Steam Next Fest, a haven for gamers to explore new and promising games, can be pretty overwhelming when it comes to choosing what games to explore and invest time in. Among the horde of titles fighting for attention, one game stood out, narrowly escaping dismissal - Noreya: The Gold Project. It's a two-dimensional pixel art platformer game from the developer Dreamirl, painting a picture of immense potential with a promise of captivating gameplay.
Drawing a lot of parallels with the popular game Hollow Knight, Noreya: The Gold Project showcases layered backgrounds and intricate platforming. The player character features simple, directional sword swipes and pogo hopping, similar to the well-loved Metroidvania game. Advertised as a compact version of Metroidvania, the game promises a well-rounded game experience in a much smaller time frame. The early access version, scheduled for next month, should hold players' attention for about five to six hours, with the full version aiming for a solid ten hours of gameplay.
While the game's demo did exhibit certain technical faults like frame hitching during jumps and screen shake effects when swinging the sword, these minor hiccups don't overshadow the game's potential. If these visual disruptions are resolved, this game promises to deliver an impressive, compact Metroidvania experience. The impressive platforming and visually enchanting levels give the game a unique charm. One of its most interesting features is the skill tree, where players can upgrade their abilities and unlock new ones, adding depth to the gameplay and allowing for a lot of strategic possibilities.
A standout feature is the allegiance system coordinating with the skill upgrades. The system introduces two unique persistent worlds tied to the gods of "Path of Gold" and "Path of Light". This intricate feature adds not only a visual variety but also substantially contributes towards the world-building aspect of the game, making it even more absorbing and immersive.
The graphics settings of Noreya: The Gold Project are another massive plus, where players can fully engage with how they want their gaming experience to look. The game also offers a breadth of enemy variety, demanding strategic thinking and a keen understanding of the game's combat style.
Noreya: The Gold Project makes a powerful impression with its distinct visual aesthetics and simple yet profound controls. For those who appreciate short, compact Metroidvania games, this might be a promising new prospect. Its early access journey will be one to keep an eye on. With the right fine-tuning and improvements, Noreya holds the potential to be a well-reviewed and popular choice among platformer games. The game is not just another addition in the Metroidvania genre, but it brings new elements to the table, giving gamers a fresh yet familiar experience.
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