First on the panel, this definitely ain’t my first rodeo with a non-linear action-adventure game, but Elden Pixels’ Alwa’s Legacy made a striking impression with its meticulous design and tricky gameplay. Taking cues from user reviews, the pace of the game seems to have improved remarkably from its predecessor, Alwa’s Awakening.

Indeed, having spent hours pouring over every pixelated corner of this game, I was struck by the wealth of secrets and the abundance of puzzles that reward exploration. The non-linear experience is well-crafted—one can choose different item upgrades and chart their own course throughout the adventure. Quite satisfying, I must say.

Yeah, and the whole setup of choosing your play style—more explorative, fearless, or strategic—was a darn good touch. I mean, it’s like they made the game for every type of gamer out there.

Not to mention, the fast-paced action and challenging platforming provide sweet conditions for speedrunning. I breezed along, exploiting the magic systems and the apparent game ‘janks’, as one user called them, to my advantage.

That’s neat. Let’s move onto the gameplay mechanics. I liked the progression of the skills and the magic. Each upgrade indeed sharpens your strategy and exploration techniques. And speaking of combat, the enemy encounters were challenging but fair. How about that pixel-art magic?

Visually, it’s a marvel. They’ve blended retro pixel art with modern effects beautifully. The aesthetic consistency helps elevate the atmosphere of the mysterious world the developers have created.

The soundtrack of Alwa’s Legacy adds another layer to the atmosphere too. I saw lots of love for the spellbinding chiptune tracks by RushJet1 in the reviews. Sets just the right mood for dungeon-diving and monster-slaying!

Yeah, and about the characters, they didn’t skimp there. Zoe’s character evolution is tied into the skill upgrades, which adds a layer of depth to her development.

But is Alwa’s Legacy challenging enough? What do you guys think?

It certainly can be, depending on how you choose to play. One user threw themselves at the final boss over 500 times. That’s not what I’d call a cakewalk. But the game is forgiving, with death not undoing all progress.

Having multiple paths and secrets indeed add onto the replay value. The game’s also worth it if you just want to explore and enjoy once. But I do see the allure of finding all paths and secrets.

As a speedrunner, replayability is pretty solid. Plus, the pacing keeps the game brisk and exciting. There’s always that tantalizing sense of wondering if you could handle a puzzle, or a combat scenario differently, or faster.

Best believe there will be comparisons with other Metroidvania titles, but Alwa’s Legacy stands tall in the crowd, thanks to its distinct charm and innovative mechanics. Room for improvements? Sure. But Elden Pixels gets huge props for what they’ve put together.

I second that. Elden Pixels’ future projects should definitely continue this vein of detailed world-building and exploration dynamics.

My keen eye’s waiting for more of those world extensions, and hey, maybe a few more secrets up the sleeve, huh?

More speedrunning challenges in the next outing would do it for me. Keep up the pace Elden Pixels!

In a nutshell, Alwa’s Legacy is an engaging blend of modern and retro gaming gems. A word of advice to Elden Pixels: Keep the magic flowing, better days are certainly along the way. Long live Alwa!

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