Astronite

Metroidvania games have had a bit of a renaissance in recent years, with some huge titles launching the classically difficult genre into mainstream appeal. The Metroidvania formula is just classic video game fare, and a new game is here to put its own spin on the genre and marry it with a unique art style: Astronite.

Astronite was developed by Dume Games Studio and published by Jandusoft. It is a classic Metroidvania where you’ll explore, solve puzzles, and fight enemies in an intricate sci-fi planet setting. And you’ll do all of this in an interesting 1bit monochromatic art style. If you’re ready to go on this adventure, here is everything you need to know about Astronite.

Become A Brave Explorer

In Astronite, you will take control of the titular explorer as you make your way through a massive map full of pathways and secrets just waiting to be discovered. In classic Metroidvania fashion, you will fight enemies and boss characters, claim their powers, and use those powers to access new areas that were previously unavailable to you. Just like your iconic Mega Man or Metroid games from the past.

These power-ups are at the core of the Astronite experience, and they are the only way you will be able to see all of the game’s zones. Through challenging platforming sections as well as the aforementioned boss fights, you will save your home planet from its doom.

A Unique Sci-Fi Story

Astronite has been dispatched to complete Mission 2205, which is the last-ditch effort to save the planet of Neplea. In the years leading up to the mission, the inhabitants of the planet uncovered an ancient entity at the core of the planet. As they studied it, it quietly gained power until it was able to build an army of its own to escape its confinement.

Now, it is Astronite’s job to take on the entity and its spawn to either destroy them or force them off of the planet and protect Neplea’s future.

Extra Challenges

Astronite has plenty to do on the planet of Neplea, and you’ll spend many hours collecting power-ups and fighting the invaders off. However, that is not all there is. If you find that your skills aren’t being properly challenged, you can enter the Echo Doors spread around the planet to experience extremely challenging areas.

Pros

• Very cool art style with stylish monochromatic environments
• Great movement and traversal options
• Fun combat systems
• Extra challenge areas are a great bonus
• Bumping original soundtrack created by zeeWave Sound

Cons

• The game can be completed in a few hours
• Some platforming sections might be too difficult
• Uneven difficulty spikes