AWAKEN – Astral Blade: A Dark, Stunning Metroidvania with Room for Improvement

In the realm of Metroidvania games, “AWAKEN – Astral Blade” aims to carve out a distinct place for itself, drawing players into a gritty, atmospheric world filled with dangerous creatures and mysteries to unravel. Developed with a captivating aesthetic and fast-paced combat, AWAKEN takes players on a journey with Tania, a bionic girl on a quest to save a missing team in a land marred by hostile flora and fauna. Though it shines in many respects, the game stumbles with inconsistent writing and awkward mechanics that prevent it from reaching its full potential. Here’s an in-depth look at the game’s strengths, weaknesses, and what sets it apart.

A Journey Through a Gorgeous, Dark World

One of AWAKEN’s strongest points is its art direction. The world design and visuals are beautifully crafted, with each biome bursting with detail, from ominous forests to intricate ruins. The game’s environments are not only visually engaging but also offer a wide range of areas to explore, collecting resources, discovering hidden secrets, and immersing yourself in the eerie, post-apocalyptic setting.

The animations, especially in combat, flow smoothly, adding a tactile quality to Tania’s movements and attacks. Cutscenes rely on semi-animated artwork, which, while not fully dynamic, injects narrative moments with a unique stylistic appeal. Coupled with a moody, evocative soundtrack that sometimes recalls the eerie synth vibes of the 1980s Dune theme, the game successfully cultivates an atmosphere of mystery and danger.

Fluid Combat with Combo Customization

The combat in AWAKEN – Astral Blade centers on combo-driven mechanics that feel intuitive and rewarding. Players can chain a variety of moves from fast, light attacks to powerful, slow strikes, allowing for flexibility in playstyle. Tania’s combat abilities are further enhanced by her unique moveset: players can parry attacks to gain an edge, use the “Quick Rise” ability to recover quickly, and dash through enemies’ attacks to activate slow-motion effects and gain a few moments of immunity.

These mechanics create a dynamic combat experience, although the combo system could feel repetitive over time. The real depth comes from the weapon and skill upgrades. The game offers a variety of skills and weapons to customize Tania’s abilities, from improved health regeneration to speed boosts. Collecting Aether—a mysterious in-game currency—allows players to upgrade weapons, unlock new skills, and purchase items, adding a rewarding layer to progression that players can tailor to their style. However, some accessories feel uninspired, with most offering basic stat boosts (+damage, +HP, +crit) rather than transformative effects. Only a handful modify gameplay significantly, like health-over-time effects on health vials or speed boosts, leaving room for more diverse customization.

Storytelling That Misses the Mark

While the gameplay and visuals are strong, AWAKEN struggles to deliver a compelling narrative. The story follows Tania, who is tasked with a rescue mission by her creator, Dr. Herveus. As she ventures through the rainforest of Horace Islands, Tania encounters mutated creatures and pieces together her own backstory. While the premise sounds intriguing, the actual narrative often falls flat due to awkward translation and lackluster character writing.

Dialogue is frequently clunky, and the localization efforts, though passable, leave something to be desired. There are noticeable inconsistencies, where dialogue boxes don’t sync up with the spoken lines, which can detract from the immersion. Additionally, the automatic progression of dialogue boxes can make it hard to keep up, particularly for players who prefer a slower reading pace. Although a recent update extended the dialogue speed, many players may still find the auto-advance feature unnecessary.

Voice acting in AWAKEN is a mixed bag: some cutscenes feature decent performances that elevate the story, while others feel stilted or lack emotional weight. Additionally, sound effects seem sparse, sometimes leaving the environment unusually quiet where more ambient sounds could have amplified the atmosphere. These inconsistencies hinder the game’s overall narrative and make it harder to get fully immersed in Tania’s journey.

Unique Gameplay Features and Quality of Life Mechanics

One of AWAKEN’s standout features is its efficient map design, which minimizes backtracking—a rare but welcome choice in Metroidvania games. Exploration flows smoothly, and players can fast-travel to key areas without repetitive journeys across the map. The game also includes difficulty-adjustment options, allowing players to lower the difficulty and gain temporary buffs if they’re struggling with certain areas or boss fights. This flexibility makes AWAKEN accessible to both casual and hardcore players.

Another charming addition is the ability to interact with certain animals in the game—most notably, yes, you can pet cats. These small touches add a bit of warmth and personality to an otherwise dark and foreboding world, emphasizing that Tania’s story, while somber, has moments of levity.

Combat Depth and Character Progression

Beyond basic combat, AWAKEN offers a fair amount of character progression. Players can invest in Tania’s stats or abilities based on their preferred playstyle. Whether through enhancing combat power, adding tactical maneuvers, or upgrading weapons for specific encounters, players have the opportunity to tailor Tania’s skillset. For speedrunners, there are high-risk, high-reward accessories that add interesting strategic layers, encouraging players to explore different build configurations.

However, the accessories could have been more inventive. Most fall into familiar categories like +damage or +HP, with only a few offering unique effects. This limited variety may lead some players to feel constrained in their options, although the range of skills and weapon upgrades helps compensate for this shortfall.

AWAKEN – Astral Blade shines as a visually captivating, exploration-heavy Metroidvania with satisfying combat and a meticulously crafted world. The game’s strengths lie in its beautiful art, dynamic combat system, and accessible exploration design. For fans of the genre who prioritize gameplay and atmosphere over narrative depth, AWAKEN is an engaging experience. However, those seeking a compelling story may find it lacking due to lackluster writing, awkward translation, and uneven voice acting.

Strengths: A Beautiful and Immersive World

• Visually Stunning Environments: Each biome is beautifully crafted, enhancing immersion.
• Engaging Combat Mechanics: The combo system and unique abilities keep fights fresh and exciting.
• Accessible Map Design: Fast-travel options and efficient layouts minimize backtracking.
• Customization Options: Upgradable skills and weapon variety allow for player-driven progression.
• Atmospheric Soundtrack: Adds to the game’s dark, mysterious tone.

Areas for Improvement: Storytelling and Sound Design

• Lackluster Story and Translation: Weak writing and translation inconsistencies detract from the narrative experience.
• Limited Accessory Variety: Many accessories provide generic stat boosts, with few offering truly unique effects.
• Dialogue Auto-Advance Frustrations: Text auto-advancing can be disorienting and disrupts immersion.
• Sparse Sound Effects: Occasional quietness in the sound design can break immersion, especially during intense scenes.