Zapling Bygone

Metroidvanias have utilized the creativity and technology of modern gaming to create some of the most incredible experiences in recent years. And now, a brand new Metroidvania is looking to change the game once more with a new look, new mechanics, and one seriously weird name: Zapling Bygone.

Created and published by 9FingerGames, Zapling Bygone uses the classic graphics and art style of early Metroid games with a new concept that is sure to creep some people out. If all of this sounds like the kind of skull-wearing, power-stealing game you can really get behind, then here is everything you need to know about Zapling Bygone

Take Their Power

Like Hollow Knight, Mega Man, and all of the best Metroidvania games, you’ll be taking down enemies and claiming their power for yourself in Zapling Bygone. The big difference in this game, however, is that the main character is actually a hivemind that absorbs the consciousness of its enemies by wearing their skulls. Pretty gnarly, right?

All of the skills and powers you gain through this process will help in both combat and traversal of the grungy alien world you find yourself in. As you gain access to new places you couldn’t reach before, you’ll discover all kinds of secrets and slowly transform the inhospitable environment into your very own playground.

Collectathon

In your adventures, you will come across a number of power-enhancing and modifying mutations that will enhance your experience and introduce some unpredictability into your playthrough. There are also fragments of skulls left behind by an ancient civilization that, once collected, will shed some light on the previous inhabitants that have now been wiped out.

The enemies you defeat will drop a currency called plasma. Collect and save up this plasma to then spend it on things like ancient keys to unlock various chests, the locations of forgotten secrets in the environments, and weird paintings to behold their strangeness and add them to your collection.

Unlock An Interconnected World

The skulls you collect throughout the game will not only be good for the powers and insight they provide. They will also unlock new environments and biomes for you to explore, but only if the skull you collect once belonged to a person who lived in this new area. The locations will be revealed to you through artful comic strip-style cutscenes that portray major events in that character’s life. Occasionally, you might also even hear the voice of the skull’s former owner.

Pros

• Classic Metroid-style presentation and gameplay
• Stylish graphics and art
• comic book cutscenes are well made and convey a lot of story with minimal production

Cons

• Some biomes are much more difficult than others
• The game can be completed in just a few hours