Grim Guardians: Demon Purge

Relive the glory days of the Metroidvania craze with Grim Guardians: Demon Purge, an Inti Creates title that perfectly recaptures the high-speed pixel action of side-scrolling exploration games. Take control of two demon hunters as you explore the dangerous halls of an abandoned demon castle.

Combining the best of the melee-based side-scrolling action of the Castlevania series with the tight shooting controls of the Metroid saga, Grim Guardians: Demon Purge is the closest we've been to a perfect Metroidvania in a while. Fans of Konami's legendary series will soon find that this game is a worthy successor to the Castlevania legacy, even more so than some of Koji Igarashi's recent works.

Double Trouble

As an Inti Creates game, Grim Guardians: Demon Purge introduces some unique gameplay aspects to the Metroidvania formula. Much like Azure Striker Gunvolt, the game is significantly more straightforward to play than some of the more seminal retro titles that clearly inspired this title.

A feature that some players might find similar to what we saw in Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin is that there are two main characters the player can control in Grim Guardians: Demon Purge.

One of the characters focuses on melee combat, while the other favors long-range attacks. Each of the characters' abilities will come in handy at different points of the game, so players are invited to play around with their unique strengths and special powers.

Bring a Friend

While the tag-team mechanic might seem reminiscent of Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, there's something that Grim Guardians: Demon Purge does that's almost unheard of in the Castlevania series: real-time multiplayer.

The game features a 2-player co-op mode that introduces new and unique challenges that make the whole experience even more thrilling than just playing alone. It's not just the same game with two players at the same time: challenges and enemies are specifically designed to test the players' teamwork under a multitude of scenarios.

Sure, the game might be a blast to play on your own, but I'd be willing to say that playing with a friend is the ultimate way to enjoy Grim Guardians: Demon Purge.

Retro Aesthetics

If the Azure Striker Gunvolt series was Inti Creates' homage to the Mega Man X series, then Grim Guardians: Demon Purge is their love letter to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

Every area of the game feels painstakingly detailed, using some of the best pixel art I've seen in a modern Metroidvania title. Part of me wished that this is what Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night looked like.

Fans looking for a proper spiritual successor to Castlevania need look no further than this game. As far as I'm concerned, this is the proper way to bring the addictive Metroidvania formula to the next generation.

Pros

• Fast-paced 2D action
• Gorgeous sprites and character animations
• Insanely addictive multiplayer mode

Cons

• Might be a bit too easy for veterans of the genre