The items you discover are equally satisfying. There was also an entire fifth of the map I hadn’t discovered until I neared the finale, but it was one of the first places my buddy explored. Something I discovered very early on he hadn’t discovered until near the end. What we discovered, however, was that our paths were vastly different. It felt like we were on the playground in elementary school, sharing secrets we’d uncovered and excitedly pointing each other in the right direction. I was playing alongside a friend with whom I’d share notes along the way while we played. Astalon messes with this formula for the better, giving the player the choice to go in any direction they choose and still find success. But in most games, you’ll still work through main areas in the same order on each playthrough.
Most fans of gear-gated games are familiar with opening new areas and backtracking. The beauty comes in two parts: its open-ended nature and the value of the items you’ll come across.
I’ve played a lot of games similar to Metroid and Castlevania, but I’ve not seen such expert crafting in quite a long time. What put the biggest smile on my face during my twenty-two hour playthrough of Astalon is the exquisite level design. If all of this sounds pretty standard, trust me that it gets much, much better. In addition, you’ll be able to purchase permanent upgrades like health, map upgrades, and several fun surprises that need to be experienced. You can spend these orbs on Algus, Arias, and Kyuli’s individual stats for strength, defense, attack speed, and special abilities. As you attempt to work your way through the tower, defeated enemies drop orbs that act as your currency.
#Astalon tears of the earth switch upgrade#
In fact, after each time you die (and you will die, to be certain), you’ll have the chance to upgrade each of your three characters. This should appeal more to those who are normally turned off this this style of game, since you’re not really starting over fresh. So instead of blindly working your way through a new maze, you’ll more or less continue where you left off while exploring and uncovering new locations. Everything will be exactly as you found it on subsequent runs, a mechanic that feels fresh for this type of game. Most roguelikes offer a procedurally-generated world each time you come back for a new run, but not here. But before you write this one off (if you’re not a fan of the genre), understand that Astalon: Tears of the Earth does something different. There’s even a very clever explanation for why your characters are able to come back after death. Although the plot may not seem deep, it serves its purpose quite well. Something is poisoning their land’s water supply, and it’s up to Algus, Arias, and Kyuli to find and put an end to whatever the cause. It looks, sounds, and plays how fans of classics will remember while offering modern sensibilities that keep it from being flawed by the technology of yesteryear.Īstalon‘s premise is simple: three warriors (a wizard, a fighter, and a rogue) enter a tower to save their desert town. Combining elements of some of my favorite genres, it also gives an intense shot of nostalgia for a guy like me who grew up in the 80s. Astalon: Tears of the Earth from LABS Works might not only be one of the best titles I’ve played in 2021, it could be one of the highest-quality 2D gear-gated games I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing.
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