Chasm

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 718 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • music
Chasm Game Cover
Beautiful pixel art and tight controls make Chasm a fine, if reserved, modern take on the Metroidvania.
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"Chasm is a single-player Fantasy Platformer game with a good plot, stunning visuals, and delightful music. Embark on an epic journey as a new recruit for the Guildean Kingdom, rescuing townspeople and battling monsters in procedurally-assembled areas. With hand-designed rooms and unique world maps, each player's experience is one-of-a-kind, making for a highly emotional and immersive adventure."

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station Vita
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 718 reviews
gameplay61 positive mentions
grinding74 negative mentions
  • Beautiful pixel art and animations that evoke nostalgia for classic games.
  • Engaging combat that requires learning enemy patterns and timing attacks.
  • Decent variety of weapons and spells, allowing for different playstyles.
  • Procedurally generated levels can feel repetitive and lack depth.
  • Combat can be clunky due to attack animations locking the player in place.
  • Limited save points and backtracking can make progress feel tedious.
  • gameplay216 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its nostalgic metroidvania mechanics reminiscent of classics like "Castlevania: Symphony of the Night." However, criticisms highlight issues such as clunky controls, repetitive enemy designs, and a lack of innovation, particularly in the procedural generation of levels, which can lead to a monotonous experience. While some players find the gameplay engaging and fun, others feel it falls short of its potential due to mechanical flaws and uninspired design choices.

    • “It has a lot of arcade-y features like a leaderboard, various modes of play, and different equipment combos to vary gameplay somewhat.”
    • “The gameplay was fluid, the upgrades you find actually add elements to the game and unlock new areas along with allowing you to reach secrets you couldn't before, giving a reason to backtrack to the earlier levels.”
    • “The mechanics were well thought out, the gameplay was fun, the art and music were gorgeous, and I enjoyed my time with it.”
    • “It could've been something good, but the mechanical 'level design' and boring enemy variety make the gameplay simply not very fun.”
    • “The gameplay is slow and clunky.”
    • “The randomized map ends up making the world pretty bland and a chore to backtrack through, very little is added as far as new mechanics with combat/platforming so the sense of progression is fairly lackluster.”
  • story172 mentions

    The game's story is generally perceived as simplistic and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that it fails to engage players emotionally or offer substantial character development. While some appreciate the basic premise and lore scattered throughout the game, others criticize the storytelling methods, such as reliance on NPC interactions and fetch quests, which contribute to a feeling of blandness and repetitiveness. Overall, the narrative serves its purpose but is not a strong selling point for those seeking a rich or immersive story experience.

    • “Overall, loved the combat system and the movement, liked the story and characters, loved the visuals and will make sure to follow future releases from this developer!”
    • “The story is both simple and cryptic, so it feels good to piece it together.”
    • “The pixel art is beautiful, the soundtrack is good, and the story is enjoyable.”
    • “The biggest knock against this game is just that the story lacks gravitas and the world lacks mystique.”
    • “The story was not engaging in any way but it serves well enough to play through the game at least.”
    • “The story is nothing to write home about, but it's engaging, and the overall gameplay loop of exploring, rescuing townsfolk, and reporting back was satisfying and fun.”
  • music164 mentions

    The music in "Chasm" receives mixed reviews, with many players finding it to be atmospheric yet repetitive and unmemorable. While some tracks are praised for their charm and fitting ambiance, others describe the overall soundtrack as generic and lacking variety, leading to a sense of monotony during extended play sessions. The option to switch to a chiptune version is appreciated, but overall, the music does not leave a lasting impression for most players.

    • “I had so much fun playing this, this is truly an underrated metroidvania, perfect music, perfect design and challenging and fun boss fights.”
    • “The music is excellent!”
    • “The pixel art is beautiful, the soundtrack is good, and the story is enjoyable.”
    • “The soundtrack is terribly bland, nothing ever excites you; quite the opposite, it feels like it's trying to lull the player to sleep.”
    • “The music runs on a constant loop for each area, and given how backtrack-heavy the game is, the tunes begin to wear on the player's patience.”
    • “The music is absolutely horrible and tedious.”
  • graphics118 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art and detailed animations, often described as beautiful and reminiscent of classic 16-bit titles. While many players appreciate the charming art style and atmospheric visuals, some have noted technical issues such as glitches in fullscreen mode and a lack of variety in room designs. Overall, the visuals are considered the standout feature of the game, drawing players in despite criticisms of gameplay mechanics.

    • “The graphics are absolutely beautiful!”
    • “The artwork especially is nothing but stellar, some of the best pixel art in any current game.”
    • “Great graphics, animation, music... really draws you into this world.”
    • “I play the game in full screen mode and click away and then come back; the graphics glitch out and everything gets big black blocks around it, making it almost impossible to play.”
    • “Seems like the developers focused more on the visuals than the actual gameplay.”
    • “The charming art style and presentation isn't enough to cover up incredibly dated gameplay.”
  • grinding75 mentions

    The reviews highlight that grinding in the game is often tedious and repetitive, with many players expressing frustration over excessive backtracking and low drop rates for items. While some enjoy the grind for experience and crafting materials, others find it detracts from the overall experience, making combat feel monotonous and exploration less rewarding. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a significant flaw, with many suggesting it could benefit from adjustments to improve pacing and engagement.

    • “If you don't want to go through maps a few times over (which isn't too tedious on easy), then maybe this isn't the game for you.”
    • “Many of the other reviews talk about the tedious backtracking, which is an issue - you'll be doing quite a lot of backtracking through already-explored areas constantly, exacerbated by the fact that the only way to warp back to town is a scroll that costs a lot of money.”
    • “The last 2/5 of the game is incredibly tedious and not fun.”
    • “The failure lays entirely on whoever decided to construct the game as a criminally slow slog through grindy monotonous content.”
  • replayability48 mentions

    The replayability of Chasm is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the procedural generation that offers varied experiences, while others feel it lacks depth and meaningful differences between runs. Some highlight the potential for replay value through new game+ modes and hidden challenges, but others criticize the game for being too similar across playthroughs, diminishing its overall replayability. Overall, while the game has features that could enhance replayability, opinions vary on their effectiveness and impact.

    • “The game is very replayable.”
    • “Graphics and music are great, the story is as interesting as it needs to be and there is a fair amount of replayability since most of the dungeons are procedurally generated and you can share seeds or keep track of your favorite ones.”
    • “Chasm is a charming experience inspired by the likes of Castlevania with a mix of rogue-like due to procedurally generated levels, which increases the game's replay value.”
    • “Despite the supposed selling point of 'seed-based roguelike randomization,' replayability is low.”
    • “The highly vaunted replayability of this game isn't really much to speak of.”
    • “Hung themselves up on the promise of a procedurally generated experience that should increase replayability, but there's no real reason to play it a second time.”
  • atmosphere15 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its detailed graphics, rich color palette, and immersive soundtracks that enhance the overall experience. Many players appreciate the dark and atmospheric setting, reminiscent of classic titles, while some note that the music, though fitting, could be improved. However, a few reviews highlight that certain games, like Chasm, fall short in creating a memorable atmosphere, indicating a disparity in execution across different titles.

    • “Great atmospheric metroidvania!”
    • “I love metroidvanias that are great in atmosphere, exploration, sound, and weapons.”
    • “The atmosphere of this game is pretty consistently dark, just how I like it, though you do get bits of humor here and there and a beautifully rich color palette and art direction.”
    • “I would say this game plays more like 'SOTN' than anything, with a charming art style more reminiscent of 'Momodora' and an atmosphere that, to me, was just as dark as these and also reminded me a bit of 'Diablo I' at times.”
    • “The music and atmosphere is fine, but not stand-out.”
  • emotional9 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some players feeling a lack of attachment to characters and a passable story that fails to engage deeply. However, others appreciate the nostalgic challenge and the sense of accomplishment from overcoming difficult gameplay, which evokes a sense of familiarity and emotional investment reminiscent of classic titles. Overall, while the emotional depth may not resonate with everyone, the game's challenging mechanics and retro feel can evoke strong feelings of nostalgia and satisfaction for seasoned players.

    • “As someone who grew up on the NES and the SNES, I remember all the ups and downs and skills needed to deal with overbearing situations where the controls aren't 'fluid'. The odds are stacked against you, and everything just kind of wants to kick you in the gut repeatedly until you stop twitching. But you come out of it forged with skills and reflexes today's 'triple A' games can't compare to. This fantastic little gem delivers that in all its heart-wrenching, gut-punching glory. A 'vania' style game in essence, but with originality so that it doesn't really look like anything else. You still feel familiar, with grueling bosses and simple controls that require you to use your head to dodge instead of just mashing a button. The story starts simple but turns deep before you realize what happened, making this a game I'll recommend to anyone who asks. In short, if you've never touched anything older than a PS3 or Xbox 360, stay away from this game as you're liable to break a controller. For the rest of us retro junkies, it's the SNES game I didn't know I wanted.”
    • “Every time I thought I had found a cool secret, an optional part of the game that made me feel accomplished for discovering it, it wound up being mandatory, and I wouldn't have been able to complete the game without it.”
    • “The only thing that really got to me was that touching enemies damages you.”
  • stability7 mentions

    Overall, user reviews on stability are mixed; while some players report a smooth and bug-free experience, others have encountered significant glitches and crashes, particularly related to in-game currency and mechanics. This inconsistency suggests that while the game has potential, it may still require further refinement to ensure a stable experience for all players.

    • “Runs great.”
    • “Ran smoothly and bug free, well made.”
    • “Glitches, bugs, and crashes.”
    • “It seems crystal clear that the developers have XP and currency glitches in this game.”
    • “A bad game is one with faulty mechanics, poor controls, bugs, glitches, etc. A bad game is a game that fails to deliver on its promises.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The game's humor is subtle and sporadic, providing occasional light moments amidst a predominantly dark atmosphere. While some players appreciate the well-structured and amusing dialogues, others find the overall experience lacking in humor, particularly due to repetitive gameplay elements that detract from enjoyment.

    • “The atmosphere of this game is pretty consistently dark, just how I like it, though you do get bits of humor here and there and a beautifully rich color palette and art direction.”
    • “In any case, the dialogues are well-structured and funny to read.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is largely criticized, with many users noting a lack of depth and progression in the story and characters. While some appreciate the writing and character design, they feel it is underutilized and does not contribute to meaningful character growth. Overall, the consensus suggests that character development is minimal and does not enhance the gaming experience.

    • “The writing and character design are impressive, though they could be more prominent throughout the game.”
    • “The character development is enhanced by the strong writing and engaging story.”
    • “The combination of good writing and character design really elevates the overall experience.”
    • “There is no character development to speak of.”
    • “Not much of a story or any kind of character development.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    Overall, players have noted mixed feelings about optimization in the game. While some aspects, like equipment drops, can feel redundant in the late game, others, such as spell effectiveness, require careful build optimization to be viable. Additionally, performance issues like random freezes and lag have been reported, even on systems that meet or exceed the recommended specifications.

    • “In the late game, I already had my preferred and optimized equipment; most drops felt a bit useless.”
    • “There was something a little strange with the spells - I felt like unless I optimized my build for them, they were almost not worth using. However, once I did optimize my build for them, they became overpowering.”
    • “Meanwhile in the late game, I already had my preferred and optimized equipment; most drops felt a bit useless.”
    • “Chasm randomly freezes and lags sometimes (poorly optimized???), which is ridiculous since my computer is well above the recommended specs.”
    • “There was something a little strange with the spells - I felt like unless I optimized my build for them, they were almost not worth using. But once I did optimize my build for them, they became overpowering.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling that the combat experience does not live up to the expectations set by its advertising, suggesting a lack of originality in its design.

    • “It's just a cash grab in my opinion; if these developers dreamed this up, they are unoriginal.”
    • “From their clever advertising, I thought the combat would be much more fluid and integrated than it actually was.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

68% average critic score

Buy Chasm

Play time

8hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
6-13hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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