Elderand is a lush fantasy Metroidvania that feels like going back in time
SHOULD I PLAY ELDERAND?
Elderand is a must-play for Metroidvania fans or those who like old-school games! I had a blast finding weapons, fighting off monsters, and slashing my way through a large and varied map. Even though I spent most of my time lost and figuring out what to do next. Elderand definitely made journeying back and forth fun and worth the experience.
TIME PLAYED
I spent around three hours with Elderand on my iPhone 13. Granted, most of the time, I was trying to figure out how to progress. I could still level up my character, fight an evil spider boss, find new weapons, and explore the map until a superpowered enemy sent me to my grave.
WHAT’S AWESOME ABOUT ELDERAND?
•Those classic graphics. Elderand has an old-school style feel with its pixelated artwork. That being said, it’s clear the developers didn’t use this as a cheap excuse to cut costs. The colors are vibrant, the dungeons are creepy, and the character designs are fantastic. In fact, the entire atmosphere of Elderand feels like something out of an H.P. Lovecraft book, with creature designs that reminded me of the Cthulhu mythos. The icing on the cake is the different animations for each weapon, making collecting and trying out different abilities worth it. Very few things can beat the satisfying feeling of using a magical staff to launch a fireball at my enemies. I could also customize my character and give him a different shade of skin, and hair. It’s not Cyberpunk 2077 levels of detail, but it’s little aspects like these that make Elderand that much more charming.
• Dope tunes. The music in Elderand is surprisingly good. Not in the sense that I’ll download it and blast it at my next house party (although a retro game party isn’t a bad idea), but by how atmospheric it is. The music, combined with the environments and enemies, made me legitimately scream out, “OH FU%$” when I was unsuspectingly ambushed by a grim reaper-style wraith, and although my girlfriend didn’t appreciate the expletive right when she was in the middle of a Zoom meeting, it was still awesome.
• The toys. I found a ton of goodies scattered around the maps that made my character stronger and gave him new abilities. I was kicking some serious ass with the throwing axe and bow, but I also picked up a cool magical staff that gave me the power to Harry Potter my enemies into oblivion. One benefit of aimlessly wandering around in Elderand was that I never knew what I’d find, and the items kept coming pretty frequently.
• It’s a big world out there. Elderand has some pretty cool environments worth exploring, ranging from caves to forests to cities. I was admittedly frustrated because you never know when you’re wandering too far until some super-beefy enemy slaps you back to reality. Nevertheless, there are plenty of fun places that host an assortment of different enemies and items that are worth your time. Just don’t get too antsy too quickly, or you’ll pay the price.
• Choose your playstyle. Elderand has a customization system that’s pretty basic but fun nonetheless. I could increase stats like strength, vitality, health, and magic to power my character in a way that suited my playstyle. Combined with the different equipment and items, it felt like I could make my character unique without being bogged down with some of the more overwhelming customization elements you’d find in a traditional RPG.
WHAT SUCKS IN ELDERAND?
• The tiny buttons. Seriously, the controls suck! There’s a warning at the beginning of the game that the experience is better with a controller, and they really mean it. Every time I would get into a fight on Elderand using the touch screen, I would accidentally press the wrong button and take damage. Not to mention, sometimes the jumping felt unresponsive. Take their advice and use a controller if you’re seriously playing this one.
• The frustration. It’s not Elderand’s fault because this gameplay style is very common in Metroidvania. Still, I hate wandering around dungeons with no specific guidance or mission, randomly trekking from room to room until I find a key or item that will unlock another room across the map. With so many routes and places to go in Elderand, I was pissed off. Of course, Castlevania and Metroid are widely popular games, so it might just be me who feels this way, but I demand to be heard!
💬 Will you play Elderand? And what is your favorite Metroidvania? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
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