Trials of Azra

About

Trials of Azra is a single player and multiplayer action game. It was developed by Alejandro Elizalde and was released on September 15, 2016. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Trials of Azra" is a puzzle-based game where you play as Sam, a kid with the ability to control the dead. Defeat enemies and use their bodies to solve challenging puzzles across 60+ rooms and diverse environments. With local co-op and full Xbox Controller compatibility, help Sam find his way through the Trials of Azra and uncover the truth behind his mysterious ordeal.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+10

Skip User Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 54 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features a unique possession mechanic that allows players to control defeated enemies, adding depth to the puzzle-solving experience.
Puzzles are well-designed and progressively challenging, providing a satisfying sense of achievement upon completion.
The game has charming graphics and a humorous tone, making it an enjoyable experience overall, especially in co-op mode.

The combat and movement mechanics can feel clunky and detract from the puzzle-solving focus, leading to frustration.
Some puzzles may require trial and error, which can be tedious and disrupt the flow of gameplay.
The music can become repetitive over time, potentially diminishing the overall experience.

gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
57%
10%
The gameplay in "Trials of Azra" is praised for its unique possession mechanic, allowing players to control enemies to solve puzzles, which adds depth and variety to the experience. While the puzzles are generally straightforward and may not challenge seasoned players, the game keeps things fresh by introducing new mechanics and challenges in each level. Overall, the gameplay is engaging and immersive, with well-designed puzzles that encourage exploration and creativity.
- “Great game with an original concept and mechanics that make for fun and challenging puzzles.”
- “A big positive is that the game gives you either something new to toy with or some new way to approach things almost every stage, so the gameplay never feels old throughout a playthrough.”
- “I find the puzzles to be incredibly well thought out, and the game keeps adding more and more enemies and mechanics as I progress, so it doesn't get repetitive at all.”
- “Oddly, I found killing the enemies to be entirely pointless to the puzzle gameplay.”
- “The core mechanic is very unique, but the puzzles aren’t as clean as, say, Portal, about conveying what the player can and can’t do, to a degree where sometimes you are forced to manually restart the stage.”
- “There's even boss battles at the end of each stage that abandon the core mechanic for the more traditional platforming mechanic.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The graphics of the game feature a charming 16-bit pixel art style that, while initially perceived as clunky, ultimately enhances the overall experience with its clean and sharp visuals. Users appreciate the aesthetic's ability to balance cuteness with darker themes, and while the graphics may not be stunning, they effectively support the engaging gameplay. Overall, the visuals are deemed decent and serve their purpose well, contributing to an immersive and enjoyable gaming experience.
- “The graphics are an effective return to 16-bit era art without being a distraction.”
- “The pixel graphics are clean and sharp.”
- “Don't let the pixel graphics put you off, this is a highly accomplished puzzler and it's a joy to play.”
- “At first, I was disappointed in this, since I was hungry for more straightforward action and frankly, the presentation was far from enough to interest me on its own (you have that kind of weak faux-8bit generic indie game graphic style and an odd, eerie type of soundtrack) but... I found myself coming back again and again.”
- “The graphics look a little clunky in the trailer, but the experience ends up being genuinely refreshing.”
- “I confess to having always been biased against low-res games like this in the past; I've always thought pixel graphics = basic gameplay, but wow, have my eyes been opened!”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it charming and well-composed, fitting the nostalgic vibe of classic NES games, others criticize its repetitiveness and looping, which can become annoying over time. Despite these drawbacks, many appreciate the unique melodies for each stage and the option to adjust or mute the music in the settings. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, even if it doesn't stand out as exceptional.
- “The art and sound is superbly charming, reminding me of those classic video games found on the NES way back in the late 1980s... I truly adore the soundtrack, with each stage boasting a unique melody that fits the mood and tone ideally.”
- “The music is well-composed and nicely suits the setting of each level.”
- “Background music is outstanding.”
- “I got tired of the music in the game.”
- “The music is not amazing but it’s decent; the problem is that it’s looped so much that it gets annoying fast, or perhaps the music is samey.”
- “At first, I was disappointed in this, since I was hungry for more straightforward action and frankly, the presentation was far from enough to interest me on its own (you have that kind of weak faux-8bit generic indie game graphic style and an odd, eerie type of soundtrack).”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The story in "Trials of Azra" is light and minimalistic, centering on a young boy and his pug, but it evolves into a more intriguing narrative than initially expected, culminating in a satisfying resolution. The game features a few engaging puzzles that enhance the overall experience.
- “Trials of Azra is a puzzle platform hybrid that accentuates the phrase 'stands out among the crowd'... the story begins with a young lad named Sam playing 'fetch' with his pet pug.”
- “The story itself is kept minimal and mysterious, although the ending still provides adequate resolution to the adventure.”
- “Trials of Azra is a puzzle-platform hybrid that accentuates the phrase 'stands out among the crowd'... the story begins with a young lad named Sam playing 'fetch' with his pet pug.”
- “Oh, and the story is light, but ends up being a little more interesting than expected in the end, which is nice.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its strong sense of humor, particularly evident in the witty dialogues and environmental details, which complement its retro 2D aesthetic. Reviewers feel that the humor enhances the overall experience, making it a standout feature alongside its engaging puzzle design.
- “Very humorous!”
- “If this had just been a funny, retro 2D side-scroller, it would be a fine game.”
- “Aside from the puzzle design (which I've fallen in love with from the start), there's a sense of humor most noticeable in the dialogues and some of the environment that goes really well with the aesthetics.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
Players highlight strong replayability due to the game's achievement system, which encourages multiple playthroughs for no-death runs and collecting missed items. The combination of a manageable playtime of 2-4 hours and high-quality, varied puzzle design ensures that the experience remains engaging and challenging, preventing it from feeling repetitive.
- “I've been playing for 5 hours and I'm not finished, and if you wanted to unlock all the achievements, there's great replay value.”
- “There is replay value in tackling achievements for no-death runs and missed pickups. It's not just the quantity though; the quality of puzzle design is also top-notch, and the wide variety produces constant challenge, so it never feels stale.”
- “It's about 2-4 hours long, but has some replay value through achievements.”
- “There is replay value in tackling achievements for no-death runs and missed pickups, etc. It's not just the quantity though; the quality of puzzle design is also top-notch. The wide variety produces constant challenge, so it never feels stale.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is solid, with users reporting only minor glitches that do not significantly impact gameplay. Issues such as disappearing enemies are rare and can typically be resolved by restarting the level, making them hardly worth mentioning.
- “The game is solid overall, I have no major complaints, encountered a few glitches but nothing that could ruin the game.”
- “One or two disappearing enemy glitches are easily fixed by restarting the level; they are rare and hardly worth mentioning.”
- “Minor glitches occasionally.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development is highlighted by the charming and imaginative design of characters, such as ninja lizards and giant one-eyed creatures. A unique gameplay feature allows players to take control of defeated enemies, utilizing their abilities, which adds depth to character interactions and progression.
- “The character design is absolutely delightful (ninja lizards! Giant one-eyed tadpole thingies! Grumpy mushrooms!) and the best thing is that after you defeat your enemies, you can control their bodies and their powers.”
- “The depth of character development is impressive, allowing players to truly connect with each character's journey and growth throughout the game.”
- “I love how the characters evolve based on the choices I make, making each playthrough feel unique and personal.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's atmosphere is generally well-received, showcasing competence and engaging elements; however, it could benefit from additional polish and balance to enhance the overall experience.
- “A competent game with a captivating atmosphere that draws you in.”
- “The atmosphere is immersive and enhances the overall experience.”
- “The game's environment is rich and detailed, creating a truly engaging atmosphere.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users praising its smooth performance and efficient resource management, while others report issues such as frame rate drops and long loading times. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary significantly across different hardware configurations.
- “The optimization in this game is outstanding, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the performance, making it accessible for a wider range of players.”
- “The game's optimization ensures that frame rates remain stable, providing a seamless experience during intense action sequences.”