Alwa's Awakening

Nintendo World ReportJordan Rudek

8/10

The boss fights range from pretty easy to dozen-death difficult, but the real joy is in thoroughly exploring the map, seeing heights you can’t reach and doors you can’t open and then returning later with newfound powers that enable you to continue your adventure. Alwa’s Awakening is a great investment for those who grew up with old-school Castlevania games or those who prefer Zelda II to The Legend of Zelda. It’s not fast-paced or action-packed, but it has plenty of nostalgia and is well-suited to those who prefer jumping to shooting, spell-casting to sword-swinging. Well, how can I fo…

Video ChumsTyler Hall

7.3/10

Grab your magic staff and set out to save the world in Elden Pixels' Metroidvania puzzle-platformer.

Game SkinnyAngelina Bonilla

7/10

Alwa’s Awakening is an interesting homage to a classic game that manages to stand out -- but not by much.

TechRaptorChristian Mincks

7/10

Alwa's Awakening makes a number of questionable choices with its slow gameplay mechanics, but the core experience provides fun and challenging platforming and magic abilities.

Rock Paper ShotgunJohn Walker

Unscored

The result is a really splendid example of the form, with enough original ideas of its own within the standard to make it interesting. It's a good, solid game, that's occasionally extremely tough, but always fair. The pixel art is lovely, and although the backgrounds are a little bland, animations go a good way to make up for that. Lovers of chiptunes will delight in its soundtrack, authentic to the 8-bit era, and well composed. It's the sort of game that deserves to stand out, not get lost in the mix.