Astor: Blade of the Monolith is an motion RPG, developed by C2 Sport Studio and revealed by Versus Evil. When you’re searching for a considerably easy journey recreation with mild hack-n-slashing, then you definitely’re in luck. Nonetheless, if you’d like a recreation that includes a powerful story and enjoyable world constructing, possibly look elsewhere.
Let me start by saying I loved my time with Astor: Blade of the Monolith, despite the fact that it had its moments of frustration. So, let’s start with the characters and story.
You play as Astor, a Diokek, on the planet of Gliese. The whole lot is peaceable till the Hiltsik (the dangerous guys) seem and trigger mayhem. Astor should journey throughout the planet to determine what’s happening, defeat these monsters, and save everybody. It’s a typical story for an journey RPG.
Narrative is informed throughout transient reduce scenes between the mute protagonist, his pal, and different NPCs who strive serving to. Exposition can also be informed through voiceover as Astor travels from one space to the following. The voiceover explains extra of the overworld and the historical past of the planet and the ancients. Nonetheless, I used to be typically too busy determining the place I used to be going to concentrate. Additionally, if I bought too near the following half, a reduce scene would activate, thus slicing off the voiceover. So, even when I paid consideration, I wouldn’t all the time get the total story.
The reduce scenes had been typically tough to get by way of. The camerawork was gradual at finest, typically attempting to assemble the surroundings. Setting the scene is sweet when there’s one thing to have a look at. In line with the sport’s description, the participant can “discover the colourful planet of Gliese.” The colours are vibrant, sure. The precise setting? Not a lot.
Astor: Blade of the Monolith has pretty cities, however you’ll be able to solely discover a lot. The retailers aren’t precise retailers, and you may solely communicate to NPCs that can assist push you ahead within the story. The exploration doesn’t exist as a result of the sport holds your hand in the place it needs you to go subsequent. Belief me, I get pleasure from it when video games goal the course you’re alleged to go in. Nonetheless, once I tried going off the principle path, an invisible wall would typically cease me after going thus far.
With that stated, I didn’t proceed this recreation for its world constructing or story. I loved the hack-n-slash battles, even when the controls had been difficult to grasp. You assault with X. You employ A in your particular assault. B is to leap, Y is a particular runic energy you’ll ultimately unlock. To dodge, you press ZR, however to defend, you press L – not ZL, simply L. The additional alongside within the recreation, the extra controls you unlock. So, R and ZL do ultimately get used, nevertheless it didn’t really feel even for some time.
The fitting analog stick allowed you to regulate the digicam, however you could possibly solely accomplish that a lot earlier than the sport compelled it again to its unique place. This was particularly irritating throughout battles as a result of Astor would typically find yourself instantly in entrance of the digicam. So, I both couldn’t see myself or what I used to be doing and the place I used to be dealing with, or I might solely see Astor and have a troublesome time seeing the enemies in entrance of me. In any other case, the enemies in Astor: Blade of the Monolith are comparatively simple. The problem doesn’t spike an excessive amount of, which was good to a sure extent. After some time, the sport didn’t really feel difficult sufficient, thus inflicting the battles to be unexciting.
Although this recreation is an RPG, you don’t stage up. As a substitute, you’ll earn experience-like factors from defeating enemies and busting pink crystals you discover inside the world. You’ll additionally discover crystals mendacity about in every space to make use of as forex. Every new space has a dome-like hub that lets you spend this forex and factors to earn upgrades. For instance, you should purchase extra therapeutic crystals, increase your sword’s injury, unlock combo strikes, and the like.
General, the story and the world aren’t sturdy sufficient to maintain your consideration. The battles are enjoyable, however the extra you unlock and the stronger you get, the battles change into simpler. Quickly sufficient, you’ll really feel you’ve seen all the sport presents earlier than you’ve accomplished the principle story. Nonetheless, Astor: Blade of the Monolith is a enjoyable hack-n-slash motion recreation, no less than for a short while.
