Alchemist's Castle

A retro style metroidvania... it is a $0.99 game for a very good reason. Not for me.

Por lo que cuesta es un entretenido metroidvania de plataformeo, pequeño pero decente. Aunque podría estar más pulido en el apartado gráfico y los menús. Además al haber puntos de guardado en muchos sitios es fácil regresar si morimos por un descuido.

Short fun metrovania style platformer would definitely pick it up for a couple of bucks

Krótka i przyjemna, aż mi się stare czasy przypomniały. :D Niczego więcej nie potrzeba.

https://youtu.be/2tpUxjltKAU Plenty of rough edges and pacing issues take a well intended start and stumbles while falling short of it's potential.

Alchemist’s Castle is a side-scrolling action adventure developed and published by Kabuk Games that builds its identity around exploration, environmental discovery, and classic Metroidvania design principles. Inspired by older generations of platform adventures, the game avoids modern excess and instead focuses on delivering a smaller, tightly designed experience where progression comes from curiosity, experimentation, and unlocking new abilities. It embraces retro philosophy confidently, creating a game that feels intentionally built for players who appreciate exploration-driven gameplay over cinematic spectacle. The story begins with a fallen mentor whose pursuit of forbidden power transforms him into a danger to the world around him. Once admired for wisdom and knowledge, the alchemist’s discovery of the Philosopher’s Stone slowly corrupts him, replacing noble intentions with greed and destruction. Players take control of his former apprentice, entering the mysterious castle to uncover secrets, stop the growing corruption, and confront the consequences of unchecked ambition. The narrative remains relatively straightforward throughout the adventure, but that simplicity allows gameplay and atmosphere to take center stage rather than lengthy storytelling sequences. The strongest element of Alchemist’s Castle is easily its world design. The castle itself functions as an interconnected maze filled with hidden routes, secret chambers, environmental puzzles, and areas that remain inaccessible until new abilities are discovered. Exploration constantly rewards patience and memory. Progression often involves encountering obstacles that cannot immediately be overcome, only for future upgrades to transform previously blocked paths into opportunities for discovery. This structure creates satisfying moments where player knowledge becomes just as valuable as mechanical skill. The progression system reinforces that design philosophy effectively. Rather than relying heavily on experience grinding or stat growth, advancement comes primarily through gaining new movement abilities and tools that expand exploration possibilities. Each upgrade feels meaningful because it changes how players interact with the environment itself. Returning to earlier locations becomes rewarding instead of repetitive, creating that familiar sense of expanding freedom that defines successful exploration-focused platform games. Movement mechanics contribute heavily to enjoyment as well. Platforming feels responsive, and additional mobility upgrades gradually create a stronger sense of momentum throughout progression. Traversal becomes increasingly satisfying as more abilities are unlocked, encouraging experimentation and rewarding players who fully master movement systems. The game understands that exploration-driven adventures depend heavily on movement quality, and much of the enjoyment comes from navigating the castle efficiently once its layout becomes familiar. Combat exists primarily as support for exploration rather than the main attraction. Encounters emphasize positioning and awareness while avoiding unnecessary complexity. Players rely on explosive attacks and movement timing to overcome enemy threats scattered throughout the castle. While combat does not reach the depth of larger action-heavy Metroidvania titles, it remains functional and serves the broader pacing effectively. Environmental puzzles add additional variety across progression. Certain areas require observation and experimentation rather than purely mechanical skill, helping create moments where exploration feels more interactive. Combined with hidden collectibles and optional discoveries, these systems strengthen the overall feeling of adventure. The castle becomes more than a collection of rooms connected by combat encounters. It feels like a place meant to be learned, understood, and gradually conquered. Visually, Alchemist’s Castle commits fully to retro-inspired presentation. Pixel art environments and side-scrolling design reinforce the nostalgic atmosphere while remaining clean and readable. The presentation avoids unnecessary visual noise, allowing exploration and movement clarity to remain priorities. Players familiar with older platform adventures will likely appreciate how confidently the game embraces classic design influences without attempting to imitate larger productions beyond its scope. Audio presentation supports the atmosphere effectively as well. The soundtrack contributes to the mysterious feeling surrounding exploration while helping individual areas develop stronger identity. Combined with environmental design, the music reinforces the feeling of entering dangerous territory filled with hidden opportunities and forgotten secrets. The game does show limitations tied to its commitment to traditional design principles. Backtracking remains central to progression, and players less interested in revisiting familiar areas may occasionally find the structure repetitive. Some navigation moments can also become less intuitive than more modern entries in the genre. Additionally, players expecting larger-scale production values or highly advanced combat systems may find the experience more focused than expansive. However, Alchemist’s Castle succeeds because it understands exactly what kind of game it wants to become. Kabuk Games built a compact exploration-focused adventure designed around discovery and progression rather than overwhelming scale. It never abandons its identity in pursuit of trends, and that confidence gives the experience charm. For players who appreciate classic Metroidvania structure and enjoy uncovering secrets through exploration rather than heavy guidance systems, Alchemist’s Castle delivers a satisfying adventure filled with rewarding progression and nostalgic appeal. It may not redefine the genre, but it captures the spirit of older exploration-driven platform games with sincerity and focus. Rating: 7/10

Soft recommend. It is a very short game and while fun to explore, enemy placement was annoying at times. Especially multiple ghosts, it felt unfair. I beat this at 95.2% and think the developer has a lot of potential for future games.