Elderand Review – A Throwback With Some Rough Edges

By Anthony Doty Last updated Mar 17, 2023

Elderand on PC

In immediately’s gaming panorama, indie video games are now not the area of interest they as soon as had been, oftentimes standing toe to toe with lots of the AAA blockbusters that vie for the eye of gamers. And because the market will get extra saturated, it may be a troublesome problem attempting to face out from the gang, and one great way of rising above the noise is to take inspiration from classics and add your personal twist to it. For followers of the Metroidvania style, writer Graffiti Video games and indie studios Mantra and Sinergia Video games’ Elderand is unquestionably price a glance, even when there are some tough edges to this pixellated journey.

Picture Supply: Graffiti Video games by way of Twinfinite

As a mercenary tasked with a goal, issues shortly unravel, and the stakes get raised, and it’s on this path of survival and triumph that gamers will discover loads of enjoyment and an occasional serving to of frustration. At first look, there’s a deep reverence for the forebears that got here earlier than it, with Castlevania: Symphony of the Evening a specific font of inspiration.

The size of exploration and secrets and techniques, in addition to the roleplaying components, are additionally current in Elderand, and assist to reinforce an in any other case typical motion journey. Combine within the Soulslike fight for the extra intimidating of foes, and it looks like Elderand is heading in the right direction.

The interconnected world of various biomes and issue present in Elderand is fairly effectively designed, from the forested beginning areas to the darker, extra Lovecraftian designs as gamers progress deeper into the insanity. The sidescrolling motion is just about normal fare, however with secret areas and hidden rooms to be discovered, each field that seems within the rising map hints at way more to come back.

Elderand RPG — Picture Supply: Graffiti Video games by way of Twinfinite

Picture Supply: Graffiti Video games by way of Twinfinite

Motion feels snappy, though there are points with jumps not precisely feeling fine-tuned for extra exact platforming. That normally doesn’t make a lot of a distinction if you find yourself simply attempting to get round, however when it entails avoiding assaults, then issues can get messy actually quick. It does get higher upon getting unlocked the power to double bounce, however some tweaking will likely be welcomed by these extra accustomed to the excessive requirements of the style.

And as you acquire extra abilities in Elderand, there’s extra incentive to go to previous areas in the hunt for extra loot to make your self highly effective. The sport has a pleasant steadiness between teasing gamers with potential treasures and doling out upgrades that make it potential to get to them, and it by no means as soon as felt notably arduous or a waste of time attempting to fill in each space of the map.

As for the fight, it’s helped by the largest energy of Elderand, what with its enormous arsenal of bloodthirsty weapons and assaults that goes effectively with over 60 various kinds of enemies and executives that decision this cursed land house. Whereas your beginning sword and defend are reliable, they’ll quickly give method to extra fantastical mixtures like whips, swords, daggers, axes, bows, and extra.

Elderand combat — Picture Supply: Graffiti Video games by way of Twinfinite

With each weapon coming with completely different stats and abilities, the sport permits for various playstyles to flourish, particularly when you think about the roleplaying facet of Elderand. Though gamers are given simply 4 key areas to pump their hard-earned stat factors into, discovering the proper construct and maximizing the harm you may deal can result in completely satisfying fight encounters. Experimentation and crafting to improve your gear oftentimes result in shocking outcomes, and with sub-weapons to reinforce the offence, Elderand has a strong basis during which its fight can shine.

That mentioned, these alternatives aren’t as frequent as they need to be, with cannon fodder enemies not precisely offering sufficient of a problem. Whereas there are a lot of methods to strategy enemies, and so they do struggle fairly in a different way, so long as you’re dealing an growing quantity of harm earlier than they’ve an opportunity to retaliate, the fight turns into a cakewalk. Even with its selection, issues can get outdated shortly, and backtracking via acquainted areas can exarcebate the difficulty.

No less than the assorted bosses provide up extra of a struggle, however there’s actually room for extra inventive makes use of of Elderand’s enemies past only a numbers recreation, particularly for gamers prepared to grind to get stronger all through the sport.

Elderand map — Picture Supply: Graffiti Video games by way of Twinfinite

Nevertheless, regardless of some misgivings, Elderand is packaged in an attracitve pacakge, with its artwork design a dependable supply of pleasure at each flip. From the character customization to its digusting enemies, every new space gamers get to discover within the recreation is teeming with particulars, serving to convey to life a wretched world in want of hope. The hand-drawn environments stand out instantly, and a lot of the animation work is high nothch.

And whereas Elderand chooses to inform its story via misplaced letters and ill-fated correspondence from people who got here earlier than, it isn’t going to be one thing that works for everybody. Granted, it does foster a way of function to discover each nook and cranny for people who need to immerse themselves, however it additionally alienates these which are on a beeline to the tip and maybe not getting the complete image. There isn’t any proper method to go about it, however be sure you set your expectations proper on this sense.

On the finish of the day, not many video games come near a masterpiece like Castlevania: Symphony of the Evening, however Elderand tries in its personal method to honor its inspiration. Exploration is a enjoyable endeavor enhanced by nice artwork design, the RPG system has the potential to do way more, however its fight might be hit and miss. The storytelling follows the identical path, however for gamers on the lookout for Lovecraftian creatures to kill and superb gothic aesthetics, Elderand will match the invoice.