Valfaris

The metal gods have opened the gates of hell and unleashed one awesome 2D action game. Are you ready for a bloody good time?

Back when I reviewed Slain: Back From Hell, I asked if you ever wanted a Castlevania game with heavy metal and a ton of gore. Slain delivered on that thoroughly and now we have the next game from Andrew Gilmour and Steel Mantis and it is just as badass, and in ways, much improved. While you can instantly tell this is a Steel Mantis game, Valfaris differs quite a bit from Slain. Lock and load your weapons of mass destruction, angel of death, it’s raining blood today.

If you like challenging games that are full of action and are dripping with atmosphere, Valfaris comes highly recommended. And if you happen to like metal music, it’s even better. Steel Mantis has struck silver with this metal-infused shooter. It isn’t perfect but it’s bloody good. That’s better than the bronze or even maybe copper it struck with Slain: Back from Hell. Maybe next time it’ll strike gold. I’m looking forward to that.

Valfaris: Mecha Therion did not relax us. This is not a relaxing game at all, but it is an enjoyable one and an easy recommendation if you’re in the market for a fun, action-heavy shooter. Blasting through waves of ships, rival mechs, and alien orbs, and making iterative progress as you master each section of the game, is a fun loop. Balancing your attack and defence can be challenging but rewarding. The only downside worth mentioning is there is almost no explanation of the previous game’s story. Therefore, it would probably be best to play them in order if you want to make sense of exactly w...

Valfaris is an excellent and challenging action platformer with a wonderfully designed combat system. The balancing of close combat, laser action, and the shared resource for shield and subweapons mean that most encounters require a careful and skilful approach. The result in a standout title that shows how far Steel Mantis have come from the flawed Slain: Back From Hell.

Valfairs is as metal as they come. It's tough, gory, and a lot of fun with an amazing soundtrack. It's just a shame it doesn't tread much new ground.

In the past, veteran heavy metal band Iron Maiden has released all manner of games, from pinball machines to their mobile game, Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast