Alchemist's Castle

About

Alchemist's Castle is a single player platformer game. It was developed by kabukgames and was released on November 2, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

In "Alchemist's Castle," players explore a 2D side-scrolling world inspired by classic Metroidvania games, with the goal of stopping a power-hungry alchemist from using the philosopher's stone. The castle is filled with secrets to discover, adding a non-linear element to the old-school platforming experience. As the former apprentice of the alchemist, players must use their skills to survive and complete their mission.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 40 reviews

gameplay7 positive mentions

grinding1 negative mentions

Fun and engaging platforming mechanics with a focus on exploration and puzzles.
Great value for the price, providing a satisfying experience in a short playtime.
Decent graphics and music, with a charming atmosphere that enhances the gameplay.

The final boss is frustratingly difficult and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
Several bugs and control issues, particularly with gamepad support and hit detection.
The game is quite short and lacks depth in combat and enemy variety, making it feel limited.

story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The story in the game is delivered through 43 collectible scrolls that provide perspectives from both the alchemist and apprentice, but many players find the writing tedious and the narrative lacking depth. While some appreciate the potential and engaging elements of the story, others criticize the font and presentation, making it difficult to fully engage with the plot. Overall, the story is considered simple yet effective, fitting well within the metroidvania genre, but it could benefit from more compelling storytelling and twists.
- “The 43 scrolls scattered all over the map describe the story from the perspective of both the alchemist and apprentice, and the obligatory boss fight at the end provides a conclusion to that story.”
- “In the space of an hour, you have backtracking, hidden upgrades, optional paths, secret story documents, everything you want and expect in a metroidvania game.”
- “Simple but effective metroidvania game, short and sweet with an amazingly low price tag, there's a few puzzles with a neat storyline and gameplay that feels like a lot of care and attention has been applied.”
- “The background story is told through various collectible scrolls found through exploration, and they can get somewhat redundant towards the end due to how things are written.”
- “The story had some potential, but it's told through boring text, and could use a twist at the end.”
- “Moving along, the font used makes reading the plot scrolls unbearable, at least to me.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
17%
25%
The gameplay is characterized by smooth platforming mechanics and inventive level design, enhanced by a unique fall-jump feature. While the puzzles and overall experience are enjoyable, some players note issues with slippery controls and a flawed jump mechanic. Despite its short length, the game offers a satisfying metroidvania experience with rewarding backtracking and a charming storyline, all at an appealing price point.
- “Controls work without much problem, and the early introduced concept of fall-jump is a pretty interesting mechanic that allows for a bit more inventive level design.”
- “The puzzles and gameplay were fun with a moderate to hard difficulty.”
- “Simple but effective metroidvania game, short and sweet with an amazingly low price tag, there's a few puzzles with a neat storyline and gameplay that feels like a lot of care and attention has been applied.”
- “The controls are very slippery and don't always respond...the 'low jump/high jump' mechanic is deeply flawed...and for some reason pressing escape doesn't do anything because the dev has decided to use 'p' instead.”
- “These are nicely designed to take advantage of the few mechanics the game has, but could use some slight quality of life features, such as in-room reset options for destroyable blocks.”
- “I got three actual hours of gameplay out of this.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
28%
27%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players finding them mediocre or low-quality, while others appreciate the decent artwork and atmospheric visuals. Although there are criticisms regarding a lack of variety and detail, many users note that the graphics are acceptable for the game's low price point and do not detract from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are seen as a mixed bag, with some praising their quality and others finding them lacking.
- “It also has great music, visuals, and gameplay, all for a very cheap price.”
- “The graphics are atmospheric, there are some light puzzle-solving elements involving getting from point A to point B within some of the rooms, and there are some optional/extra power-ups to be discovered.”
- “Graphics are great and the controls are responsive.”
- “The graphics are a complete mess and make 'top banana' look sophisticated.”
- “The graphics were on the low end and there wasn't much variety in the monsters.”
- “Mediocre graphics.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising it as nice or great, while others find it lackluster or even horrible. Overall, it appears to contribute positively to the atmosphere, though opinions on its quality vary significantly.
- “It also has great music, visuals, and gameplay, all for a very cheap price.”
- “Good soundtrack.”
- “The graphics are pretty good and the soundtrack is nice.”
- “The music is horrible.”
- “I don't mind that the combat is nonexistent for the most part, and the music is lackluster at best.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere in Alchemist's Castle is generally described as having a mix of charm and mediocrity; while the graphics and music are considered average, the game does possess a heartfelt ambiance that enhances its metroidvania-style exploration and puzzle-solving elements.
- “Alchemist's castle is a 2D side-scrolling Metroidvania-style game with a lot of heart and atmosphere.”
- “The graphics are atmospheric, there are some light puzzle-solving elements involving getting from point A to point B within some of the rooms, and there are some optional/extra power-ups to be discovered.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently described as funny, indicating that players find the comedic elements engaging and enjoyable.
- “The humor in this game is absolutely hilarious, with clever jokes and witty dialogue that kept me laughing throughout.”
- “I love how the game incorporates humor into its storytelling; it adds a lighthearted touch that makes the experience so enjoyable.”
- “The quirky characters and their funny interactions had me in stitches, making every moment of gameplay a delight.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find that the grinding aspect of the game is not tedious, as backtracking is implemented in a way that keeps the experience engaging rather than frustrating.