Written by Steve Zimmerman
ThunderStash Gaming
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Introduction – Nostalgia Meets Modern Metroidvania
Alwa's Awakening has been sitting in my backlog for over five years, but I finally decided to take the plunge and tackle one of the oldest games in my collection. This modern-day metroidvania offers an NES-style experience that blends simple yet challenging gameplay with clever puzzles. But the big question is—does it stand out in today’s saturated world of metroidvania games? Let’s dive in and find out!
Story/Concept – A Classic Quest with Retro Vibes
In Alwa's Awakening, you take on the role of a young heroine who wields a magic staff as she journeys through a vast, interconnected world. The aim? To solve puzzles, defeat enemies, and topple bosses to free the land of Alwa from its dark curse. The game's world is rich with hidden secrets, and platforming skills are key to uncovering everything this world has to offer. It's a charming 8-bit adventure game that stays true to the retro aesthetic, with pixel-perfect art and a catchy chiptune soundtrack.
Gameplay/Controls – Simple Yet Challenging Platforming
The gameplay is where Alwa's Awakening truly shines. It feels like the developers at Elden Pixels took inspiration from classic titles like Zelda 1 & 2, Mega Man, StarTropics, and Castlevania: Simon’s Quest. The magic staff serves as both your main weapon and utility tool throughout the game, and you gradually unlock new abilities that enhance its capabilities.
For example, in the first dungeon, I found a green gemstone that allowed me to create blocks I could jump on to reach higher platforms—perfect for solving platforming puzzles. As you progress, you’ll unlock further gemstone abilities, like pushing blocks over water or creating bubbles to jump on, which open up new parts of the map. These abilities make the game’s puzzles both rewarding and at times frustrating, as one poorly timed jump can lead to instant death. Thankfully, you have unlimited lives and plenty of save rooms scattered around the world, making the challenge fair but still demanding.
Unlike many other Metroidvania’s, Alwa's Awakening doesn’t feature an RPG leveling system. Instead, it focuses purely on platforming and puzzle-solving, creating a more adventure-driven metroidvania. The absence of a double jump adds to the challenge, requiring precision and careful strategy to progress. Think of it as a game for those who enjoy the challenging platforming of Tiny Thor or Celeste.
Boss Fights – Fun and Thought-Provoking
Boss fights in Alwa's Awakening are few but creatively designed. Each one introduces puzzle elements, forcing you to think about how to use your abilities to overcome them. While I did die a few times during these encounters, none of those deaths felt unfair or cheap. The fights were challenging in a way that was satisfying, rather than frustrating, and the game does a great job of blending platforming and combat.
Graphics/Performance/Art Style – Pixel-Perfect Nostalgia
The graphics in Alwa's Awakening are a testament to the golden age of 8-bit games. With smooth animations, detailed pixel art, and a colorful palette, it’s clear that the developers intended to capture the magic of early console games. The game runs at a crisp 60 frames per second on my PS5, maintaining a solid performance throughout, but remember, it’s all about the nostalgia and retro vibe here, not the cutting-edge graphics.
Sound – An 8-Bit Soundtrack That Resonates
If you’re a fan of NES-style music, you’re in for a treat. The soundtrack in Alwa's Awakening is full of catchy chiptunes that immediately transport you back to the 80s. While the track list isn’t expansive, each tune perfectly captures the retro aesthetic. It’s a joy to listen to while navigating the land of Alwa, and it adds to the nostalgic charm of the entire experience.
Audience – Who’s This Game For?
Alwa's Awakening is definitely for anyone who grew up with the NES and Super NES. If you love tough but fair platforming and enjoy solving clever puzzles, this game will likely appeal to you. Fans of the metroidvania genre will also find a lot to enjoy, though it's a bit more focused on platforming than traditional exploration.
This game won’t be for everyone—if you’re not into precision platforming or the retro aesthetic, it might not hit the mark. But if you’re into games like Tiny Thor, Celeste, or older NES classics, you’ll likely enjoy Alwa's Awakening.
Content – What’s Packed into Alwa's Awakening?
Alwa’s Awakening isn’t a lengthy metroidvania experience. It took me about 10 hours to beat, which I felt was a fair trade-off for the price of the game—around $10. The game doesn’t offer any major side content beyond the main quest, but for fans of the genre, there’s plenty to appreciate. If you're a trophy hunter, completing all the trophies will require multiple playthroughs, but beyond that, the game is pretty straightforward in terms of content.
Difficulty/Grind/Pacing – A Balanced Retro Challenge
The game's difficulty stems mostly from precision platforming and solving boss puzzles. There are no RPG elements or grinding to worry about, which I appreciated. It’s all about executing well-timed jumps and figuring out how to overcome tricky obstacles. The game does a good job of introducing new challenges at a steady pace, but the real difficulty lies in the execution—mistiming a jump or failing to plan your strategy can lead to death. Thankfully, the game’s design ensures that these challenges are fair, with no cheap deaths along the way.
Emotion/Charm – Heartfelt Homage to the NES Era
One of the most enjoyable aspects of Alwa's Awakening is its charm. If you grew up with the NES or Super NES, you’ll be hit with a wave of nostalgia as you play. The game is packed with references to classic 8-bit games—some subtle, others more obvious. It’s clear that the developers poured a lot of love into creating a game that both feels and plays like a love letter to retro gaming.
The sense of accomplishment that comes from overcoming the challenging platforming sections is also something that will resonate with old-school gamers. It’s the kind of game that rewards your patience and persistence, and that feeling of relief when you nail a difficult jump is immensely satisfying.
Fun Factor – Is It Worth Your Time?
So, is Alwa’s Awakening fun? Absolutely. For those who enjoy tough platforming challenges and metroidvania gameplay, this game offers a fantastic time. The combination of puzzles, platforming, and the retro aesthetic make it a blast to play from start to finish. And for just $10, it’s an absolute steal.
Gametime – How Long Does It Take to Beat?
Alwa’s Awakening took me about 10 hours to complete. For the price, it’s a solid deal, offering a satisfying amount of content for those who enjoy a challenging, retro-style metroidvania.
Legacy – A Modern Classic or Forgotten Relic?
While not as well-known as some of the big metroidvania titles, Alwa’s Awakening has certainly carved out a niche for itself in the genre. It’s a well-crafted love letter to 8-bit gaming and offers a unique spin on the traditional metroidvania formula by focusing heavily on precise platforming and puzzle-solving rather than exploration or RPG elements. If you’re a fan of old-school games and enjoy a fair challenge, this one is definitely worth checking out.
My Final Thoughts – A Satisfying Retro Journey
In conclusion, I had a great time with Alwa’s Awakening. It’s a charming, challenging adventure that brings the nostalgia of NES-era gaming into the modern age. The game’s clever puzzles, tight platforming, and retro-inspired charm make it a standout in the metroidvania genre. For $10, it’s an absolute bargain, and it’s the perfect game to play if you love a good challenge. I’m now looking forward to playing the sequel, Alwa’s Legacy, which is definitely on my radar.
If you enjoy retro-style games, platformers, and metroidvania experiences, I highly recommend checking out Alwa’s Awakening. Whether you play it on Switch, PS4, or PC, it’s a well-spent 10 bucks and a perfect way to relive the golden age of 8-bit gaming.
You can check out my full review below or by visiting my channel, ThunderStash Gaming, on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thunderstashgaming.
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