Astalon: Tears of the Earth Image
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6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 11 Ratings

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  • Summary: Three heroic explorers wander the post-apocalyptic desert on a mission to save their village’s resources from despair. They soon find a dark, twisted tower that has risen from the depths of the planet and seemingly holds the key to their survival. In order to ensure their victory, one ofThree heroic explorers wander the post-apocalyptic desert on a mission to save their village’s resources from despair. They soon find a dark, twisted tower that has risen from the depths of the planet and seemingly holds the key to their survival. In order to ensure their victory, one of them has made a secret pact with the lord Epithemeus, allowing them to reincarnate until they have accomplished their mission. But what fate lies in store for the heroes and their village? Astalon: Tears Of The Earth is an action-platformer set in a dying world where life is cruel, but death can be a stepping stone to victory. Use the unique skills and weapons of Arias the warrior, Kyuli the archer, and Algus the wizard, to surmount the mysterious tower and find the answers to their survival. Slay terrible monsters, discover powerful artifacts, and solve fiendish puzzles, reaching new heights in the tower with the aid of a dark titan. Strengthen your party and change their fate by embracing death. Discover the countless secrets of the Tower of Serpents! Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. 80
    Astalon: Tears of the Earth is a hidden indie gem that combines Metroidvania-esque exploration with solid roguelike mechanics to create a game that is addictive, enjoyable and very compelling if you can get past the NES-style presentation.
  2. Jun 15, 2021
    80
    Astalon: Tears Of The Earth feels like a long-lost NES game that gamers would still be playing 3 decades after its initial release.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. Jun 15, 2022
    10
    I play a lot of Metroidvanias. I seem to be addicted to them. This is one that came out of nowhere for me. I really loved it. Maybe it'sI play a lot of Metroidvanias. I seem to be addicted to them. This is one that came out of nowhere for me. I really loved it. Maybe it's because I'm middle-aged now and fondly remember the NES and SNES years, but this game feels like it deserves a great deal more praise than it's been getting.

    The game is obviously a love letter to the NES days of old. Some great 8-bit soundtracks. The pixel art/graphics have lots of detail no matter where you go. The controls, thank god, are not from the NES era however; they're very purposeful. Each character you play has its own set of skills and I found myself playing each one at different times throughout the game, not because I had but because I liked their play style for different parts. (You also have to play as the different characters for different puzzles and progression.) The puzzles are fun and exploration is very rewarding. The difficulty is moderate but not rage-inducing. I got lost once. At this point, if you don't get lost at least once, can you really call it a Metroidvania?

    The story is not groundbreaking but it is memorable. The characters are fun and you always want to find out more about them. I loved the reference to Willow.
    Once you beat it you can do so again with two other characters you encountered in your first play-through.

    This game mixes the retro feel of the NES with a more modern game-play, music, and map layout, and does so with gusto.  
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