Afterimage is a stunning game in the Metroidvania genre that boasts a satisfying melee combat system and a wide range of options to overcome its challenging boss battles. Fans of games like Hollow Knight and Blasphemous will undoubtedly find much to appreciate here, as Afterimage shares the same excellent visual aesthetic, tense platforming sections, 2D combat that requires skill and strategy, and a vast, interconnected world.
Developed by Aurogon Shanghai, the game follows the journey of a young amnesiac girl named Renee as she travels across the vibrant world of Engardin, battling the giants that threaten its inhabitants. Unfortunately, Renee’s annoying sidekick, Ifree, is always by her side, and his grating voiceover quickly becomes tiresome.
Although the massive skill tree may seem overwhelming at first, the RPG mechanics are highly engaging. Certain abilities are gated by level requirements, limiting the player’s freedom to some extent. Nevertheless, players can create builds around the different weapons they encounter, each with its own unique move set. Players can equip two weapons simultaneously, and additional abilities for each weapon can be unlocked through skill tree investment, allowing for even more customization.
With more than 30 boss battles spread throughout its 20+ hour runtime, Afterimage is a challenging and lengthy game that requires grinding at times to level up and upgrade the player’s armaments. However, the game’s combat system is fast, fluid, and well-balanced, making it an enjoyable aspect of the gameplay. Players can chain lucrative runs together later on, making the grind less tedious.
With over 150 unique enemies, each with its own unique design and challenging gameplay mechanics, Afterimage is an impressive game that stands out in the crowded Metroidvania genre. The boss encounters feature multiple phases, requiring repetition and mastery to overcome. Overall, Afterimage doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it offers enough depth and excellent visual design to appeal to Metroidvania enthusiasts.
Positives:
- Beautiful hand-drawn art style.
- Large, interconnected world.
- Excellent enemy design.
- Weapon variety adds depth to gameplay.
Negatives:
- Ifree’s character can be grating.
- Grinding can feel mandatory at times.
- Being another Metroidvania may impact individual enjoyment.
Overall, I give this game a score of 7 out of 10.
