Astalon: Tears of the Earth

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 552 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • music
Astalon: Tears of the Earth Game Cover
A time-worn formula with solid gameplay and an interesting twist.
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Uphold your pact with the Titan of Death, Epimetheus! Fight, climb and solve your way through a twisted tower as three unique adventurers, on a mission to save their village from impending doom! Three heroic explorers wander the post-apocalyptic desert on a mission to save their village from despair. They soon find a dark, twisted tower that has risen from the depths of the planet and seemingly h…

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  • Play​station 5
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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 552 reviews
gameplay62 positive mentions
grinding64 negative mentions
  • Fantastic Metroidvania with a unique mechanic of character switching, allowing for varied gameplay and exploration.
  • Beautiful pixel art and an engaging soundtrack that evoke nostalgia while providing a modern experience.
  • Rewarding exploration with numerous secrets and shortcuts, making backtracking feel meaningful rather than tedious.
  • Frequent backtracking due to dying and respawning at the beginning of the game can become tedious and frustrating.
  • Lack of clear item descriptions in the shop leads to confusion about upgrades and their effects.
  • Some bosses are too easy, especially if players have upgraded their characters significantly, diminishing the challenge.
  • gameplay174 mentions

    The gameplay of Astalon: Tears of the Earth is a blend of classic metroidvania mechanics with unique twists, such as character swapping and a death mechanic that allows players to gain upgrades upon respawning. While the core mechanics are generally praised for their simplicity and fun, some players note issues with backtracking, glitches, and a lack of clarity in certain mechanics. Overall, the game offers engaging exploration, solid combat, and a nostalgic aesthetic, though it may require patience due to its challenging early gameplay and occasional frustrations.

    • “The gameplay is fun enough that it doesn't make the backtracking feel obnoxious, and all the cool power-ups you find keep things from turning into a slog.”
    • “The game handles all of its mechanics well: shortcuts are everywhere, character upgrades make things easier, upgrades exist for your map, health restoration, swapping characters, and there's even a way to pay to get revenge on a boss you died to.”
    • “A thoroughly fun metroidvania, with a charming cast, an interesting death mechanic, lots of collectibles and upgrades, great retro art, and several catchy chiptunes.”
    • “The game has a nice concept going on for it, heavily encouraging you to get killed if not extremely sure of what you're doing, which is purposefully made to have the player engage with the game's main mechanic: upgrades upon death.”
    • “Just really poor controls and grinding gameplay with so much backtracking it's not fun at all.”
    • “The gameplay is standard metroidvania exploration, key collecting, and backtracking, but the way the main gimmick works is what sours the experience for me.”
  • story153 mentions

    The story in "Astalon: Tears of the Earth" is generally described as straightforward and engaging, revolving around three adventurers on a quest to save their village from a poison caused by gorgons. While some players find the narrative serviceable with intriguing elements and character interactions, others feel it lacks depth and can be overshadowed by gameplay mechanics. Overall, the story is appreciated for its retro charm and presentation, though it may not be the primary draw for all players.

    • “Astalon is an excellent action/platformer/RPG hybrid with an awesome soundtrack, a massive tower to explore, and an intriguing story with some unique twists and turns throughout.”
    • “The story is captivating, and the bosses aren't super difficult, but Astalon makes you work for the progression that you seek.”
    • “What starts as a mission to save your town's drinking water soon turns into a quest to prevent a sinister group of eldritch horrors, known as the Gorgons, from breaking free from their tower prison and unleashing hell upon humanity.”
    • “Not exactly sure why they even did that, when the story of the game barely matters other than its simple premise.”
    • “The game asks a lot of you and your time to see all the story has to offer, but the story isn't quite good enough to warrant it.”
    • “What little plot it does have is also poorly sequenced; I experienced several plot beats out of order, referencing an event that hadn't yet taken place.”
  • music133 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchy, nostalgic 8-bit and chiptune style, effectively enhancing the retro aesthetic and gameplay experience. Many reviewers highlighted the variety of tracks that change across different areas, with some standout pieces that evoke strong emotions. While some found the music occasionally repetitive, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's charm and atmosphere, making it a memorable aspect of the experience.

    • “The music is well done with repetitive, driving, 8-bit rhythms, and yet the songs change at different areas of the maze to keep a good variety.”
    • “Astalon is a wonderful metroidvania game with great retro graphics and music, and some of the best map design in the genre.”
    • “The music is just wonderful, I never got tired of listening to it when I got lost, which was my own fault.”
    • “On the other hand, the visuals, music, and story all seem very uninspired and forgettable; the bosses are very boring with a lot of waiting between attacks, and the difficulty doesn't seem to scale that well.”
    • “I found the music anywhere between non-offensive and mute-levels of bad, but even the non-offensive stuff starts to trigger PTSD when you find yourself running again through the same hallway and hearing the same tune again for the 50th time.”
    • “The music, when it's there, is kinda meh.”
  • graphics101 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming 8-bit aesthetic, which effectively captures the nostalgia of classic NES titles while benefiting from modern hardware to eliminate common retro issues like flickering and slowdown. Reviewers highlight the beautiful pixel art, vibrant color schemes, and consistent art style that enhance the overall experience, making it a standout feature of the game. While some minor graphical glitches were noted, the visuals are generally regarded as top-notch, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The art style is beautiful, and I find it impossible to get tired of it.”
    • “Finally, the graphics and art style of this game are phenomenal.”
    • “Astalon nails the NES-era aesthetic and gameplay, while maintaining enough modern conveniences to largely avoid the frustration that true old school games came with.”
    • “As this game is a throwback to the earlier days, graphics are not its strong suit compared to a modern game.”
    • “The graphics are more just serviceable than eye candy, but they are fine.”
    • “On the other hand, the visuals, music, and story all seem very uninspired and forgettable, the bosses are very boring with a lot of waiting between attacks, and the difficulty doesn't seem to scale that well.”
  • grinding65 mentions

    The reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a significant point of contention, with many players finding it tedious and frustrating due to excessive backtracking and the need to repeatedly traverse areas after dying. While some appreciate the retro feel and challenge, others criticize the lack of fast travel options and the grindy nature of upgrades, which detracts from overall enjoyment. Overall, the game is seen as having a mix of enjoyable elements overshadowed by its tedious gameplay loops and grinding requirements.

    • “The level design is impressive and recursive, yet not tedious. It makes sense and is challenging, with a correctly progressive difficulty, which is hard to achieve in this type of game.”
    • “Grinding in this game feels rewarding, as each level brings new challenges that keep you engaged and motivated to improve.”
    • “The grind is satisfying, with a well-balanced progression system that encourages you to keep pushing forward without feeling overwhelmed.”
    • “Looks good but it's simply too tedious to enjoy.”
    • “Tedious gameplay loops waste the player's time.”
    • “The reason why is that even after unlocking shortcuts, I'd sometimes still have to traverse 10+ rooms to get back to where I was when I died; that is not challenging in any way, it's just tedious.”
  • stability14 mentions

    The game exhibits a range of minor stability issues, including graphical glitches, movement bugs, and occasional audio problems, which can detract from the overall experience. While these bugs are generally not game-breaking and the core gameplay remains solid, players have noted that the frequency and variety of glitches can be frustrating. Overall, the game shows promise but could benefit from further polish to enhance stability.

    • “Great metroidvania overall, and runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “Bugs include but are not limited to: very frequent total silence when music should be playing, clipping into walls, visual glitches, approximately 1/4th of the entire story clearly being played out of order, spoiling itself, and assorted minor bugs related to combat.”
    • “I will say that as of this writing, the game is extremely buggy.”
    • “Some issues/glitches occur in the optional post-game content, but the base game is a very solid well-designed experience.”
  • replayability14 mentions

    Overall, the game offers a decent level of replayability, primarily through features like "newgame+" and unlockable modes that encourage players to revisit the experience. While some players appreciate the variety of secrets and progression options, others feel that the replay value could be enhanced with more diverse upgrade paths. Despite mixed opinions, many agree that the game provides enough content to warrant multiple playthroughs.

    • “I'm glad that there's more to do when it's done, so replayability is both to be expected and a treat, since you'll probably want to return to the game when you're done anyway!”
    • “With hours of replayability, characters and items to discover, stat progression, and a ton of other unlockables, Astalon sets a new standard for retro indies and for the price is a steal.”
    • “The unlockable game modes add some replayability as well.”
    • “This is a wasted opportunity for adding replayability through different equally viable upgrade paths.”
    • “There isn't much in terms of replayability, outside of some bonus modes.”
    • “It's great to see it once, but with the additional modes, they get old.”
  • atmosphere13 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and detailed environments, featuring elements like flowing curtains, dripping water, and intricate stonework that enhance the tension and mood. Players appreciate the dark, tragic themes and unique atmospheres of each area, complemented by a strong soundtrack and retro art direction. Overall, the atmosphere effectively contributes to the game's sense of adventure and mystery, drawing comparisons to classic titles.

    • “There are flowing tattered curtains, dripping water (and other substances), detailed stone work as you climb/descend to the different areas of the dark tower and it simply oozes atmosphere.”
    • “Each area has its own unique atmosphere, complete with gorgeous artwork and a banging soundtrack.”
    • “It doesn't contribute to the atmosphere of the game to keep in this kind of flashing, photosensitive or not.”
    • “The theme is dark/tragic, and the atmosphere reminds me a bit of Faxanadu.”
    • “The mysterious, sometimes spooky atmosphere of a single tower is reminiscent of games like La Mulana, which is never a bad thing.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    Players find the game emotionally resonant, evoking nostalgia and a sense of childhood joy through its engaging platforming mechanics and minimal yet impactful storytelling. The integration of the narrative enhances the overall experience, adding emotional depth without overwhelming exposition.

    • “Awesome platformer that made me feel like a kid again.”
    • “There's no long clumsily written exposition but instead, it tries to hit a few emotional beats with absolutely minimal writing.”
    • “The story is fun too, and while it may not be particularly unique, the way it is incorporated into the game greatly adds to the overall experience, providing some emotional impact to the experience as well as expanding on the sense of world.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The game features a blend of humor, including dry and dark elements, particularly evident in character interactions. Players appreciate its comedic undertones, which enhance the overall metroidvania experience, reminiscent of classic titles like Rick Dangerous and Mega Man.

    • “It's a very good game, with possible influences but definitely reminiscent of Rick Dangerous, Lost Vikings, and Mega Man... and it's a metroidvania game with a lot of humor anyway.”
    • “There is some dry and dark humor to be had in the way the characters interact with each other.”
    • “Funny enough, I played this game on my arcade stick and it really feels like I am playing an arcade game when I use it.”
  • character development4 mentions

    The character development in the game is highlighted by the charming and personality-filled designs created by renowned mangaka Ryūsuke Mita, known for his work on "Dragon Half." The pixel art and animations are praised for their quality, contributing to the overall appeal of the characters.

    • “Rysuke Mita, the mangaka who did 'Dragon Half' back in the late 80s, did the character designs for this game and they are full of charm and personality.”
    • “It has great animations and character designs.”
    • “In Astalon’s case, it is most definitely the latter; the pixel art here is great with character designs by noted mangaka Ryūsuke Mita.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of the game is praised for its excellent performance, indicating smooth gameplay and efficient resource management.

    • “The optimization in this game is outstanding, resulting in smooth performance even on lower-end hardware.”
    • “I was impressed by how well the game runs; the optimization truly enhances the overall experience.”
    • “The developers have done a fantastic job with optimization, making the gameplay fluid and responsive.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

84% average critic score

Buy Astalon: Tears of the Earth

Play time

13hMedian play time
11hAverage play time
7-17hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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