Sands of Aura

A punishing dungeon crawling experience, Sands of Aura combines the best elements of a Soulslike game with the deep RPG mechanics of a loot-based role-playing game. Fans of classic exploration-based RPGs will find a vast world to explore in this game, as long as they can make it through some of the most difficult areas that Sands of Aura has to offer.

The beautiful landscapes and complex character design make this game a unique example of a modern classic RPG. With its heavy emphasis on exploration, Sands of Aura will offer players an authentic role-playing adventure the likes of which haven’t been seen in a long while.

Sailing the Sandseas

Sands of Aura takes place in the world of Talamhel. In this land, the sands have engulfed every inch of a once mighty kingdom. Aboard your trusty grainwake, players will embark on an adventure to discover loot, adventures, and danger, as they explore the sandy landscapes of Talmhel.

The basic exploration of the game feels a bit like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. As you navigate the sandy landscape, you’ll come across many different islands, each sporting its own set of dungeons to explore and loot to collect. The sheer amount of attention to detail to be found in each of these small plots of land is simply astounding.

Of course, exploring at their own leisure could leave players with an uneven difficulty level. Thankfully, Sands of Aura uses a tiered difficulty setting that adapts the difficulty to how well the player’s progressing. However, the Soulslike inspiration means that the game ends up being tough as nails in some segments: just what fans of classic ARPGs love.

Combat in Style

As you cleanse the corruption that’s spread all over Talamhel, you’ll come across all kinds of formidable foes. From small drones to formidable giants, the variety of enemies in this game hits just the right amount of variety to keeps things interesting.

One of the main gameplay mechanics in Sands of Aura is the fact that you can completely customize the weapons you use. As you explore dungeons, you’ll find weapon components to revamp your arsenal, which works wonderfully with the game’s deep armor and collectibles system.

As in any RPG worth its salt, magic plays an integral role in the combat of Sands of Aura. From magical spells to magic augmentations, a well-balanced spellcaster can overcome hordes of enemies with ease, just like in Diablo II.

Of course, you won’t be alone in your adventure. As you explore, you’ll also have to focus on building your settlement, Starspire. Unlocking new residents will give you access to new perks and exclusive services: a vital aid in your constant quest for loot.

All of this adventure is set to the tone of a majestic soundtrack composed by Eduardo Lopez, and featuring the talents of the professional Bulgarian Choir. In short, Sands of Aura is a wonderful classic RPG that revamps the core concepts of the genre, all while keeping some of the classic difficulty spikes so beloved by veteran players.

Pros

• Impressive visuals
• Well-written characters and engaging plot
• Excellent sense of adventure and exploration
• Complex weapon crafting mechanics keep the combat rich and varied

Cons

• Minimalistic UI