Noreya: The Gold Project

In "Noreya: The Gold Project," a 2D pixel-art metroidvania game, players follow Kali, a fighter seeking to overthrow the corrupt God of Avarice, Salluste. Decisions made throughout the game impact progression and abilities, while exploring the City of Gold and its cathedral filled with shadowy creatures. Choose to pledge allegiance to a god or remain independent, creating a unique experience with each playthrough.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

58%

Audience ScoreBased on 28 reviews

music8 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The movement mechanics are smooth and responsive, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
The pixel art style is visually stunning, with distinctive areas that contribute to an immersive world.
The game offers a rich exploration experience with a large map full of secrets and interesting lore.

The early game is poorly balanced, potentially discouraging players before they experience the game's strengths.
Combat mechanics are frustrating, with poorly telegraphed enemy attacks and hitboxes that lead to unfair damage.
The storytelling is disjointed, relying on text dumps that can detract from the overall narrative experience.

music
10 mentions
80 % positive mentions
10 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its beauty and high production values, contributing to a lush and atmospheric experience. However, some players note that the limited number of tracks can lead to repetitiveness, especially given the expansive game world. Overall, the soundtrack complements the game's design well, enhancing the overall feel of the metroidvania experience.
- “The design of the levels is also outstanding, with awesome music and overall feel.”
- “Beautiful art and music.”
- “The soundtrack is also incredible, it's lush and atmospheric, and the production values are super high.”
- “The soundtrack is small in number of songs, given how big the map is; it gets repetitive unfortunately, even if it's a good fit for the game.”
story
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The story is characterized by disjointed text dumps and unclear mechanics, which can detract from the experience. However, many players find the narrative intriguing, particularly after the initial tutorial phase, with a promising setup involving a warrior caught between two warring gods. While the writing is generally considered serviceable, it lacks depth and may not fully engage all players.
- “The story was very interesting; ignore the first 5 story messages that include the tutorial, the rest of the writing is pretty good.”
- “I'd argue wait until you get the first 'story skill'; that's when the game picks up.”
- “The story is told in disjointed text dumps and some of the world mechanics aren't hugely clear (light/gold switching, for example).”
- “I was struggling to find something to play after Doomblade and Nine Sols. I tried Deviator (huge disappointment) and Biomorph, which I tried hard to get into, but the combat, movement, and plot just aren't there.”
- “The story setup contains a lot of promise: you're a warrior caught in a struggle between two warring gods, with each offering you power and dominion if you pledge your allegiance to them.”
gameplay
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Gameplay is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics, particularly the world-switching feature, though it suffers from clunky execution and unclear mechanics. Players express a desire for more clarity and prominence in these mechanics, as well as a preference for challenging gameplay that relies on complexity rather than frustrating obstacles. The narrative delivery through disjointed text dumps detracts from the overall experience.
- “I especially enjoyed the mechanics requiring switching the world between states, and would've loved to see it featured a bit more prominently, and for the switching to be less clunky.”
- “The story is told in disjointed text dumps, and some of the world mechanics aren't very clear, such as the light/gold switching.”
- “Game difficulty should come from complex mechanics, not cheap tricks.”
- “I'm curious to learn how much the path you choose affects the gameplay.”
grinding
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the late-game grinding to be excessive, particularly in the cost of skill points, and express a desire for more engaging mechanics related to world-switching, which can feel cumbersome. Additionally, the lack of clear enemy attack patterns leads to repetitive and tedious combat strategies, further contributing to the grinding experience.
- “Late game you'll be grinding loops to spend thousands of gold per skill point.”
- “Many attacks are also not telegraphed, so you are best off avoiding anything but the most basic enemies or resorting to tedious hit-and-run tactics.”
graphics
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The game features a beautifully executed pixel art style, complemented by impressive artwork, animations, and music. While the reviewer has only spent a limited time with it, they find it promising and accessible, even for newcomers to the genre.
- “It's a beautiful execution of a pixel art style.”
- “The artworks, animations, and music are all pretty good.”
- “For someone who's not used to this type of game, I didn't take much time to understand the controls.”
- “The graphics are outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
- “Character models look flat and lifeless, making it hard to get immersed in the game.”
- “The environments feel bland and uninspired, which detracts from the overall experience.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for creating a frustrating experience, as players feel cornered by challenging mechanics that are exacerbated by the presence of overwhelming enemies, suggesting that the game may be designed to encourage spending to overcome these obstacles.
atmosphere
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its lush and immersive soundtrack, complemented by impressive production values that enhance the overall experience.
- “The soundtrack is incredible; it's lush and atmospheric, and the production values are super high.”
- “The game creates an immersive atmosphere that pulls you in from the very first moment.”
- “Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that stays with you long after playing.”
replayability
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the high replayability of the game, particularly due to the inclusion of RPG elements that enhance the overall experience and encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “I love the inclusion of RPG elements like this, and I think the potential replay value for this title is quite high.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the emotional intensity of the gameplay, as the close-quarters combat against a challenging boss creates a sense of desperation and vulnerability. The inability to attack from a distance heightens the stakes, leading to a mix of tension and emotional investment in overcoming the difficult encounter.