Voidwrought Review

I love Metroidvania games, and I just finished AWAKEN: Astral Blade and NineSols a while back. As someone who thoroughly enjoyed Blasphemous, I couldn't wait to play Powersnake's Voidwrought because of its Souls-like nature. The concept of the game intrigued me: you play as a simulacrum, brought into the world by some kind of mystical Red Star, and you must collect ichor - the blood of ancient gods.

Ever since I can remember, I have loved dark and atmospheric games, especially those that evoke hauntingly rich worlds akin to Dark Souls and Bloodborne, which are arguably my two favorite games of all time. So, I was all in when I heard about Voidwrought's cosmic horror elements. But how does it go up against other games of the genre? Does it have an ever-lasting impression, or does it get lost in the mix? Let's discuss it in the review.

Voidwrought encapsulates you in a journey of the dying ruins of the First Civilization – an ancient and desolate that mixed mythology, horror, and lost history. In Voidwrought, you'll go to creepy places like The Old Waters' icy, dark tunnels and meet scary creatures in the biomechanical remains of the expedition that was never finished.

Each of these biomes feels like they have its own story to tell, which makes you think about it fast. They are full of eerie details and strange events that add to the otherworldly in-game feel reminiscent of ancient Egyptian civilization.

One thing that becomes instantly clear with Voidwrought is just how deeply complex its gameplay is; this one wears its inspiration proudly on its sleeve-and that is not a bad thing. By design, at its very center, Voidwrought is a Metroidvania, so exploration, platforming, and fighting are central to the game. Controls are buttery smooth in Voidwrought, responsive, and small team Powersnake has obviously worked hard to make sure that your movements-be it jumping, dodging, or attacking- are satisfyingly precise.

If you enjoy a challenge, particularly platforming, you'll enjoy Voidwrought. Voidwrought has a variety of platforming challenges, from spike pits to moving obstacles and intricate jumps that require timing and skill, which I have thoroughly enjoyed. Hidden paths and secret rooms are also numerous; rewarding players for their curiosity and discovering every nook and cranny is essential for immersing yourself in the world and the plot.

Combat is the central component of Voidwrought, and it doesn't hold back. The action is fast and intense, requiring a combination of strategy and timing. In Voidwrought, you will encounter various types of enemies, each having an attack pattern and weaknesses that will make them different from others.

However, what keeps the game interesting is its Relic and Souls system. There are over 30 Relics in the world, each with its unique buff or ability ranging from spectral weapons that give you a hand in combat to buffs that rack up your defense, speed, or health regeneration.

This system gives you extensive customization, tailoring your playstyle to whatever the challenge is. Whether you like to play defensively or offensively, there's sure to be some combination of relics that suit your way of playing. A neat feature in Voidwrought: the game lets you keep track of some collectibles that are out of reach; during play, you can set map icons yourself to keep tabs on such items.

This sets you back a bit in terms of paying attention, but that's a good middle ground that keeps you on track. The abilities you gain as you progress – such as a charge attack or a dash to clear large gaps – are intuitive and work well both in combat and exploration. The development team nailed the feel of these mechanics.

The home base, where you build a shrine, is another nice component of the game. You can use key items and materials to dig new paths and get rewards. Even though this feature isn't very big, it gives you a sense of progression. It also makes traveling in the game much easier.

The boss fights in Voidwrought aren't just battles; they're epic confrontations. Bosses in the game represent ancient gods and powerful beings linked to the Deor you seek; each boss features a distinct attack style that forces you to change your strategy.

Boss fights take a lot of skill, observation, and patience. The bosses are tailored to your understanding of the game mechanics: you're forced to learn attack patterns and adjust moves in real-time. Every move counts, and every fight requires strategic thinking using your head and understanding the game's mechanics.

In order to the basic attacks you get in Voidwrought, you also get two slots for equipping equipment, and you can recharge them by dealing damage to the enemies. Another part of Voidwrought that I feel that many of the fans of the Metroidvania genre will appreciate is the exploration.

The map is huge, and practically, you can go anywhere you want, provided that it fits your skills, as in Dark Souls. The game covers a huge area with plenty of hidden passages, so do not be surprised if the door suddenly closes behind your back and you are going to have to fight off serious enemies. Once you get through the waves, more often than not, you will be rewarded.

In Voidwrought, you will be collecting Souls. Tied to into the narrative are the deceased ancestors from the past, and their souls can offer you certain abilities. These passives come with the usual perks like a health boost, but there are some that stand out and are a bit trickier to acquire, such as the Assassin relic.

You get a cool invulnerability while dodge rolling, but it definitely comes at a steep cost; you can find it in the shop. Scattered throughout the world, you'll also find things like iron ore, and there are even some rare items that can only be attained by exploring off the beaten or taking down a tough boss.

Voidwrought is moderately challenging; regular enemies are not very powerful, and you can often try to force your way through them. Boss fights are similarly formulaic in layout, but a few of them do require more attention to their pattern of attacks.

These are memorable fights not necessarily due to their difficulty, but for a mix of their structured design and unique environments. Later bosses definitely felt easier than those in the earlier game-whether it's because of increased familiarity with the mechanics of the game or just the simple power of your gear. It's not entirely certain, but it does leave a little untapped potential.

I loved the variety of the enemies you get in Voidwrought. They come thick and fast, each with a different approach required to take them down. It's nice that they show their name up in the corner, too.

Of course, like other games, Voidwrought has flaws; players did report bugs like glitching audio from time to time and a weird difficulty curve at unexpected junctures. The lack of a full tutorial may feel frustrating for those new to the genre, but some players may find the challenge a part of the thrill.

Visually, the settings look absolutely beautiful. The backgrounds and parallax scrolling are what make it stand out to me. They surely have a lot to work with, including the Egyptian themes and the past mechanical civilization.

But there is also a lot of empty space on the outside. It means you're jumping from one bright color to another, and you shift between them all the time. You'll never get bored with what you see. It might have been nice to see a little more movement in the main character.

Voidwrought's design now, from the eerie and atmospheric music that breaks into really intense and heart-pounding as soon as fights start, further adding to the horror theme of the game. Still, echoes of footsteps or howling creatures from very far away give it an unsettling, almost palpable sense of presence, and I'd recommend headphones to fully immerse yourself and enjoy it to the fullest.

As it stands, this is a solid entry for fans of the genre, especially those who enjoy games with a dark atmosphere and some Souls-like twists. It's a title that players looking for a combination of old and new will enjoy immensely, set within its cosmic horror setting, complex level design, precision platforming, and combat.

The environmental eeriness and the thrill of discovery that came with navigating it did make it hard to look away from the game. While the boss battles are indeed unique, diverse, and quite fun, perhaps the game could have stuck more consistently to being tough to make things exciting.

If you have enjoyed such games as Hollow Knight and Blasphemous in the past or haven't ever tried them, I think Voidwrought is worth your time. The luscious, eerie world is brimming with depth for $19.99. Players of the genre will find this one to be a great addition to their collection. Voidwrought is a must-play if you love atmospheric platforming, ancient souls-like mystery solving, and intense boss fights.