Astlibra Revision - Review

Hey Poor Player checked out the 2D RPG Astlibra Revision:

Astlibra Revision Review: As the Crow Flies to Adventure!

Aside from seeing one trailer for Astlibra Revision, henceforth referred to as “Astlibra,” in a Metroidvania Reddit group, I hadn’t heard much else about this game. It appeared to be a bit too chaotic to click with me, and I sort of dropped to the wayside. Receiving the game for review gave me the opportunity to see how this game performs when I’m able to start from the beginning of the journey and build my way up to the cacophony of action that was present in the video and demo. Fortunately for me, this review convinced me of just how wrong I was on this assessment, and now, I hope to present to anyone that reads this why Astlibra is a game that deserves far more than a passing glance.

First and foremost, I want to set the record straight on something regarding this game. Though the screenshots may lead someone to believe that this is a Metroidvania title, I feel that this impression may be a bit misleading. It is actually more akin to a classic action RPG with platformer elements such as Nihon Falcom’s Ys 3: Wanderers From Ys – though I feel that this game vastly improves on that title. Musically, Astlibra provides a similar association with Nihon Falcom classics as well.  The gameplay takes place across a series of chapters where the player character is tasked with traveling to a new, self-contained location from the main town. After completing a chapter, it is possible to return to old locations to obtain items that may have been missed. But the sense of expanded exploration usually felt in a Metroidvania game is not present here. Not a detriment to the game in the slightest, given that I believe that it accomplishes what it sets out to do; however, I could see someone being disappointed if a Metroidvania is what they wanted here.

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Astlibra Revision is a game that initially didn’t gel with me with but, very quickly, managed to ensnare me in a very addictive progression loop anchored by fun and flowing action gameplay. In other words, I have had an absolute blast with this title, and it is definitely going to be making my top ten list of 2022. This title isn’t receiving much in the form of marketing or word of mouth, and that’s an absolute shame because I feel like anyone that is a fan of classic action RPGs with platformer elements will absolutely take well to this game. And considering that the entire game was crafted by one person speaks volumes for what they have accomplished here, and I look forward to seeing what they attempt to do next.

If you’re a fan of classic 2D adventures, Astlibra Revision offers a retro-inspired quest worth undertaking, and I am genuinely glad that this review crossed my desk because, without it, it would have very likely evaded my attention. Do yourself a favor, and do not let that outcome happen to you.

Score: 4.5/5