With Summer quickly approaching, a lot of us are going to be looking for new titles to sink our hours into. Indie developers will be cranking out banger after banger to keep to take full advantage of the increase in seasonal demand. Developer Aurogon Shanghai is no different. 100% fully funded by Kickstarter, Afterimage made its debut a week ago on Steam as a free playable demo. This side-scrolling action platform has charmed the masses and now, after so much love and effort has been poured into it, we’re able to take a glance at the work of art that is Afterimage.
Story
As you traverse through the ruined world of Engardin, you will guide Renee through expansive levels, platform across vertical landscapes, and level up by crushing the corrupted foes that stand between Renee and her lost memories. During her journey, you will meet several curious and unique creatures offering to help you throughout your mission. Some, however, may not be so kind. As you solve various puzzles, unlock new pathways through interconnected environments, and strengthen your arms through upgrades, you will slowly uncover the mysteries of this tragic realm.
Gameplay & Mechanics
Afterimage draws inspiration from a collection of popular action platformers like Hollow Knight and Celeste. Renee must be quick on her feet as you utilize your controls to strike with Blade and Sorcery. Attacks stunlock smaller enemies, allowing you to unleash powerful chain-attacks to convert their corrupted forms into currency used to upgrade your stats and abilities. Utilizing Renee’s skill tree, you will be able to plan your ascension to power as you gain experience to unlock new spells, weapon attacks, and stat boosts.
You’ll need more than combat prowess to survive the many paths of Engardin, however. Developer Aurogon Shanghai has left plenty of traps, puzzles, and hazards for Renee to jump through, avoid, and air dash her way around. Afterimage’s smooth controls will be an asset through Renee’s journey. Precision is key, after all.
Aesthetics & Sound
Completely hand-drawn, Afterimage boasts an incredibly vivid style. Throughout Renee’s travels, you will discover a variety of unique venues, each with its own style; its own soul. Animations are smooth as you leap through deep corridors and are transported to new worlds full of new challenges to conquer. I lost myself in how gorgeous the landscapes were. You know it’s impressive if you catch yourself constantly thinking “Damn, that’s pretty.”
The sound work flows seamlessly into Engardin’s world design. Developer Aurogon Shanghai takes a Less is More approach. Soft melodies, quiet hymns, and an unsettlingly calm ambiance surrounds Renee as she fights for her life and memories.
Summary
I truly enjoyed my time with Afterimage. It was a fun and engaging experience even as a demo. I really hope Aurogon Shanghai expands more on the skill tree and adds some depth to the many different collectables harvested by defeated foes. I’d love the idea of being able to use these drops to further enhance my weapons, skills, and abilities. I’ll be watching Afterimage very closely as it moves through the final stages of development and I hope you do as well.
Afterimage is coming Winter 2022 to Windows PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The playable demo is now available on Steam.
As the (self-proclaimed) King of Casuals, I'm always seeking out new titles to play and experience across all platforms. Eventually, I have ambitions to take the many different styles of this medium to create titles that will wow the masses in fresh, innovative ways.
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