ASTLIBRA Revision

Astlibra Revision is an outstanding game, and one I didn’t even see coming. It takes a little time to get going, but once it does this is a genuine ride that you won’t want to get off of. You can sometimes feel the game’s patchwork nature at times, but that doesn’t do much to hurt what is otherwise an amazingly fun experience. If you like action-RPGs or just are in the mood for a bonkers story, you have to play Astlibra Revision.

Ultimately ASTLIBRA Revision is a resounding success. KEIZO should be incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved after 15 years of work, designing such intricate gameplay systems and plotting an engaging narrative that rivals the work done by large teams with big budgets behind them. If you can look past the somewhat amateurish presentation there is a glittering diamond in the rough here, one that transcends its humble freeware beginnings into one of the best gaming experiences I’ve had all year.

Astlibra Revision is a modern classic with a perfect balance between action and role-playing elements. There's some areas where you can clearly see that this is the work of a single person, but when you put everything on the scales, the ups weigh way more than the downs. If you miss the style and form of the old, classic JRPGs, this is a must have.

Astlibra Revision is the antithesis of hurried development cycles and design by committee. Instead, fifteen years of indie effort has produced an action-platformer where stats are just as important as the timing of your sword (or staff) swings. Extending a fantasy world that feels familiar but also invites discovery, it’s a confident title that ranks among the very best adventures found on the Switch.

As far as action RPGs go, Astlibra Revision is one of the most surprising I’ve played in quite some time. Outside of the occasional gap where neither the story nor gameplay seem to be progressing, it engages (and challenges) the player in multiple unique ways throughout its somewhat lengthy duration.

Astlibra Revision asks a lot from players upfront. It’s very much built for those who like grindy games, and it’s unpolished in ways that you’d expect from a title created by one person. But if you can enjoy what the game puts on the table, you’ll find an engaging combat system and a captivating, if not occasionally bizarre story. It’s an acquired taste for sure, but for those with the right palate, Astlibra is a one-of-a-kind experience.