Games like Super Mario Bros., Contra, Double Dragon, and others have been a part of my youth for as long as I can remember. As I got older, however, Castlevania and Metroid introduced me to Metroidvania games and their offerings. These games always offered something that no other games could, whether it was nostalgic 2D views or venturing into the unknown.
I had the opportunity to play the game Awaken Astral Blade, which is based on the similar idea, thanks to a copy that Dark Pigeon Games gave me. I experienced a rush of nostalgia as soon as I started playing the game. However, this went beyond simply taking a trip down memory lane or reflecting on the heyday of the past. Since my review of Awaken Astral Blade includes a list of all the things I loved about the game, it only seems fitting that I take a moment to explain why.
A Gorgeous Darkness Is Awaiting
Horace Island, the setting for our quest, is displayed to us as soon as the game launches. You put on the shoes of Tania, a bionic girl who was assigned to explore the area by her father, Dr. Herveus. Even though Horace Island’s jungle appears vibrant and exhilarating in the early going, darkness is lurking around.
I encountered some of the typical foes the game offered within a few strides. And the foes were anything but, even though I was exploiting that reality. The foes in Awaken: Astral Blade are fascinating to see because of their superb artwork and incredible fortitude. I won’t lie; I was so engrossed in the neat art of it all that I ended up dying.
The overall artwork of Awaken is breathtaking, with fine background elements strewn all over your journey. Without a doubt, it is worthy of admiration. Additionally, Tania’s weaponry, skins, and haircuts will make you think of all the well-known bionic characters.
Thus, the first thing that came to me when I saw Tania was Alita and Eve. Her striking resemblance to some of my favorite bions sparked my curiosity regarding her sprinting, fighting, and even relaxing habits. To be honest, she is really different from all the bionic women I have seen in other games or animations, which tremendously enhanced the game’s concept.
Tania is amazing, whether you’re talking about her talents, combos, or focused attitude. And it is perfectly displayed in the game’s art design. I spent a lot of time traveling across the world to observe its architecture, and everywhere I looked, there was a breathtaking arrangement of flowers, bricks, or even shrubs that were just asking to be cut down. And although one of the things you’ll notice is the stunning design, Horace Island also has its own mysteries.
A Mystery-Filled Island
As Tania, you must solve the deepest mysteries that lie beyond the vibrant hues of the plants and animals. I battled mutated bionics and other lethal foes as I ventured deeper into the forest. As I continued on, I came across the historic remnants of Jacha City, a long-gone civilization thought to be extinct. The Royal Altar, the center of the Karpas energy source, is also located there, where players can start Tania’s investigation into the source’s mysteries and her own beginnings.
Yes, you experience Tania’s birth tale and all of its mysteries, including where the Altar is. A hologram named Cythna tries to help you find your truth. You will eventually understand that you are not the only Tania when you read about Tania No. 103. The focus of the game then switches to figuring out our main character’s actual form.
One of the main features of Awaken Astral Blade that I really enjoyed was this. I enjoyed a number of other aspects of the game in addition to the compelling plot and the surprise twist that was in store for me. Bravo to Dark Pigeon Games, the developers, for the amazing narrative.
However, I discovered that Awaken Astral Blade has several endings just when I thought I was finished. For a Metroidvania-style game, yes, first. A gamer would be encouraged to return for more just by this. Do you want more? Let’s discuss the game’s combat and exploration.
Exploration is enjoyable but can be challenging.
The game’s exploration is the first feature that will entice you to return for more. The game offers a plethora of avenues for you to explore and acquire priceless Aethers. But occasionally, if you don’t look past a dead end, you can miss out on Aether flowers or weapon improvements. For someone who isn’t concentrated enough, this can be a little challenging, but the game’s exploration makes it enjoyable.
Tania’s Distinct Outfits Go Beyond Just Skins
As I mentioned earlier, you can dress her in a variety of styles. Additionally, they give you unique benefits. As a result, players benefit from both a significant power boost and a new style. You have to search the map to find new costumes. Yes, you can choose your dress at the same time based on your power and style needs.
Clear Combat and Robust Skills
No matter what Metroidvania games I tried, combinations have always been essential to me since I played Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (review). Well, that’s where Astra Blade excels. You start out with a basic sword and a few rudimentary combos. At times, you can also build enough energy to execute your best maneuvers. Additionally, you can use the finisher button to eliminate certain adversaries with a single swipe of your bionic tentacles.
Furthermore, you acquire other weapons later on, such as a gigantic hammer, tentacle, or scythe. Every weapon has a unique fighting style and set of combinations. To ensure you never run out of maneuvers in Astral Blade, you may fast switch between them and adjust to the enemy. Hold on, hold on. But that’s not the end.
You can improve both your active and passive skills from the skill tree menu. These include Quick Rise, which allows you to get up to battle just before you are struck down, Parry, which gives you an advantage over larger foes, and many more.
You become stronger the more you improve yourself. Whether you want to finish the story or gain strength to defeat the bosses more easily is ultimately up to you. If you’re still having trouble, you can also lower the difficulty settings by switching between three distinct options.
Performance and Graphics: Slice Them Up Smoothly
Although I’ve already stated that the art of Awaken Astral Blade is its essence, I’m happy to see that the performance and graphics remain true to it as well. I must admit that my PC has never run as smoothly as it did when I played the Awaken Astral Blade at 1080p High settings.
I consistently got 165+ frames per second with Astral Blade in all of the scenes, including the battles. I can assure you that Awaken Astral Blade is flawlessly optimized, with almost no lag or delay. At least for PC, anyway. Here’s what I used to play the game for further context
My Configuration:
| CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1650 Super RAM: 8×2 DDR4 RAM @ 3200MHz SSD: NVME 512GB Adata XPG Monitor: 1080p@ 165Hz |
It was the feel of the combat delay more than the fps. And to be honest, I felt like I was the one delivering each slice right away. I loved every scene, from the opening to the closing. The Awaken Astral Blade felt and looked good, regardless of the performance, graphical quality, or design.
I was taken aback when I tried the 2K resolution as well. A 2K game shouldn’t have run so smoothly on my GPU, yet it did. I was convinced then that Awaken Astral Blade may be one of the few best-optimized games out in 2024. Finally, eh?
Conclusion: A Diverse Blend of All Things
Astral Blade’s price is unknown, however I can assure you that it will be well worth the money. You will always be in awe of the mystery and beauty of Horace Island and Tania’s artwork. In addition, the game’s numerous endings and the gripping plot you will follow alongside Tania are uncommon in the Metroidvania genre. As you finish the game, I can assure you that there is no right or incorrect conclusion.
Combat and leveling up will be enough to captivate you even if you’re not a fan of story games. I was often reminded of our favorite game, Hollow Knight, with several soulslike battling mechanics.