Voidwrought - Review
Review
Voidwrought is rich; aesthetics, soundtrack, combat, exploration, and overall gamefeel are superb. It delivers almost everything in such an exquisite way that makes the whole experience remarkable and fulfilling.
The Highlights
- The aesthetics are captivating; it reminded me of Egyptian aesthetics, and the game confining a place called "The Gray Pyramid" is no coincidence. Besides that, the protagonist (and all other beings) have this thick black outline; it stands out and combines very well with the overall aesthetics. Enemy designs as well are pleasing to see, especially the bosses.
- The music is spectacular; some are very atmospheric, eerie, and desolate. Several tracks have this middle eastern vibe, which blends well with the aesthetics. But a major highlight is that the soundtrack features electric guitars, and the tracks they're used on are INSANE. The Eternal Engine track is unbelievable; it sounds just like a heavy metal song, and the intensity is out of the charts, jeez! I wish more Metroidvanias featured tracks with guitars and more contemporary instruments.
- I've seen some people claim that the movement feels floaty, but IMO the movement feels very tight; it's precise and responsive; it feels good to move around. Not only that, but with each ability you get, the more movement freedom you experience; at the endgame, you basically swift through the areas. And the Unstable Nuclei is pretty sleek; I would even dare to say it's a better iteration of the Morph Ball.
- I love that the game has a bestiary, but not only that, it also features LOTS of things like characters you met, areas you explored, bosses, lore, and abilities. The game provides written details for each element. Also, each area in the menu shows the map percentage and what is available to collect, so it's easy to see what's missing.
- Relics are very distinct and very fun to use. It's safe to say that players will lock into a specific build and play like that until the end, but I enjoy the difference between them that gives so much diversity in playstyle.
- It not only has relics that are part of the offensive, but it also features the charm system of Hollow Knight (always a pleasure to see games implementing it) with items called "souls", which gives you passive bonuses.
- The game has LOTS of secrets; the quantity is nothing less than remarkable, as it provides that sense of exploration that is so important in Metroidvanias, but also (almost all) the secrets aren't sordid or cheap; pretty much all of them are rewarding to find. However, it's essential to say that the game gives more items than are needed to complete certain quests.
- The game's length is also a big highlight, as it has lots of content to be experienced. I finished with 100% in 23 hours, but I take my time to play, so you can probably finish with less and even fewer hours just doing the default ending. But more importantly, it's a game that pulls you in and gives you that feeling of wanting to play more. It's worth every penny.
The Drawbacks
- The major—and I would say—the only significant downside is: It gets VERY easy. After you gather more upgrades, you become so strong that nothing stands in your way. I think after I beat the second boss, all the other ones (save for one) I beat in my first try, including the true final boss. Hell, I even avoid killing one boss too quick because I was vibing so much to the soundtrack. But I must give praise when it's deserved: the second boss was insane! Such a good fight, and featuring probably the best track in the game.
- There are a few small visual nuisances that I came across playing it, but it's so minor that it's barely noteworthy.
The Neutral Ground
- A "bug" occurred to me, and one item simply disappeared from my inventory. I talked to the devs, and they said it actually is supposed to be like that; I didn't believe it at first, but after I talked to other people, it seems like that is really the case. When this happened, I thought my save was doomed and almost discouraged me from getting 100%. In the end, it all worked out, but it was such a weird situation.
Conclusion:
Voidwrought is a gorgeous Metroidvania, with such well-crafted aesthetics, alongside an electrifying soundtrack at times, which makes your gameplay feel absorbing and does not let you go. The exploration is excellent; having you find so many secrets keeps the player's attention sharp, and it's engaging. Combat-wise is fun; it's nice to have so many ways to defeat monsters, but it's a shame that it's not challenging enough, as it becomes easy after progression. But the predominant feeling that remains is of satisfaction; it lingers with you through the whole journey you followed, and it is no overstatement to say it's a memorable Metroidvania game. Given ALL that, the score has to be: