8Bit/Digi

Exploring a Whimsical but Dark World

Welcome to another story of how attending a convention introduced me to an amazing game. The Game Developers Conference is an event where I stumble upon a good number of the games I review. One of those was AWAKEN – Astral Blade, which first caught my attention at GDC 2024.

AWAKEN – Astral Blade is a Metroidvania adventure that has players take on the role of Tania. Tasked with rescuing a research party, they will navigate a beautiful but hostile world rich in exploration and secrets.

Landing on Horace Island

On the rainforest island of Horace, an ancient civilization once thrived using Karpas Energy. All knowledge of this civilization was thought lost until the Orson Technology Company rediscovered it. They deployed a research team to investigate Karpas, unknowingly unleashing its darker side. This release has mutated the local wildlife into aggressive monsters. In response, Orson Technology sends Tania, a bionic soldier, to rescue the endangered team. Players will explore Horace Island, facing both hostile mutants and natural obstacles. They’ll battle creatures while navigating challenges to uncover Karpas’s secrets and locate the missing team.

From a narrative perspective, the plot exists but doesn’t fully capture my interest. It’s one of those stories that is there to give you a reason for why you do the things you do. At no point do I feel compelled to invest emotionally in any characters. Nor am I drawn to uncover the secrets of this lost civilization. It doesn’t help that most lore-building is relegated to documents that aren’t particularly engaging to read.

Combat Bionic Tania

AWAKEN – Astral Blade is a Metroidvania adventure game. Players traverse a labyrinthine world filled with mutants, with danger lurking at every corner. Connecting it all are traps, platforms, and mazes that players must overcome. At the same time, it’s a world rich in wonder that could be seen in the details. Best of all is that it doesn’t stay stagnant but changes as you progress. Besides the wonders, the world is also rich in rewards that will boost your stats.

Bringing this world to life is the game’s use of color to set the tone. Its design choices perfectly capture a sense of wonder with vibrant colors, while intense blacks and reds remind players of lurking danger. Adding to this effect are the anime-inspired aesthetics used to shape the world and characters. Together, these choices create an engaging environment that balances beauty with a sense of underlying threat.

Combat is the standard hack’n slash with special combos and elements of boosted skills. The basic combat will be easy to learn and get into regardless of how familiar one is with the genre. Mastering the combos and special attacks will take some time. Players will battle a variety of enemies that will reward them with aether. This could be used to upgrade your character and acquire new skills.

Secrets of Karpas Energy

As a fun Metroidvania, AWAKEN – Astral Blade meets all the essential criteria. It features a likable protagonist who ventures into a perilous world filled with challenges. The world itself captures your attention, constantly reminding you of lurking dangers. Enemies aren’t limited to monsters alone; the environment itself poses multiple threats. This combination of character, world, and hazards keeps the gameplay engaging and immersive throughout the adventure.

There’s even more to this game that I enjoyed. The hack-and-slash combat delivers exactly what I want, with responsive, fast-paced action and killer combos. This works perfectly, as I love exploring every corner of this world to uncover its secrets. The inclusion of multiple endings also adds significantly to the game’s replay value. Together, it results in a rich experience that keeps me coming back for more.

Plus there are kitty’s in the game that you can pet.

A Dark Reality

The game has its shortcomings, and the story isn’t the only issue. Much of this is due to the combat needing some serious refinement. While combat itself is standard, getting knocked into a corner feels like game over. Enemies keep attacking while you’re unable to escape or fight back effectively. This issue becomes even more frustrating in boss fights.

Step into the Royal Alter

AWAKEN – Astral Blade is a game that has all the hallmarks of a quality Metroidvania set in a dark fantasy world. The combat is a balanced hack’n slash, perfect for fighting the many foes. Its use of color and anime inspired visuals know how to set the moment while being rich in replay. It also has some shortcomings but they will not ruin the overall experience.

Disclaimer: The publisher through a PR representative provided the game used for this review.

This review is the critique and thoughts of one writer. If you want to see how other critics felt then check it out on OpenCritic.

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides insight into the gamer community of the San Francisco Bay Area.

AWAKEN - Astral Blade (PC)

8

Excellent

8.0/10

Pros

• It has all the hallmarks of a quality Metroidvania.
• Hack'n slash combat that is balenced between power and speed.
• Its use of color and anime inspired visuals know how to set the moment.
• Rich in replay value with its focus on exploring and multiple endings.

Cons

• Lackluster story that won't keep you invested.
• Combat needs some refinement.