Awaken: Astral Blade – PC Review

Awaken: Astral Blade – PC Review

Genre: Action, Adventure, Indie, RPG
Developer: Dark Pigeon Games
Publisher: ESDigital Games
Release Date: Oct 22, 2024
Release Price: $19.99
Platforms: Steam
Written By: Draul
Edited By: Bex

Awaken: Astral Blade, developed by Dark Pigeon Games, is a Metroidvania-style game that merges fast-paced combat with exploration. While the game has a strong foundation, it falters in some key areas, making it a mixed experience overall.

The game introduces Tania, a bionic protagonist tasked with investigating the Horace Islands. Unfortunately, the narrative lacks depth and clarity, with minimal exposition and unengaging dialogue. While the lore exists, it is not well-integrated into the gameplay, leaving many players disconnected from the story.

Visually, Awaken: Astral Blade excels with vibrant environments and detailed character designs. However, Tania’s stiff animations detract from the otherwise polished aesthetic. The sound design is functional but forgettable, with lackluster voice acting and background music that fades into obscurity.

Combat, one of the game’s primary features, is a mixed bag. It starts off as exciting and accessible, with basic combos and weapon variety. However, the repetitive nature of encounters and limited enemy diversity diminish the overall experience. While boss fights are challenging and rewarding, they lack variety in attack patterns.

Exploration is a strong point, with a well-structured map and clear objectives. The inclusion of fast travel midway through the game is a welcome addition, although the lack of proper guidance for tools and navigation can be frustrating. Puzzles and chase sequences add variety, but their design occasionally feels vague and underdeveloped.

The game employs a skill tree with both active and passive abilities, adding customization to the gameplay. Upgrading weapons and unlocking traversal powers provide satisfying progression. However, the limited healing resources and checkpoint-based save system may not appeal to all players.

Overall, Awaken: Astral Blade is a competent Metroidvania title with standout visuals and promising mechanics, but it struggles with repetitive combat, underwhelming storytelling, and occasional design flaws. It’s a game that fans of the genre might enjoy, but it doesn’t bring anything groundbreaking to the table.

Pros:

  • Stunning visuals and vibrant environments.
  • Solid Metroidvania structure with rewarding exploration.
  • Accessible combat with satisfying boss fights.
  • Well-designed skill tree and progression system.

Cons:

  • Shallow narrative with poor exposition.
  • Repetitive enemies and simplistic combat.
  • Occasional navigation frustrations.
  • Mediocre sound design and stiff animations.

Draul gives Awaken: Astral Blade a Drastik measure 7.1 out of 10(71)

While enjoyable in parts, Awaken: Astral Blade feels like a missed opportunity for something greater.