Developer: Elden Pixels
Publisher: Elden Pixels
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Tested on: PS4
Alway’s Legacy (PS4) – Review
Elden Pixels is a studio that specializes in making modern retro games, or simply pixel games with a very nostalgic feel to them that use a lot of old-school elements. Plenty of people are fans of this genre, and the studio already had a very successful release with their first game Alwa’s Awakening. A sequel was made, Alwa’s Legacy, and released on PC and Switch in 2020. Both of these games were reviewed by us and you can find the reviews by clicking here and here. Today we’re looking at Alwa’s Legacy again as it recently got a console port for Xbox and PlayStation too.
Story
Alwa’s Legacy picks up where Awakening left off, with the main character Zoe having lost all her memories after a confrontation with the big bad evil overlord. This evil overlord is still alive and out for revenge, but Zoe won’t stand a chance without her full memory, which will also give her access to all the handy magic skills she learned. After getting some help from a kind elderly lady, Zoe sets out to retrieve crystal pieces that will bring her memory back to her and allow her to defeat the bad guy once and for all.
As far as the story goes, the plot is rather simple and more of a vehicle to carry the gameplay forward. Most of it is told through character dialogue and short cutscenes, and even though people who missed out on the first game will be a little confused at first, the game is very accessible for newcomers as the plot is still quite simple.
Graphics
Alwa’s Legacy got an impressive graphic update compared to Awakening. Instead of the full NES look of the first game, you can definitely tell this sequel has a modern touch, while still retaining the classic pixel aesthetic. There are a lot more colors and the different areas you travel through are more distinct from each other than previously, which is handy since the semi-open world approach of the game means you’re traveling around a lot.
Sound
The soundtrack for Alwa’s Legacy is surely what every retro gamer dreams of. There is a whole array of chiptune tracks that are guaranteed to put you in a great mood. Different areas have their own themes, and there are plenty of sound effects that go hand in hand with the action on screen. Sound can also be a factor in announcing when to expect an attack or when to use your magic, so it serves a function too. The game doesn’t have any voice acting, though with the humble amount of dialogue in Alwa’s Legacy it doesn’t feel like we’re missing anything.
Gameplay
Alwa’s Legacy is a 2D action-platformer with major Metroidvania elements thrown in the mix. As we’ve mentioned above, the game has open-world elements, since you have the ability to explore a lot of zones and travel between areas at your leisure, only held back by what skills you have. Some skills will be needed to access new areas. New skills are unlocked gradually through gameplay, as you collect the story-relevant orbs.
While you’re on your journey, you run into all kinds of nasty creatures. At the start of the game, Zoe has a staff to deal with them, using it to deliver a simple forward blow. Those aforementioned new skills come in handy here too, as they can help you defeat bigger and stronger enemies. Skills can be upgraded with the use of orbs found across the map. Another resource to keep your eyes on are Tears. These can be hard to come by, but by using them, you can change the save spots across the map into warp points, allowing you some semblance of fast travel. This is greatly needed; especially later, as you don’t want to backtrack over large areas.
This backtracking becomes the game’s greatest downfall as well. Enemies respawn whenever you move between areas, so you’ll find yourself fighting the same annoying skeleton(s) a dozen times if you’re not careful. The game hands you a map near the start, but it’s not the most legible and can cause some confusion. On the other hand, the game does allow for some adjusted settings that will make it easier for players who get frustrated quickly. Most notably you can activate an instant respawn that makes it so you’re not sent back all the way to your last save point when you die.
Conclusion
Alwa’s Legacy is a great title and shows us how much the developer grew over the three years between their released games. Everything looks a little nicer, flows a little more smoothly, and underneath it all, we still got the fun gameplay and retro classic feel. The fact that you can now enjoy it on even more consoles is great, since it’s a must-have for any pixel game enthusiasts who wants a chill adventure game to get lost in.
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