Faerie Afterlight

How many Metroidvania games are we going to see this year? It seems like every new indie development goes down this path. We can't argue with the genre's success, but we worry there will be an inflection point where they are no longer entertaining. Faerie Afterlight taps into similar aesthetics and mechanics of other games. That's where the concern is rising.

But alas, more of these games still tend to be good than not. Faerie Afterlight, those simple in stature, looks like it's incorporating the best values of the genre. It looks good, the mechanics are accessible, and there is enough wholesomeness to make a decent break from reality. Let's check if Metroidvania games haven't gone stale.

Two for Your Trouble

While a fair few games of this genre have tended to veer towards a narrative-heavy presentation, Faerie Afterlight certainly does not go that direction. The storyline is straightforward - two protagonists journey through their world to restore light to Lumina. It's as cutesy as you would want it to be, with names like Kimo and Wispy!

So, with a game that's non-narrative-centric, what is left? The mechanics and visuals, of course. Yes, Faerie Afterlight plays as you expect - fluid, balanced, platforms style mechanics that rest well with the eyes and ears. While refined, they aren't anything special - you'll be overcoming obstacles, puzzles, and battering enemies like any other Metroidvania game.

The uniqueness of the game comes from the visuals. The game uses a brighter, more ethereal color palette to providing an uplight backdrop against your characters - who are silhouettes. The look of the game feels refreshing with its minimalistic approach and is complemented by a soothing soundtrack. Yes, the game plays decent - but the gameplay still feels lackluster.

That's perhaps because you just seem to be steamrolling through the game without too much rhyme or reason. Sometimes, games benefit from versatility in unpolished mechanics. Faerie Afterlight feels a little bit too over-polished. It's a strange situation where it plays well - but lacks the rougher edge that makes it more interesting.

A Clean Break

It's at that point where you feel Faerie Afterlight may have been made with the visuals in mind first. The game feels like a by-product of showcasing what can be done to the Metroidvania genre with minimalism and polish. That notion is well-associated with budding game developers showing off their portfolios.

Pros:

• Beautifully crafted level design with a refreshing color palette
• The fluidity and animations of the game feel great
• Plenty of intriguing puzzles, obstacles, and bosses to overcome

Cons:

• The elementary narrative removes purpose from the game
• Injecting some lore behind the game could make it more exciting
• Feels overly polished in almost every stereotypical genre element