Embark on a visually stunning and action-packed adventure!

Ever wondered what lies beyond the veil of death? In the realm of Magenta Horizon, you’ll step into the shoes of Gretel (yes, cool name!), a reaper tasked with guiding lost souls back to their final resting place. But this purgatory is far from peaceful, as hordes of grotesque demons hunger for souls, and Gretel must unleash her arsenal of skills to combat them. Does this Metroidvania manage to stand out in a very crowded genre? Read on to find out!

Unleash Your Inner Reaper

Magenta Horizon offers a fast-paced, 2D action platformer experience with a focus on rapid (almost hectic, but in a good way) stylish combat. With a fully unlocked melee system, you’ll learn at your own pace, mastering expressive combos and unique playstyles. The combat is fluid and responsive, allowing you to juggle and pogo enemies, utilising environmental hazards for maximum efficiency. If you find things difficult, then fear not as there are helpful hints literally written in the game world which help explain the more complex actions.

Combos are important in Magenta Horizon, and there is a dedicated combo meter (a “combometer”, perhaps?) which keeps an active tally of all those insanely-fast hits that Gretel manages to land on enemies in a short space of time. The higher the combo score, the better!

But that’s not all! Magenta Horizon also encourages an aggressive approach, rewarding players for taking risks and slaying enemies swiftly and creatively.

Explore a Surrealist World

The world of Magenta Horizon is a visually stunning and surrealist dreamscape. Despite being 2D, it lacks precisely nothing in terms of style, colour and general beauty. Its intricate, hand-drawn art style is reminiscent of a living prog-rock album cover, immersing you in its otherworldly atmosphere, and the enemies are also incredibly realised, each one fitting in perfectly within their bizarre environments!

As you journey through this purgatory, you’ll encounter a diverse cast of characters, each with their own unique stories and motivations. Dialogue is authentically rendered in the characters’ accents, adding a layer of realism. For example, a character who you meet early on has a Scottish accent, and his dialogue subtitles are written in a Scottish accent (aye, I’m serious)!

The soundtrack is just as captivating as its visuals, blending prog-rock, metal, jazz, disco, and orchestral elements. This may sound excessive, but the execution is exquisite, resulting in a dynamic and immersive soundscape. The music perfectly complements the intense action and surrealist environments, enhancing the overall experience.

Embark on a Neverending Harvest

Magenta Horizon offers a wealth of content to keep you engaged for hours on end. With its challenging combat, diverse enemies, and expansive world to explore, there’s always something new to discover!

It also features high replay value, as you can strive to achieve higher scores, unlock new abilities, and master the combat system. Add to that the range of difficulty levels available to choose from, and you have dozens of reasons to delve right back in again.

Conclusion

Magenta Horizon is a fantastic 2D action platformer that delivers a thrilling and visually stunning experience. With its fast-paced combat, engaging story, and replayability factor, it’s a game that will keep you coming back for more. While the control scheme can become complex due to specific attack and traversal combinations, the fast-paced action and constant engagement prevent these complexities from becoming overly frustrating. Whether you’re a fan of action platformers or looking for a new challenge, Magenta Horizon is a game that you won’t want to miss.

Grade: 8/10