Aestik

Great game, it definitely scratches my Hollow Knight itch. The decisions are very interesting and the game branches based on your choices. I highly recommend it.

This is a really great metroidvania that doesn't seem to be getting the attention it deserves. Obviously it has a lot of elements and style borrowed from Hollow Knight, but it doesn't feel like a clone. Great controls, boss fights, atmosphere and accessibility options. The maps could be a little more detailed, but (unlike Hollow Knight) you don't have to find and buy them (which I think is ridiculous). Play the demo and give it a chance. One update -- at some point this game gets full of spiky stuff and the accessibility options go from a "nice-to-have" to a requirement. Still fun with them turned on though.

Fantastic short metroidvania game, I have a great time with it. Some of the late game platforming can be extremely challenging for what you would expect out of this type of game. I recommend it very fun.

USERS NOTE : This game has some great pieces. If my gripes are things that don't bother you, then I'd recommend this game to those players. --------------- This really bums me out to leave a negative review for this game as it has alot of things that I really enjoyed about it, but the negatives ultimately sink it imo. Let me start off with the good since this game is so close to being great. 4) The platforming puzzles were really well designed. I was really impressed by the devs gameplay chops on a screen to screen basis. 1) Graphics are charming and although some of the levels become a little hard to read, overall i just enjoyed the presentation. 2) The choices you make split the story which is super cool. If you save someone it means you harmed someone else and the game seems to take that into account. It's well done and a really fun feature. 3) The controls mostly feel great and responsive. The platforming is fun and the game mostly feels great to play. The developer did a great job making the game feel good. ------ Now to the bad : 1) The map is really bad. Honestly one of the worst ones i've seen as each biome is a separate map with no real way to see how they attach. Theres a macro level map but you cant see what biomes each is, or click into any of them. If maps are important to you this might be a deal breaker because this one is not good. Which is a shame because it seems like with a little extra work the dev could've connected them all together and it would've been a great map. Just goes to show how some minor tweaks can make a huge difference. 2) You don't really know where to go at any given point. I'd beat a boss and not really have any idea where i was supposed to go next and just wander until a character would all of a sudden let me in a gate that was previously closed. And because theres not different markers, you can't mark the few door types that require a key so you can visit them when you finally get the item. This is not a good feeling for a metroidvania 3) The bad controls. So I said earlier that the controls were great and they are minus two parts. One is you can't attack after jumping until it cools down which feels really bad. I don't understand how this got overlooked or if it was deliberate but it's just a bad design decision imo. It never feels right the entire play through. I was able to compensate around it, but it kept the controls feeling really locked in. The second part is the teleport. It acts kinda like a dash, but the length of time you hold it determines how far you go. Which just never felt dialed in right and unfortunately theres some really hard platforming that is completely dependent on being able to gauge how long to hold this button. But it just never feels good. And I died alot when it asked me to teleport in-between distances between obstacles. 4) The end game platforming. I actually liked the difficulty but it asks you to deal with the weird teleporting stuff and then redo the entire section (it's pretty long and hard) with no real save points. The difficulty ramp up comes out of nowewhere and i eventually just had to put the game down as i couldn't make myself replay the entire level over and over from the start. It needed better checkpointing imo. ---- OVERALL This game was so close to being a 8/10 for me. I really liked what it was going for, but the things it gets wrong really hurt the game imo. I doubt the developer is still working on the game, but man with some minor tweaks (better map, better waypoints or markers, remove jump cooldown for attack, cleanup the teleport just a little, and better checkpoints for the last levels and this game could be great.

this game is a very underated game sure. its not for everyone but the fact that nobody knows about this game i very sad. its fun its goos the bosses are not THAT good but there ok. this is an 8/10 game for me please buy this game its peak.

O jogo é bom (imagem e jogabilidade) porém a história não é lá aquelas coisas, muitos bugs dependendo das decisões que você tomar, por exemplo : se você não libertar a minhoca que está presa no "castelo" quando você for enfrentar ela ela fica dando bug e você não consegue continuar o jogo pois não consegue derrota-la e como criador de conteúdo (detonado de jogos) esse jogo já vem com opções pra você não morrer, mostrar todos os itens e escudos o que deixa o jogo muito fácil (o que particularmente eu não gosto) tinha tudo para ser um jogo bem divertido mas os bugs deixaram ele ruim.

Decent game if a little short. Choices justify ng+ which might be not as bad given the game's length. Game looks good and there were some soundtracks which I enjoyed. Areas looked interesting, though, most of them were on a simpler side. If you like metroidvanias you'll probably have a good time with this one. Final bosses and platforming challenge (also the final one) seem to be too big of a difficulty spike making the experience a bit frustrating: for the whole game you are kinda chilling and not really incentivized to fully utilize your abilities and then last bosses are much more demanding. Game would have benefited from either having easier last bosses or everything else accordingly more difficult. Platforming in the secret area is mostly fine if not for the bit where you have to hold dash button just enough time to not overshoot nor undershoot with no opportunity for correction. These parts made me feel like I'm playing the jump king or something similar which is definitely not the experience in line with any other platforming section this game presents. Aside from that there are slight freezes when something "big" happens on the screen, e.g. enemies spawn in challenge rooms or some of the star attacks or game saving progress -- these could be better optimized. I guess there is nothing else to complain about. I hope there is going to be a next game in the same genre with less shortcomings and more content.

Aestik, developed and published by Hooded Traveler Games, is a beautifully crafted 2D metroidvania that offers a deep and immersive experience through its blend of hand-drawn art, challenging gameplay, and a richly woven narrative. The game places players in the mysterious and haunting Realm of Aestik, where they take on the role of a lone wanderer navigating a corrupted landscape filled with hostile creatures and enigmatic secrets. From the very beginning, the game establishes an atmospheric tone, pulling players into a world that feels both vibrant and foreboding. The visual style is one of the game’s strongest aspects, with painstakingly detailed environments and character designs that breathe life into the world, making exploration an evocative journey rather than just a series of platforming challenges. Gameplay in Aestik revolves around exploration, combat, and progression through the acquisition of ability runes. These runes unlock new powers, allowing access to previously unreachable areas, a staple mechanic in the metroidvania genre that encourages players to backtrack and thoroughly explore the world. The platforming sections are thoughtfully designed but demand precision and timing, offering a satisfying challenge for players who enjoy mastering tight controls. Combat is equally engaging, requiring a balance of reflexes and strategy, especially during the game’s boss battles, which stand out as intense, memorable encounters testing the player’s understanding of mechanics and tactics. The combination of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat creates a well-rounded gameplay experience that maintains player interest throughout the adventure. One of the more compelling elements of Aestik is its narrative structure, which unfolds through player choices and moral dilemmas that influence the story’s direction and outcomes. This decision-driven storytelling adds depth to the world and characters, encouraging multiple playthroughs to explore different paths and endings. The choices players make resonate beyond simple dialogue changes, impacting how the world evolves and how characters react, which enriches the immersion and emotional engagement with the story. This aspect sets Aestik apart from many other metroidvania titles by giving the player agency that meaningfully shapes their experience. In addition to the core adventure, Aestik introduces a variety of side activities, such as fishing with a character named Bradlae, which provides a moment of calm respite amid the more intense moments. This inclusion of lighter, optional gameplay offers a nice pacing balance and showcases the developer’s attention to creating a varied experience. The game also features assist options that allow players to adjust difficulty and tailor the experience to their own skill level, broadening its accessibility without compromising the overall challenge and depth for those who seek it. Despite its many strengths, Aestik is not without its flaws. Some players have noted issues with the control responsiveness and platforming mechanics, especially in later stages where precision becomes critical. These moments can occasionally feel frustrating, detracting from the otherwise smooth gameplay flow. Furthermore, the absence of certain quality-of-life features, such as a more detailed or interactive map, has been a common criticism. Navigating the sprawling world can sometimes be cumbersome without clearer guidance, which might lead to confusion or aimless wandering for some players. Overall, Aestik stands out as a noteworthy addition to the metroidvania genre, offering a captivating blend of art, story, and gameplay. Its rich narrative with branching paths, challenging but rewarding platforming and combat, and beautifully realized world all come together to create an experience that is both memorable and engaging. While it could benefit from some technical polish and interface improvements, the game’s core qualities make it a rewarding journey for fans who appreciate deep exploration, moral complexity, and atmospheric storytelling. Rating: 7/10