Game: Faerie Afterlight
Genre: Platformer, Adventure, Puzzle, Metroidvania
System: Steam (Windows)
Developer| Publisher: Clay Game Studio | Mastiff
Controller Support: Yes
Price: UK £14.99 | US $15.99 | € 13,59
Release Date: 28th September 2023
Review code used with many thanks to Mastiff
Introduction
A first major release title from Clay Game Studio, an Indonesian game development studio, Faerie Afterlight takes inspiration from titles such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for the exploration elements. Additionally, the title is inspired by rich Indonesian folk art and philosophy.
Story
A once prosperous land called Lumina written in legend, the light has been seized by Kradyrev, an entity of pure darkness, succumbing Lumina into darkness and despair. The source of the light, the Lucentia, which granted the power to life was separated into six light-shard fragments.
These fragments are defended by corrupted titans, which appease Kradyrev’s will. You play as Kimo, who is unsure of what he is, so he is on a journey of discovery. He is met by a white fairy called Wispy, and they form the unlikely duo of ridding the world of darkness and restoring the light.
Gameplay
The basic gameplay is of a standard 2D platformer, with jumping and attacking enemies. However, in Faerie Afterlight, the player mainly controls Kimo, but there are situations in which you control Wispy simultaneously. Wispy is used in many scenarios for puzzles as she can control terrain and enemies.
Initially, I was playing the title using the standard keyboard controls. However, I felt with the simultaneous character controller this was quite difficult, so I reverted to using a standard controller for gameplay. During the adventure, not only do Kimo’s abilities improve, but so does Wispy’s skillset.
Art and Sound
You see a blend of intricate Indonesian-inspired architecture with hand-painted environments. This makes the locations within Faerie Afterlight truly mesmerizing to look at. All the characters and enemies are expressive in their art style and highlight what a wonderful presentation style this game is within. The art style lends itself to platforming and puzzles with the use of symbols, which can then highlight the use of Wispy’s powers.
The music fills the world with a sombre ambience, which is to be expected should the light be taken away. Overall, I enjoyed the music as it wasn’t too overpowering in what tone the game wanted the player to experience.
Conclusion
Overall, the title is not long, but if you crave some Metroidvania platforming, Faerie Afterlight is a title I can truly recommend. Especially if you enjoy titles with gorgeous art styles like Child of Light or gameplay like Ori and the Blind Forest. Even better, there is a demo available if you want to try it before you buy.
Final Verdict: I Like it a Lot
