Gastova: The Witches of Arkana

I am leaving a early review to help boost this cute metroidvania while it works it way thru early access. This game left an immediate positive impression on me. The controls are tight and responsive. The default control scheme is reasonable. I am always surprised when dash/dodge ISN'T on the B button for a 2d action platformer. (it does use B button in this game, FYI.) The map is informative on a basic level and also provides more detailed information like the types of enemies in the tool-tipped area.

Agora que o jogo está completo devo dizer que é DE verdade muito bom.

It’s a pretty simple Mega Man-ish game but it’s kinda charming. Gastova is a delightful protagonist, any character whose motivation "I thought I wouldn't have to do anything and I'd get paid for it" is okay in my book. A little too easy at first but turns more challenging in its second half. It has a few minor issues and some rough voice acting but it’s still pretty decent

不要被好评骗了，有很多都是以前玩的后面更新了没继续玩。这游戏后面的设计简直烂的发瘟，关底boss rush要你躲一分钟的弹幕才有机会打几下那个水晶，打破了水晶才算过，水晶血量厚的发瘟，纯纯折磨人。

Eh, its alright. Didn't get board to the point of stopping so there is that. Where to start... Well for one i can see some people's issue with how the game's direction changed since early access, you can only go where the game allows you to, making this more of a stage select then a metroidvania. The map connections doesnt really account for a vania either since the entrance to one area is just before the beach off one side of the city, but it is blocked off for at least half the game. There are also points where it looked like there was intention on allowing a higher jump, but that never comes and instead springboards are added to get to areas that are too high to jump to. Finally, Though there is enemy placement, there is also a lot of dead ends and just empty areas where it looks like something should be there, but also isnt. Only a couple of on map collectables to find as well. Battle-wise, it's fine... power up makes the dinky range of the inital staff better as you progress. weakness tables kind of makes sense but can also be annoing to switch around different elements just to make use of them so you might be finding yourself just attacking with whatever to get through. Additional staves being drops was also an odd choice, that on top of everything being very expensive to upgrade / sink into spirit levels has you grinding... in an afformentioned metroidvania. It also takes WAY too long to level spirits (wind spirit was the first i got, but didnt hit max level until around the 5th area) Outfits are kind of underwhelming since they are made to enchance either staves and grimoires, but a few of them exclusively enhance grimoire spells (which most of those are pointles except for the bee one for healing and the axe one for the previously mentioned grinding in highly populated areas underwater). Despite there being some unlocked up to the the end of the game, the only ones really worth using are the wizard one to double shot (still powerful despite it saying its weaker), and the bee one at the start of the game since it enhances the bee staff with a strong dot, one of the only 2 staves that can fire upwards, and the bee grimoire which makes it last longer and sticks to you instead of healing in place. Honestly, there should have been more staves boosted since a lot of them are just kinda... pointless. They are either too slow, range is too short, or just does less damage then your starter staff, which matches the element of the spirit chosen (except the fire one for whatever reason that melted a main boss in under 5s), the heart one doesnt even tell you that it takes hp to use, or that some are locked to certain elements). Boss fights are fine, quite a few fly too high to attack for long periods, and a few of them are resistant to the one staff that can fire upwards (that's actually worth using). Balance on them are a bit weird, granted you will melt any one of them with the right element set... some of them (perticularly the dark one) is so much harder then the rest (also didnt have a weakness so its a deliberately a slower fight). There is also a boss rush at some point and the the bosses in the path were harder then the main boss. ~.~ Story was enjoyable, FL is quirky and has back talk for pretty much anything, bantering with others as they are setting up to fight you (cute girls doing cute things). Game has voice acting (which you can turn off if you want), but it was good imo. Wont spoil the story itself, but the ending did hint at a possible continuation since there is more threats out there, and unfinished business with the previous witches. encountered a few bugs but non where game breaking, just annoying at worst. (invisible boss hp bars for one). ---------------------------------------- Despite all this wall of text, i still give it a thumbs up because it's fun for what it is; Walking speed is ok for the jumps you have to make in the areas (or you can dash to go slightly faster across longer maps); Dashing to parry through attacks can be rewarding since it gives you invicibility frames to avoid any additional BS for a small while (or with a certain outfit that can increase the frame windows); Elemental switching does make it worth using others since its the difference between doing 10s of damage to 100s on bosses (though the spirits usefulness in attacks can vary quite a bit); Game is also neither easy nor a bullet hell, attacks have decent tells so unless you corner yourself it is possible to go hitless in fights. The worst part was definitely the grinding, which didnt need to exist since you can get enough money to buy the upgrades available before the next one becomes available (50k per), just by attacking everthing in transit. the same can't be said for spirit levels.

I really wanted to like this game but it just wasn't meant to be. Trying to be Mega Man but also a Metroidvania really just neutralizes the strength of both. Can't have a big map full of upgrades cause it's Mega Man. Can't have linear levels with memorable gimmicks that test your platforming chops because it's a metroidvania. The bosses are fun and the OST is amazing but I just don't feel the least bit compelled to sit down and finish it.

There's definitely much to be improved on. That being said, the game's got good music and nostalgic graphics that I absolutely love! Whatever Christina buys, I will buy too

Good game really. Story: Gastova being the guardian witch sets out to restore her connections with the Founts. However, as it goes along, it gets wrapped up in a disaster that happened. This is the general gist of it. System: A platformer with eight summons, as well as other boost relics you'd find. Music: Pretty good. Art Style: Pretty good. Maps: Quite a bit. Overall: It is a pleasant experience, and right now waiting for the last section of the game to release.