provided by Dark Pigeon Games, I got the chance to play Awaken Astral Blade, a game based on the same concept. Jumping into the game, I immediately felt a wave of nostalgia. But this was more than just a trip down memory lane or looking back on the golden age of ages. Being a collection of so many factors I loved about the game, it’s only fair I sit you down and tell you why I loved it all in my Awaken Astral Blade Review.
A Beautiful Darkness Awaits
As soon as the game begins, we are shown Horace Island, the place where our adventure will take place. You don the shoes of Tania, a bionic girl sent by her father Dr. Herveus to investigate the place. Although in the initial stages, the rainforest of Horace Island looks colorful and exciting, the darkness is waiting right around the corner.
Within just a few steps forward, I met some of the normal enemies the game had on offer. And despite me using that world, the enemies were anything but. From exceptional artwork to great resilience, the enemies in Awaken: Astral Blade are a treat to watch. I won’t lie, I found myself dying just because I was too distracted by the clean art of it all.
Awaken’s overall art design is visually stunning, with intricate background details littered around your path. It’s definitely worth taking the time to admire. Moreover, Tania’s weapon design, as well as her various skins and hairstyles, will remind you of all the famous bionic characters.
As such, as soon as I saw Tania, I was reminded of Alita and EVE. Watching her resemblance to some of my favorite bions enhanced my curiosity to explore her style of combat, running, and even idle position. Honestly, she is significantly different from all the bionic women I have seen in other games or animations which was a huge plus for the game’s design.
Whether you talk about the focused attitude, combos, or skills, Tania is full of wonders. And the game’s art design showcases it flawlessly. I spent a lot of time exploring more of the world just to see the world’s design and at every turn, there was some amazing bunch of flowers, bricks, or even bushes waiting to be slashed down. And while the beautiful design is one of the things you’ll notice, Horace Island has its own secrets too.
An Island Full of Mysteries
Beyond the colorful palettes of flora and fauna lie the darkest mysteries that you must unveil as Tania. Exploring more into the forest, I fought mutated bionics and other deadly enemies. Progressing further, I stumbled upon the ancient ruins of Jacha City, a lost civilization believed to be extinct. There players will also find the Royal Altar, the heart of the Karpas energy source, marking the beginning of Tania’s quest to uncover its secrets and her own origins.
Yes, you live through Tania’s story of origin and all the secrets beyond finding the Altar. You meet Cythna, a hologram trying to guide you towards your truth. Here you also learn about Tania No.103 where you will finally realize that you are not the only Tania. From then on the game’s focus shifts to finding the true form of our main character.
This is one of the key elements I loved about the game. Besides the gripping plot and the shocker of a twist that awaited me, I loved many more elements of the game. Kudos to the developers Dark Pigeon Games for the fantastic storytelling. Of course, I won’t spoil the story further for you but the plot alone can be a perfect selling point if you want to see what happens with Tania and her actual origin.
However, just when I thought that I was done, I learned that Awaken Astral Blade has multiple endings. Yes, first for a Metroidvania-style game. This alone would be incentive enough to keep a player coming back for more. Want even more? Let’s talk about the game’s exploration and combat.
Exploration Is Fun but Kind of Tricky
The first thing that will keep you coming back for more is the game’s exploration. There are so many pathways in the game that you can check out and earn valuable Aethers. However, sometimes you might miss out on weapon upgrades or Aether flowers by not looking beyond a dead end. This is a bit tricky for someone not focused enough the game’s exploration keeps it fun.
Tania’s Unique Costumes are More Than a Skin
Remember when I said there are different styles you can outfit her with? They also grant you special boosts as well. As such, players get double trouble by not only getting a new style but also a solid power upgrade. To unlock new costumes, you must look around the map. So, yes, you get to choose your dress as per your styling and power needs at once.
Crisp Combat and Solid Skills
Ever since I played Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (review), combos have been a huge must for me no matter what Metroidvania games I tried. Well, Astra Blade slays that department. You initially begin with a simple sword and some basic combos. You can also gather energy to pull off your ultimate moves at times. Moreover, you have the finisher button option to end off certain enemies with one slash of your bionic tentacles.
On top of it, you get more weapons further down the line which include a scythe, tentacle, or a giant hammer. Each of the weapons has its own style of combat that comes with different combos. You can adapt as per the enemy and change between them quickly to never be out of moves in Astral Blade. Hold on, hold on. That is not the end.
From the skill tree menu, you can upgrade your active and passive abilities. These include Parry which helps you gain an advantage against bigger enemies, Quick Rise which lets you get up to fight right before you get knocked down and many more.
The more you upgrade yourself, the stronger you get. In the end, it is you who decides if you want to complete the story or get stronger to fight the bosses easily. Well, you can also take the difficulty settings down through three different settings if you still find it hard.
Graphics and Performance: Slice Them up Smoothly
While I already mentioned that Awaken Astral Blade’s art is its soul, I’m glad to see the graphics and performance also stay faithful to it. I played the game on 1080p High settings and I must say, my PC has never performed as smoothly as it has with this.
Astral Blade gave me a constant 165+ FPS throughout every sequence, including the combat. With literally no stutter or lag issues, I can promise you that Awaken Astral Blade is perfectly optimized. Well, at least for PC. For more context, here is what I played the game on:
My Setup:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600
GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1650 Super
RAM: 8×2 DDR4 RAM @ 3200MHz
SSD: NVME 512GB Adata XPG
Monitor: 1080p@ 165Hz
More than the frames, it was how the combat latency felt. And honestly, each slice felt like I was the one delivering it instantly. From the first scene to the last, I enjoyed each stage. Whether it was the design, graphics quality, or performance, the game felt and looked sharp.
Well, I also tried the 2k resolution and I was surprised. My GPU was not supposed to run a 2k game that smoothly but it did. That was when I was sure that Awaken Astral Blade might be one of the few well-optimized games we could get in 2024. Finally eh?
Verdict: A Rich Mix of Everything
While we don’t have pricing details on Astral Blade, I can tell you it will be worth every penny and then some. The art of Tania and the world of Horace Island will make sure you are always in awe of the beauty and mystery. Plus the intense story that you will unfold with Tania and the game’s countless endings is a rare sight in the Metroidvania genre. I can guarantee you that there is no right or wrong ending as you end the game.
Even if you aren’t a fan of story games, the combat and leveling-up system will be enough to get you hooked. Different soulslike fighting elements reminded me constantly about our beloved game Hollow Knight. And when a game makes you remember the best of the lot, that title obviously deserves attention. So, if you’re wondering whether you should get Awaken Astral Blade, I’d say it’s one of the best platformers I’ve ever played. Oh and did I tell you, you can pet cats in the game?
And that’s it for our Astral Blade review. What do you think of the game? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
