Okay, first things first—if you’re a 90s kid who spent way too much time watching Record of Lodoss War on grainy VHS tapes, just go buy this. Seriously. Seeing Deedlit back in action with this level of pixel art? It’s basically pure fanservice, but the good kind.
But for everyone else? Here’s the deal.
It’s basically Castlevania. Like, a lot. I’m not even kidding, the dev team (Team Ladybug) clearly worships at the altar of Symphony of the Night. The way Deedlit moves, that little trail of ghosts behind her when she runs… it’s Alucard 2.0. But honestly? I’m not mad about it. The controls are snappy as hell, and moving through the map just feels right.
That Spirit-Swapping mechanic is the real MVP. You’ve got your Wind spirit (Sylph) and Fire spirit (Salamander). It’s not just for show. You’re constantly toggling between them—Wind makes you float and hover, Fire lets you tank lava and explosions.
It reminds me of Ikaruga. You’re mid-boss fight, bullets flying everywhere, and you’re frantically tapping the shoulder buttons to match the element colors so you don’t get shredded. When it clicks? You feel like a genius. When you mess up? Well, you’re dead. But it’s satisfying either way.
The “Eh” Parts (Because nothing is perfect): Look, the game is short. Like, really short. I cleared it in about five hours on a Sunday afternoon. If you’re looking for a 40-hour epic, this isn’t it. It’s a “snack-sized” Metroidvania.
Also, the story is… weird? If you don’t know the lore of the anime, the ending is going to leave you scratching your head. It’s very much a “if you know, you know” kind of vibe. It’s more of a poetic tribute to the series than a standalone plot.
My final take? Is it the best Metroidvania ever? Nah. But is it one of the most beautiful and polished ones I’ve played lately? Absolutely. It doesn’t overstay its welcome, the boss fights are actually fun (looking at you, Pirotess), and it’s just… comfortable.
It’s like a warm bowl of ramen on a rainy day. Not a five-course meal, but exactly what you needed.
