I've been itching for a good 3d platformer lately and this one kind of seemed like a potential sleeper to me, and yeah, it was alright. The graphics in this game are the opposite of something to write home about but hey, I'm here for the gameplay, not the graphics. I was hoping it was a little more challenging and kinda more short burst like celeste-y but it's definitely a bit more Mario 3D World-esque. The game this reminds me of most is New Super Lucky Tale, especially with the digging mechanic, but a lot less creative and polished, but also slightly more difficult. So yeah. Not a must-play by any means but probably worth checking out if you like 3d platformers as much as I do

I would liken this a lot to Ori and the Will of the Wisps.

Sequels to some of the most popular metroidvanias with obviously larger budgets and a lot more polish, but also leaned harder into typical Metroidvania design, definitely borrowing more from Hollow Knight, simultaneously creating a better game while also losing a lot of its identity/what makes it unique. There could definitely be an analysis of this phenomenon and one day when I have a gaming youtube channel I'll probably make it.

While I do think this game is simultaneously better and worse than the first because of its increased incorporation of MV elements, the thing that put this over the edge for me is the combat. I found the combat a lot more fun and compelling in this game than the first, particularly the boss fights. While the boss fights in the first game were visually incredible, they weren't that compelling gameplay-wise, whereas I thought the boss fights in this one were insanely fun. It's the combat that makes this game better than the first one for me.

Expectation: 8
Score: 5

Man. I was really excited for this one. I had heard it was a good metroidvania, but I don't know where I heard that. Here's the thing, the game doesn't do anything wrong, but it also doesn't do anything right. Quite possibly the most boring and basic metroidvania I have ever played. Got about 3 hours in and had literally no desire to continue. The level design, the story, the movement, the combat, the upgrade systems, literally not a single thing about this game stood out to me. I'm not mad, just disappointed.