Valfaris

I can’t stress how much I adored the entirety of Valfaris, and finding a title so brimming with such confidence in itself is rare. This game knows it’s awesome, and as the bosses got harder and harder, I was never once frustrated because I knew I had the tools I needed to conquer its mountain, leading to one of the most satisfying gameplay experiences I’ve had in years. Valfaris is a supremely designed action-platformer made by incredibly talented people, and it headbanged straight into my heart. Play it immediately.

Destruction, gore and desolation. Take up the mantle of Therion, an alter-Metabaron/Space Marine-combined and spread the word of heavy metal amongst the corpses. How much heavy metal do you ask? Enriched uranium heavy!

Valfaris is basically a mix between Contra, Doom, Duke Nukem and Castlevania. Lots of action in a 2D side-scrolling shooter through atons of levels filled with any kind of monster and tons of blood. The difficulty level is nasty, but Therion has a huge arsenal of upgradable weapons to choose from. The boss-fights are great and playing the game is really satisfying. You have to die a lot to go ahead through the levels and complete the game.

It’s hard to leave the main menu screen because of the music that plays in the background. It’s worth to press ‘start’ though because if there is one thing that came out better than the soundtrack, it’s the gameplay. [13/2019, p.64]

Fast, brutal and incredibly fun, Valfaris is as heavy metal as a game can be.

Valfaris is a masterful game, a wild ride that inherits the spirit of the great shooters of the past and offers it to the glorious gods of metal.

Valfaris is an excellent and challenging action platformer with a wonderfully designed combat system. The balancing of close combat, laser action, and the shared resource for shield and subweapons mean that most encounters require a careful and skilful approach. The result in a standout title that shows how far Steel Mantis have come from the flawed Slain: Back From Hell.

Valfaris is a really cool pixel-art action-paced adventure, one that is challenging and well-balanced. A great die & retry, with a dark atmosphere.

Valfaris is pure badassery in every level, from its brutal environments, the monstrous abominations of its bosses and of course the driving guitar soundtrack pushing the action forwards. It’s hardcore run & gun action from the very start and exactly what we dreamed 16-bit gaming would grow into back in the day.

While its crushing difficulty and bare-bones story may turn off some casual players, those who triumph through Valfaris' 7 hours of gameplay and endless boss battles will leave feeling refreshed. This is a definite must-play for both Castlevania and heavy metal fans alike.