Oh, and I know what you’re thinking: having to go to a campsite constantly to switch characters is going to be a pain. That isn’t a complaint, by the way, but actually something I appreciated when playing. It’s like a Metroidvania-style game in many ways, though it isn’t quite so perplexing thanks to its more streamlined map design. You won’t have access to all of each character’s abilities immediately either, so there’s a sense of progress to the game that doesn’t only make it feel like your characters are constantly improving, but also encourages players to re-visit locales that previously had areas that were blocked off. “I loved the character switching mechanics, and not just because it reminded me of The Lost Vikings (which is a game I adored in my younger years).”īeing able to switch between the three encourages exploration in the game, with some areas only accessible by specific characters or certain pathways having to be opened using a character’s abilities first. It could be argued that these sort of abilities are all used by just one hero in similar titles in the genre, but there was something more rewarding about having to switch between three in Astalon: Tears of the Earth and seeing the camaraderie between the trio. Each set of abilities does feel genuinely unique too, with nothing tacked on for the sake of it. It added an extra element of puzzling to almost everything you do in the game, with even some typically simple areas to progress through demanding a bit of thought from the player. I loved the character switching mechanics, and not just because it reminded me of The Lost Vikings (which is a game I adored in my younger years). He’s able to shoot fireballs that can penetrate objects and activate switches, whilst he’s also able to glide between areas to give him a bit more momentum when moving. Finally, there’s Algus, who is the magic user of the trio.
She also has a bow, so enemies that are out of reach can be picked off with ease when using her. Kyuli is nimble given that she can climb objects and perform multiple jumps in succession, making her the perfect candidate to get to those hard-to-reach areas. He’s also armed with a sword so is ideal for up-close combat, though it can also be used to cut through some obstacles so it’s certainly versatile. Arias feels like the quickest of the three thanks to his dash ability, whilst he is also able to deflect projectiles. Whilst the three heroes are all competent at standard platforming, it is with their abilities that they stand out the most. “All three heroes in Astalon: Tears of the Earth have to be used to get through its challenges, with players able to swap between the three when resting at the camp sites strewn across the Tower of Serpents.” It makes it easier to invest in their journey and root for them to succeed, whilst it also fleshes out the overarching narrative. These camp sites also offer brief moments of solace and interaction between the three heroes – whilst these instances are never too deep, they give more insight into the characters and the relationship which they share with one another.
All three heroes in Astalon: Tears of the Earth have to be used to get through its challenges, with players able to swap between the three when resting at the camp sites strewn across the Tower of Serpents. In many way, Astalon: Tears of the Earth feels like many titles that have come before it – it looks like them too, if the screenshots are anything to go by.įortunately, it also comes with a neat little hook that helps differentiate it from similar titles. What follows is an old-school platforming adventure that sees players running, jumping, slicing, and blasting their way through all sorts of platforming challenges and enemies in their path. Yeah, I’m sure things will work out alright in the end… It’s always handy in a video game, right? There’s a catch though: it comes at the expense of one of their souls. Fortunately, they’re ‘aided’ by the Titan of Death, who has granted them the ability to constantly revive when defeated. Astalon: Tears of the Earth tells the tale of three adventurers who have to scale the dangerous Tower of Serpents in order to save their home from the atrocities of a post-apocalyptic world.
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