Fun fact before we dive in — Alwa’s Awakening comes from Elden Pixels, a very small indie outfit made up of dedicated retro fans. They deliberately built the game as a love letter to the 8-bit and early 16-bit Metroidvanias: tight palettes, chiptune-influenced music, and design choices that echo the era while sneaking in modern QoL touches.
I can feel that already. The flip-screen rooms, the deliberate platforming windows, the way each new spell snaps into place like a new key for the castle. Playing it now, on June 10, 2022, it really reads as intentional homage more than imitation — not everything is a throwback for the sake of nostalgia.
Agreed. Gameplay Highlights first: the movement is responsive, jumping and spellcasting feel immediate, and the puzzles are often about clever use of a small toolkit rather than inventory bloat. The map encourages backtracking, but elevation changes and the screen-by-screen structure mean that short hops between rooms rarely feel like busywork.
The fixed-screen design helps too. Each room becomes its own little arena. Enemies are placed thoughtfully so platforming doubles as combat choreography. When you pick up the fire spell, for example, you don’t suddenly become overpowered — you gain options. The bosses are built around those options, which keeps encounters engaging rather than repetitive.
There are rough edges, though. The art is charming but limited in variety; later areas can feel like palette swaps with added hazards. Also, some puzzles rely on pixel-perfect jumps or timing that can be frustrating if you’re used to floatier modern platformers. That said, the challenge generally feels fair — and when it is harsh, it is usually by design.
It strikes a candid balance. It excels at atmosphere and compact design, but it does not try to reinvent the wheel. If you come for adventure and tight platform-puzzle gameplay, you will have a good time. If you expect sprawling modern Metroidvanias with layered story and tons of gear, this one is narrower by intent.
Hot Tips — since we are playing it right now, I’ll throw in a small list while I reload a save.
- Learn enemy patterns in each fixed room; memorization is a reward here.
- Prioritize spells that open traversal — sometimes a movement tool is worth more than raw damage.
- Save before major gates or boss rooms; some encounters ask for trial-and-error, and quick reloads keep pace.
- Backtrack with purpose: hidden shortcuts and subtle visual cues lead to secret rooms.
Those save tips are gold. A memorably tense moment for me was the midgame shrine where the lighting flickers and a new platforming rhythm is introduced — I died three times learning that rhythm, then felt brilliant when I finally passed it. That reward loop keeps your brain engaged.
Memorable Moments & Anecdotes — speaking of the final boss, we just reached it. It is a compact, three-phase encounter that makes you use everything you have learned. The first phase tests your dodging and basic spells, the second forces you to manipulate the arena with a newly acquired ability, and the third strips comfort away and asks for pure timing. It never feels padded.
I loved that the final phase included a puzzle element — not just more enemies. For a moment you think it will be a pure DPS race, and then the fight rewards observation. Also, the soundtrack swells exactly when it should; the chiptune carries pathos without becoming overbearing.
There’s also charm in small details: an NPC who disappears after you solve their puzzle, a secret room with an 8-bit mural that made me laugh out loud, and a cheap joke about trading a vintage cartridge for hints. It is era-appropriate humor without being smug.
Final thoughts while the credits roll in my head: this is a solid, compact Metroidvania in a retro shell. It earns its moments of triumph honestly because it keeps the toolkit small and meaningful. It is not without repetition or occasional harsh jumps, but its strengths — design focus, responsive controls, and clever boss construction — outweigh the flaws.
In short: play it if you appreciate concise, well-crafted retro-inspired action-platformers. Expect a clear design intent and a few frustrating moments that will make you feel accomplished when you overcome them. Pass the controller? I’ll take that offer, but only if you promise not to use that pro grip like a modern-day cheat — let’s keep it authentic.
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