Jump to content

Astlibra: Revision - 2D JRPG Metroidvania you didn't know you needed

Mr.Vic20

By Mr.Vic20
in The Spawn Point

 Share

Recommended Posts

Mr.Vic20

Mr.Vic20

Posted
Posted

Guys, let's take a knee and discuss "Astlibra: Revision", a game that takes your nostalgia for games like Ys and bumps everything in it to 11. People talk about hidden gems and this is the biggest, shiniest one I've found in a long damn time! I'm 60 hours in and not at the end yet! It has a bazillion systems, a crazy story, addictive combat (once systems start getting layered in), fun sound track and a charming visual format. Its a genuinely amazing game, and if I was charged 60 dollars for it I would still feel I got my value out of it! Please, if you like ARPGs, please give this game a chance! It has a demo on steam and at 25 bucks its an absolute steal! Many of you are probably familiar with my opinion that Japanese developed RPGs are misogynistic and filled with lame edge lords. Not the freshest take, but one I feel over and over with every eye roll they force upon me with their "will we always be fatalistic 20 somethings?",  with our wank dialog and increasingly out of touch "cultural" elements. That said, this game also, unfortunately, has those elements, and YET its so damn good, I'm enjoying it despite all of that. Just behind Elden Ring, this is my GOTY. Run, don't walk, to get your copy today!

 

capsule_616x353.jpg?t=1668185719

ASTLIBRA Revision on Steam

STORE.STEAMPOWERED.COM
Confront time and fate in the 2D action RPG, Astlibra Revision. Explore meticulously crafted worlds, fight brutal boss battles, and upgrade your skills to take down enemies lurking around every corner.

 

  • Thanks 2
  • Halal 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Bloodporne

Bloodporne

Posted
Posted

Surprised to see those reviews on the Steam page because honestly, the screenshots look really bad to me, especially the backgrounds and I can't stand the aesthetics in general. Anime isn't my thing and especially not Triple-D horny anime. That being said...the reviews make it sounds like a fucking awesome game under all that and I AM interested now.

 

Edit: OH, there's a demo! Perfect. I will check it out based on your thread and the reviews.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mr.Vic20

Mr.Vic20

Posted
  • Author
Posted
2 hours ago, Keyser_Soze said:

 

 

I can see why! :fap:

 

spacer.png

 

But honestly you brought this game up in another thread but it looked like all the metroidvania clones that are on there so I kind of dismissed it.

I know, right?! But it is, against all reason, an amazing game! 

  • Hugs 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mr.Vic20

Mr.Vic20

Posted
  • Author
Posted
1 hour ago, stepee said:

Ohhh there is a demo, important detail! I’ll try it on the ol deck though it will need to be wish listed if I like it as I can’t exactly fit in another game right now!

It can wait! But once you are like 2 hours in, you will think, my god, why did I not start this sooner?! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
stepee

stepee

Posted
Posted
14 minutes ago, Mr.Vic20 said:

It can wait! But once you are like 2 hours in, you will think, my god, why did I not start this sooner?! 

 

I’ll be honest, from the trailer and pictures I’m skeptical but this praise and there being a demo means we will find out!

  • Halal 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Xbob42

Xbob42

Posted
Posted

Yeah this one's not doing it for me. I like some of the ideas like the inputting directions to summon magic and whatnot, but I think the music, the art style, the monster design, it's all kind of really weak. And then there's weird shit like all your stuff having invisible cooldowns, like your dodge. When is my dodge ready to use again? Fuck you, that's when. I dunno, maybe there's an indicator somewhere but I don't see it. It's long enough to where you really notice it and not having any sort of obvious visual or audio tell is weird. But all your moves have this to some extent it feels like.

 

Also the translation is abysmal and not in a funny way.

 

I don't hate it, but I got bored before finishing the demo. I beat the shit out of some weird rainbow dragon, which I guess was a dream or something, then it brought me back to a green valley where I had less moves and abilities and had to then equip them and it was just kind of all over the place.

 

I'm not too interested in this one, but if it's successful and they make a sequel, I'd be interested in checking that out, because I do like some of the ideas as I said.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mr.Vic20

Mr.Vic20

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Sadly the demo doesn't give you enough of the games eventually fairly deep systems to trully get where its going. Its a shame because many folks will walk away going, what was that? The game endlessly builds on itself into something pretty special. But yes, the first couple of hours are quite limited. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mr.Vic20

Mr.Vic20

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Review from RPGwatch:

 

Aside from seeing one trailer for Astlibra Revision, henceforth referred to as “Astlibra,” in a Metroidvania Reddit group, I hadn’t heard much else about this game. It appeared to be a bit too chaotic to click with me, and I sort of dropped to the wayside. Receiving the game for review gave me the opportunity to see how this game performs when I’m able to start from the beginning of the journey and build my way up to the cacophony of action that was present in the video and demo. Fortunately for me, this review convinced me of just how wrong I was on this assessment, and now, I hope to present to anyone that reads this why Astlibra is a game that deserves far more than a passing glance.

First and foremost, I want to set the record straight on something regarding this game. Though the screenshots may lead someone to believe that this is a Metroidvania title, I feel that this impression may be a bit misleading. It is actually more akin to a classic action RPG with platformer elements such as Nihon Falcom’s Ys 3: Wanderers From Ys – though I feel that this game vastly improves on that title. Musically, Astlibra provides a similar association with Nihon Falcom classics as well.  The gameplay takes place across a series of chapters where the player character is tasked with traveling to a new, self-contained location from the main town. After completing a chapter, it is possible to return to old locations to obtain items that may have been missed. But the sense of expanded exploration usually felt in a Metroidvania game is not present here. Not a detriment to the game in the slightest, given that I believe that it accomplishes what it sets out to do; however, I could see someone being disappointed if a Metroidvania is what they wanted here.

[...]

Astlibra Revision is a game that initially didn’t gel with me with but, very quickly, managed to ensnare me in a very addictive progression loop anchored by fun and flowing action gameplay. In other words, I have had an absolute blast with this title, and it is definitely going to be making my top ten list of 2022. This title isn’t receiving much in the form of marketing or word of mouth, and that’s an absolute shame because I feel like anyone that is a fan of classic action RPGs with platformer elements will absolutely take well to this game. And considering that the entire game was crafted by one person speaks volumes for what they have accomplished here, and I look forward to seeing what they attempt to do next.

If you’re a fan of classic 2D adventures, Astlibra Revision offers a retro-inspired quest worth undertaking, and I am genuinely glad that this review crossed my desk because, without it, it would have very likely evaded my attention. Do yourself a favor, and do not let that outcome happen to you.

Score: 4.5/5

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 months later...
Bacon

Bacon

Posted
Posted

@Mr.Vic20

MAN I was like WTF is happening AHHH

 

So, I had never played the demo. Watched videos tho. But when I went to play a "new game" it asked if I would like to play the Demo first. I thought, oh, it must be a tutorial. And it was, but then suddenly I was like talking to all these NPCs and I fucking bought Masamune from some guy. I had all these weapons and armor. People were welcoming me back. It didn't even occur to me that being level thirty was not normal. I was fighting all this shit, and then the demo ended and I was like, "ooooooh." But like, how da game gonna ask me if I wanna play the demo first when I got the full game. I was hella confused.

 

Pretty fuckin fun demo tho

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Bacon

Bacon

Posted
Posted

@Mr.Vic20 help

I'm in the grow menu and I don't have enough Grains? Force? to unlock this magic spell but when I clicked yes anyway, I got a menu that asks, "Do you want to spent 3 times as much to get the most force?" and I have no idea what this means other than spending 3x of something.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mr.Vic20

Mr.Vic20

Posted
  • Author
Posted
1 minute ago, Bacon said:

@Mr.Vic20 help

I'm in the grow menu and I don't have enough Grains? Force? to unlock this magic spell but when I clicked yes anyway, I got a menu that asks, "Do you want to spent 3 times as much to get the most force?" and I have no idea what this means other than spending 3x of something.

Ah, can't remember, logging in now to review menu and report back! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mr.Vic20

Mr.Vic20

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Just now, Mr.Vic20 said:

Ah, can't remember, logging in now to review menu and report back! 

 

4 minutes ago, Bacon said:

@Mr.Vic20 help

I'm in the grow menu and I don't have enough Grains? Force? to unlock this magic spell but when I clicked yes anyway, I got a menu that asks, "Do you want to spent 3 times as much to get the most force?" and I have no idea what this means other than spending 3x of something.

Ah, right! The grow menu! So you see all the different colored polygons in the key menu at the top? If you run out of the color you need, you can use another color but at a much higher rate. Fear not, there will be plenty of opportunity to grind and fill out this whole gorw menu. Also, if you wonder why this node map is so weirdly laid out, it eventually spells something by the end of the game. 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
HardAct

HardAct

Posted
Posted
On 11/21/2022 at 6:49 AM, Bloodporne said:

Surprised to see those reviews on the Steam page because honestly, the screenshots look really bad to me, especially the backgrounds and I can't stand the aesthetics in general. Anime isn't my thing and especially not Triple-D horny anime. That being said...the reviews make it sounds like a fucking awesome game under all that and I AM interested now.

 

Edit: OH, there's a demo! Perfect. I will check it out based on your thread and the reviews.

   I'll check out the Demo based on Mr.Vics review but man like Bloodporne said I'm not an Anime fan in the slightest especially the Triple-D horny kind and I could not have said it better, what a TURN OFF! I would NEVER EVER give a game like this even a look normally with or without a DEMO.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mr.Vic20

Mr.Vic20

Posted
  • Author
Posted
1 minute ago, Bjomesphat said:

I dunno, a 60 hour metroidvania sounds miserable. Hollow Knight wore out it's welcome after 20 hours.

 

I feel like I'm more likely to play Ender Lilies than this.

Entirely down to taste, but I've played both and to my taste Astlibra is a superior game by far. Ender Lilies is a beautiful game, that has great animation and music and is kind of boring. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Bacon

Bacon

Posted
Posted

@Mr.Vic20

 

Is there any reason to hold on to items (Trinkets Slot +1) that grant you an additional trinket slot? I know in some games items that grant power like that might have a secondary use.

 

Also, what about card such a stamina cards or defense power cards? And are those a timed buff or a permanent upgrade?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mr.Vic20

Mr.Vic20

Posted
  • Author
Posted
1 hour ago, Bacon said:

@Mr.Vic20

 

Is there any reason to hold on to items (Trinkets Slot +1) that grant you an additional trinket slot? I know in some games items that grant power like that might have a secondary use.

 

Also, what about card such a stamina cards or defense power cards? And are those a timed buff or a permanent upgrade?

Hold on to anything you aren't actively using and yes the stat cards are permanent upgrades. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...