Introduction

AWAKEN – Astral Blade is a single-player dark fantasy Metroidvania that takes you on a cosmic journey. As you assume the role of a celestial warrior, you’ll wield powerful astral blades to defeat hordes of demonic enemies, unravel the secrets of the astral realm, and encounter a diverse cast of characters. The main question, however, is whether AWAKEN – Astral Blade is a celestial masterpiece or a cosmic disappointment. Read on to find out!

Celestial Combat and Cosmic Tales

AWAKEN – Astral Blade offers a unique blend of action-packed combat and immersive storytelling. As a celestial warrior, players will wield powerful weapons to plough through a variety of enemies which are dotted throughout the numerous levels. 

The story, while linear, is captivating and filled with intriguing twists and turns. Players will explore stunning celestial landscapes, encounter a diverse cast of characters, and unravel the secrets of the astral realm.

A Symphony of Celestial Mechanics

The combat system is both challenging and rewarding, requiring precise timing and strategic use of special abilities. It is the heart of AWAKEN and feels both smooth and natural. Players can chain together combos, dodge enemy attacks, and unleash devastating special moves. Interestingly, mere button bashing doesn’t achieve anything other than a lost battle, because precision and specific sequences are key.

The game’s difficulty curve is well-balanced, offering a challenge for both casual and hardcore players. I was pleasantly surprised when, after losing a boss fight around five thousand times in a row, the game offered me the option to lower the difficulty level. I especially like this because it allows you to save money on a new monitor after what would have inevitably resulted in a furious rage quit had it continued.

Character progression is another key aspect of AWAKEN. Players can customise their characters with a variety of weapons, armour, and abilities. The progression system, whilst not particularly vast, is still satisfying, allowing players to gradually grow in power and unlock new abilities as they progress.

A Celestial Stunner

The stunning visuals and immersive soundtrack transport players to a breathtaking celestial realm, full of bold, bright colours mixed in with dark, creepy environments. Along with the detailed character models and dynamic lighting effects, this creates a truly awe-inspiring experience.

The soundtrack is equally impressive, featuring a mix of epic orchestral music and electronic beats that perfectly complement the gameplay. Most of the time a pleasant, gentle melody is played whilst exploring, which changes according to the scenario players find themselves in.

An Eternal Journey

Put simply, it’s hard not to return to AWAKEN – Astral Blade as it offers significant replay value, multiple difficulty levels, multiple endings, hidden collectables, and challenging boss fights. As with most Metroidvanias, there is plenty to see and do. There are hidden gems and (temporarily) unreachable areas galore. Naturally, once you are able to level up your character to the point where they can reach and find said areas and hidden gems respectively. As such, entire new areas of the game open up for exploration, which is a vital component of AWAKEN as there is so much to see and do.

Conclusion

AWAKEN – Astral Blade is a captivating game that offers a unique blend of combat, exploration, and storytelling in a modern setting. It also manages to do all of this whilst remaining true to the feel of Metroidvanias of olde. While it may have some minor flaws, such as confusing translations into English and occasional performance issues, its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. It simply oozes charm, has a beautiful, bright colour palette, fun combat and is consistently fun.

Grade: 8/10