I’ll admit, I never played Alwa’s Awakening, and in retrospect, that was a mistake on my part. Now I’ve found out just how much of a mistake I made with the release of Alwa’s Legacy on the PS4 from developer and publisher Elden Pixels. Judging by Alwa’s Legacy, the first game is not to be missed!
Alwa’s Legacy, as you might surmise from the above paragraph, is a sequel to Alwa’s Legacy. After saving the land of Alwa, Zoe finds herself lost and confused, unable to remember what has happened and you must, well, save the land of Alwa again! It’s a fun and clever little segue into what is essentially a full modernization of the Alwa’s Awakening. If you haven’t played the first game, there are more than a few references that may be a bit confusing (they were for me) but by and large it’s pretty clear what’s going on and that Zoe has been through it all before in some way or another.
This isn’t just a remix of the original game though. Alwa’s Awakening was an 8-bit masterpiece with gorgeous vintage art and Alwa’s Legacy takes that a step further, modernizing the artwork and backgrounds to lush, gorgeous visuals. This is like a 16 bit game on steroids and it looks very, very good. But it’s not just a gussied up version of the older title either.
Alwa’s Legacy is, first and foremost, a Metroidvania-style platformer. And the platforming and puzzle solving definitely takes a front seat here. Hitboxes are well-integrated, platform elements are pixel-perfect, and the entire game reeks of precision design and careful attention to detail. You can move right over the edge of a particularly challenging jump in true vintage Mega Man fashion and then use your bubble jump to cross a chasm that you really probably shouldn’t be able to. You can also hit enemies in midair as you’re coming down to land on a tiny platform, stunning them then quickly hopping over and destroying them from behind. It’s rare that a platformer has controls quite as precise and intuitive as Alwa’s Legacy, but this is one title that really manages to pull off a tight, well-designed control scheme!
That’s not all that’s going on under the hood though! This is also a Metroidvania, and as such, there are some challenging puzzles and levels to overcome if Zoe is to succeed in saving Alwa again. Whole dungeons are darkened until you find a hidden amulet, finding special magical drops gives you the ability to create blocks, floating bubble platforms, and fireballs, and everything can be upgraded as you gather a variety of items hidden throughout the land of Alwa. The more you find, the more you can do, and a fair bit of the game is optional, allowing you to progress at your own pace and find what you want to find, either the bare minimum or searching every nook and cranny in the game. There’s no urging you to find the numerous hidden items, but unlike other games, it’s a fun diversion here due to the challenge involved.
And challenge abounds in Alwa’s Legacy. This is not an easy breezy game. The precise platforming, interlinked puzzles, and odd enemies foil you at every turn and if your death count (Alwa’s Legacy tracks the number of times you die and shames you repeatedly) isn’t into the hundreds, you’re a better player than I am. There are some interesting bosses strewn about Alwa’s as well, lurking in the deepest corners of the game when you finally make it that far and they’re excellent of course. Their patterns aren’t the easiest to intuit before you die a heinous death, but it can be done and dragons, knights, and monsters await you, ripe for the slaying.
The soundtrack for Alwa’s Legacy is quite good too. It has that vintage platformer / exploration feel to it without feeling too repetitive or short, and each area has unique sound design that complements the absolutely excellent visuals. There’s plenty of time to enjoy the excellent pixel design work here with those speakers turned up and the overall effect is a surprisingly high level of immersion.
Alwa’s Legacy checks all the boxes for pretty much any retro gamer. Challenge? Check. Great graphics? Check. Solid soundtrack? Check. Good script? Check. Outstanding and responsive controls? Check. A ridiculously massive map chock full of secrets? Check. To be honest, there’s really not a negative thing I can say about Alwa’s Legacy, other than that I regret not playing it sooner! This is the kind of game that us old-school gamers are always looking for and playing it is pure satisfaction. The simple fact of the matter is that for $18, you’re getting one of the most polished, fun retro experiences out there. There’s a ton of bang for your buck here and a whole lot of charm too! If you haven’t played Alwa’s Legacy and this is the kind of gaming you like, you’re just missing out. And while you’re at it, go back and play Alwa’s Awakening too! I know I will be!
This review was based on a digital copy of Alwa’s Legacy provided by the publisher. It was played on a Playstation 4 Pro using a Sony 55” 1080p TV. Alwa’s Legacy is also available on Switch, Xbox One, and PC on Steam.