Aeterna Noctis

If a challenge is what you’re after, you’ll find it within Aeterna Noctis. There’s still plenty to appreciate and enjoy if that’s up your alley, but it doesn’t do enough to allow its concept to stand out from the competition.

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"Aeterna Noctis" is a single-player fantasy Metroidvania game with excellent storytelling, stellar mechanics, outstanding graphics, and a good soundtrack. As the King of Darkness, players explore 16 connected areas in a challenging journey to regain powers, battling enemies and overcoming treacherous platform sections. The game's unique atmosphere and wholesome story stem from an epic creation myth, where two rebellious leaders are cursed to fight for eternity by the all-powerful Chaos.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 728 reviews

gameplay94 positive mentions

grinding47 negative mentions

Stunning hand-drawn graphics and beautiful art style that enhance the overall experience.
Challenging platforming and combat mechanics that provide a rewarding sense of accomplishment.
Large, interconnected world with diverse environments and plenty of secrets to discover.

Difficulty spikes can feel punishing and frustrating, especially in later levels and boss fights.
Controls can be imprecise at times, leading to frustrating deaths during platforming sections.
Visual clutter in some areas makes it hard to distinguish between foreground and background elements, obscuring hazards and platforms.

gameplay
263 mentions
36 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Aeterna Noctis" is a mixed bag, praised for its fluid mechanics, challenging platforming, and engaging exploration reminiscent of "Hollow Knight." However, many players express frustration with certain mechanics, particularly the teleporting arrow, which can feel clunky and overly punishing, detracting from the overall experience. While the game offers a vast world and a variety of abilities, the difficulty spikes and some design choices may alienate players seeking a more balanced challenge.
- “Gameplay is fluid and reminiscent of Hollow Knight.”
- “The world to explore is huge, gameplay smooth, and the story interesting enough to keep the player invested in it all the way through.”
- “Aeterna Noctis surprises you with its high difficulty and enchants you with its addictive gameplay.”
- “Furthermore, it's been a long time since I've seen so many terrible, boring, and unimaginative enemy designs, terrible weapons which you almost can't use because of the stupid blood mechanic (you also use it to restore your health), a very bloated map with endless platforming sections and enormous empty spaces which cannot be explained by logic.”
- “The platforming mechanics are a mix of bad hitboxes, egregiously tight sections, and the mechanic of getting sent back to a ledge if you hit anything.”
- “The movement/platforming mechanics in this game are absolute trash.”
graphics
182 mentions
66 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Aeterna Noctis" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning hand-drawn visuals and intricate level design, creating a visually immersive experience. Many players appreciate the beautiful art style and attention to detail, although some note that the busy backgrounds can occasionally obscure gameplay elements, making it difficult to discern interactive objects. Overall, the game's visuals are considered a highlight, contributing significantly to its appeal as a metroidvania title.
- “Breathtaking masterpiece, blending challenging gameplay and stunning visuals seamlessly.”
- “The graphics did not disappoint from the word go, very beautifully drawn, nice animations, effects, and everything like that; in general, as for me, there is nothing to complain about.”
- “The hand-drawn visuals are very pretty and the soundtrack fits well with the areas.”
- “I hope whoever was in charge of visuals never gets another job in the industry.”
- “The art style is such that it's often impossible to differentiate what is a platform and what isn't, what can actually damage me and what I don't need to avoid or even where I am on the screen.”
- “The main negative with the graphics is that one or two areas can be very graphically noisy which can make it hard to tell what is part of the foreground and what is part of the background.”
story
167 mentions
39 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players praising its engaging narrative, character development, and emotional depth, while others criticize it for being generic, poorly executed, or overly reliant on clichés. Many appreciate the world-building and the integration of the story with gameplay, though some find the quest system vague and the dialogue lacking in quality. Overall, while the story has its moments and can captivate players, it often takes a backseat to the challenging gameplay and exploration elements.
- “The emotional story, non-linear gameplay, and immersive soundtrack left me enthralled.”
- “Aeterna Noctis offers captivating hand-drawn visuals, smooth gameplay, and an engaging story in a masterfully crafted metroidvania experience.”
- “The game has a fascinating story with unexpected twists as you progress through the game.”
- “The story is mostly an excuse to move you from place to place.”
- “Also, the story is absolutely wretched beyond comprehension; there should not have even been a story in this game if it was going to be this bad.”
- “The story is a bit basic, technically ends on a cliffhanger, and even what did happen I'm not sure quite how to parse.”
music
155 mentions
70 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in "Aeterna Noctis" has received widespread praise for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the game's immersive experience. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as one of the standout features, noting its suitability for various zones and its contribution to the overall charm of the game. While some find certain tracks forgettable, the majority agree that the music is well-crafted and complements the stunning visuals and challenging gameplay effectively.
- “The music perfectly captures the game's dark and atmospheric tone, adding to the overall immersive experience.”
- “Its beautiful world and gorgeous soundtrack make exploring Aeterna a joy, even when its high difficulty is knocking you down over and over.”
- “The soundtrack might be my favorite of all time, and I listen to it regularly outside of the game.”
- “Music is repetitive and boring.”
- “The only thing I didn't like about the game was the music.”
- “On the one hand, the game entices with Japanese voice acting, qualitatively lies on the ears and the benefit there are subtitles to understand what is happening, but on the other hand, the initial soundtrack is tired after 2 hours of play.”
grinding
47 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is often tedious and frustrating, with players facing excessive backtracking, slow character leveling, and repetitive platforming challenges that detract from the overall enjoyment. Many express that while the game has enjoyable elements, the grind can feel unnecessarily drawn out and unfulfilling, leading to a sense of monotony and irritation during gameplay. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant flaw that hampers the game's potential.
- “I got to the dream kingdom, which is so annoying and tedious that it was more than enough for me to call it quits.”
- “The player progresses through a repeated pattern of dying where in the fraction of a second they're given to learn patterns before they take a hit and eventually die, which is tedious and frustrating.”
- “Grinding isn't an answer because it takes forever to level up and gain one tiny incremental level of damage.”
atmosphere
39 mentions
59 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its enchanting sound design and stunning visuals, creating a dark, immersive experience reminiscent of titles like Hollow Knight and Castlevania. Each area features unique biomes and distinct atmospheres, enhanced by a well-crafted soundtrack that complements the gameplay. However, some players noted that certain foreground details can obscure gameplay, detracting from the overall experience.
- “The enchanting atmosphere and top-notch sound design make it a must-play for fans of the genre.”
- “The music perfectly captures the game's dark and atmospheric tone, adding to the overall immersive experience.”
- “Each area has a meticulously-crafted atmosphere, from detailed assets to beautiful soundtracks.”
- “The issue is that there are areas in the corners and edges of the arena where the foreground details used to create atmosphere actually obscure the view of the character and sprites.”
- “The story is a bit basic, technically ends on a cliffhanger, and even what did happen I'm not sure quite how to parse... the attempts at lore are alright but the game never really feels like a 'world' so much as a sequence of platforming levels, every area 'feels' different but I wouldn't say they have much 'atmosphere'?”
- “(Light boxes that look very out of place.) It's like the devs got lazy, or maybe they were just trying to relay an atmosphere that I just don't see.”
optimization
14 mentions
36 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players praising its graphics and overall performance, while others criticize significant issues, particularly on the Switch version, which hampers gameplay. Concerns have been raised about the impact of DRM and anti-cheat software on performance, making the game less accessible for some players. Overall, while there are instances of good optimization, notable performance problems and design choices detract from the experience for many.
- “Well optimized and translated into several languages.”
- “An interesting 2D game with very good optimization and graphics.”
- “Extremely beautiful graphics of the game, it is made in a 2D style; I especially liked the explosion effects. In principle, the game is quite optimized, which is a big plus.”
- “If you're wondering why I cannot recommend this game and why the recent reviews are all mixed, it's because the devs added DRM/operating system level software that impacts the game's performance and makes the game inaccessible for me as a player with a disability (I just need to slow the game down by 5%, but I can't).”
- “They would know that specific anti-cheat is widely hated because it tanks performance.”
- “The Switch version has performance issues; don't buy it.”
emotional
8 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally engaging due to its immersive storytelling, non-linear gameplay, and evocative soundtrack, which together create a heartfelt experience. The challenges and high stakes, such as difficult bosses and the emotional weight of backtracking, further deepen players' investment in the game. Overall, the combination of beautiful graphics and a customizable skill tree enhances the emotional journey, making players feel truly connected to the game's world.
- “The emotional story, non-linear gameplay, and immersive soundtrack left me enthralled.”
- “Explore the 16 realms of the Eterna universe, complete quests and challenges, and discover a heartfelt and unpredictable story where every event has a second bottom.”
- “Rarely have I been so enthralled by a game and emotionally invested in its success.”
humor
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-received, with players noting that it is effectively integrated into the story and dialogue, providing laughs at appropriate moments. While some platforming sections are described as "hilariously cruel," the overall tone is light-hearted, contributing to an enjoyable experience amidst challenging gameplay.
- “Really challenging battles and platforming, but not frustratingly so - smooth controls - beautiful graphics - great story and humorous at the right times - varied areas - incredible level design - and such an amazing attention to detail.”
- “Some of the platforming sections are hilariously cruel.”
- “The soundtrack is decent and while the story isn't anything special, I found the dialogue pretty well written and funny at times.”
stability
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
Overall, while the game is visually appealing and performs well, players report experiencing various glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, including character model issues and frustrating loading screens. These stability concerns, along with the absence of certain quality-of-life features, detract from the overall experience.
- “It is really pretty and runs great though.”
- “Some minor but annoying glitches are present right now, like sometimes the character model gets sort of stuck in a previous state not allowing you to move sideways until you leave the area. Other times, your 'bloodstain' is left right on a trap when you die.”
- “The game lacks some quality of life features such as information about weapons and quests, and is buggy sometimes.”
- “The difficulty feels tedious at times, and a litany of loading screens adds to the frustration. Glitches and crashes occur often enough to be annoying.”
replayability
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
While "Aeterna Noctis" offers engaging gameplay and well-designed maps, it has been noted that the game lacks significant replay value, with limited incentives to revisit its 16 unique regions.
- “I liked Aeterna Noctis more than Hollow Knight; I can't explain why, but the gameplay in Aeterna Noctis is more engaging, and the map design and effects are also nicer for me.”
- “One of the only criticisms I have is that there isn't much replay value.”
- “The game includes 16 unique regions, of which 14 are playable.”
character development
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's character development is highly praised for its ability to enhance gameplay and maintain player engagement, despite some criticism of the character design. Reviewers highlight the intriguing story and enjoyable art style, with boss battles being a notable feature that complements the character progression.
- “The game's character development is outstanding.”
- “You can add infinitely interesting gameplay with character development, which will not let you get bored for a minute.”
- “Intriguing story and character development, art style is clean and enjoyable, boss battles are a stand-out.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is primarily driven by advertisements, as users have noted encountering promotional content on platforms like YouTube.
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending money.”
- “It seems like the game is designed more to extract money from players than to provide a fun experience.”