Recent reviews by Beltsi

Axiom Verge is just what the doctor ordered; Fun, meaty scifi metroidvania. Gameplay is responsive and smooth and there are a lot of guns in the game. None of the guns are mandatory for different bosses etc. so instead of giving you new guns that makes the old ones obsolete as you progress, it gives you a lot of options to find your own playstyle.

In the vein of old classics like Super Metroid, you explore a big map divided into several pieces. The game doesn't always tell you explicitly where to go so you're gonna have to do some exploring which is rewarding because you find different upgrades all over the maps.

Driving the events of the game is a fascinating scifi story that takes some twists and turns just when you thought that you figured it all out. It left me wanting for more of this universe and it's characters.

Music is very on point with 8-bit melodies mixed with cavernous, reverby bass drums with a little bit of glitch sounds sprinkled in to create a suitable, catchy alien aural landscape.

The visuals pay homage to the games of old with 8-bit looking -yet- high resolution sprites. The bosses especially look impressive. Whereas Super Metroid took Samus to some really claustrophobic places, Axiom Verge's visuals have a more monolithic quality to them with big, cavernous rooms with giant ancient structures hanging around in the background. Combined with some of the more ambient tracks of the game, it makes for a very effective atmosphere.

Thomas Happ has created a game that feels nostalgic yet modern and new, dressed it up with great level design and pacing, making it one of the best games of it's genre.

Highly recommended.