Chasm

Genre: Metroidvania

Players: 1

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Review:

Chasm is a Metroidvania-style action-platformer that seems like it’s clearly inspired by Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Animations, enemies, menu layouts, and all sorts of other fine details clearly show that the folks behind this game had their eyes firmly set on one of the formative games of the genre. But hey, if you’re going to copy someone’s style, copy the best, right?

That’s not to say that this game has nothing original to offer. First, this game clearly has a much greater emphasis on platforming, with multiple places that are actually a bit challenging on the platformer side. And secondly, this game’s maps are all procedurally-generated, ensuring that each playthrough of the game will be entirely different.

This is a bit of a mixed blessing, unfortunately. Randomizing the level layout does mean that no two games are alike, but it also has the consequence of making a lot of the areas you play through seem really samey, as if someone took a Metroidvania and stretched out hallways and connective areas so there was something to mix and match.

On top of this, the game is pretty difficult, with stiff controls and enemies that hit hard, and it feels like bonuses and new equipment are handed out a lot less generously than in Symphony. You’ll gradually unlock various shopkeepers who will sell you various types of equipment, but money is scarce, meaning that either you’ll be grinding a lot, or you won’t be buying much.

Graphically, the game looks great, with wonderful animations and character designs that, well, seem like they would be right at home in a Castlevania game.

In the end, Chasm doesn’t quite manage to copy the magic of Symphony of the Night, but it still succeeds in being a decent Metroidvania, albeit one with flaws.

tl;dr – Chasm is a Metroidvania game that copies elements of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night while adding in a few of its own. Unfortunately, the difficulty is a bit high, and the randomly-generated level design is a bit repetitive. It’s good, but falls short of greatness.

Grade: B+

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