Sylva - Curse of the Demon Woods

So far I'm having a lot of fun playing Sylva: it brims with personality and atmosphere, with a calm pacing accompanied by some great tunes. I honestly don't know what is it exactly, but there's something in this game that just resonated with me. It's a special mix of feelings that you don't get from a lot of games. If you're searching for a distinct action adventure then give Sylva a try, it might just be what you're looking for.

Sylva è un'avventura metroidvania con elementi presi dai souls-like affascinante, ma soprattutto fatta con il cuore (seguo lo sviluppo del gioco da anni e posso confermarvelo). Lo stile adottato è davvero particolare: l'illuminazione e la musica riescono a creare davvero una bellissima atmosfera. La lore (di cui ho avuto solo un assaggio) fa capire quanta cura e studio c'è dietro a questo gioco. Non è ancora perfetto, qualche bug qui e là è capitato anche durante la mia prima breve run, ma lo sviluppatore è davvero attivo e si è prodigato immediatamente alla risoluzione.

Game has a great atmosphere and a lovely retro pixel art with very interesting environment choices, that make the game feel like a dreamlike experience. My only issue for now is the font, with how much important reading dialogue is it needs to be much more big and readable.

I had tried the demo some time ago and it had already won me over. Fortunately, the promises seem to have been kept now as well with the release of the full game in many ways: 8-bit graphics that fit the dark atmosphere, simple mechanics with interesting challenges, solid level design with both horizontal and vertical paths, and a story enriched by engaging lore.

I usually review with just "To be played", but this time I feel the urge to say a few words about this hidden gem. Sylva is one of those games where you can really feel the love the developers put into it. The world is full of lore and mystery, and exploring it has been a lot of fun so far (it's basically a metroidvania). The combat system consists of a single attack. It's very simple but feels good and relaxing. Some item drops are a bit too generous, but that could be easily fixed with an update.

After many years of waiting and having played several versions, here's finally Sylva in its complete state. I've always appreciated this game for its atmosphere and its gameplay, which is almost "cozy" but can be challenging when needed (for example, the boss fights), as well as for its interesting "metroidvania progression" and lore. There are a few flaws (like the font size and some bugs), but it seems the developer is already working to fix them!