Starlight Re:Volver, by Pahdo Labs, alpha test showcases the progress the developers have made over the course of the game’s development cycle. The game itself feels different from the last time I tried it at Anime NYC 2024, where it feels a lot more fleshed out and the music is a character of its own. Aside from that, in the Alpha test players got to see the various builds available in game and the ability to perform co-op. As for other elements in the game there is one minigame available and other would be the hub world where people can just relax and goof around before diving into the next dungeon. So far, from the alpha test of Starlight Re:Volver, it shows a great deal of promise when the game will be fully released to the general public.
So far in the alpha test they have a top-down perspective similar to Diablo series, with a majority of the gameplay focused on the dungeons in the game. Moreover, the dungeon has a focus on rogue-lite strategies where players will need to focus on what kind of build they will run in the dungeon. These builds can vary wildly and can often change up or hammer down how someone plays the game overall. In one instance there was one particular power up that allowed mana to be buffed and to be treated as a primary health bar. This drastically changed the way to face regular enemies and the boss of the alpha test as it became more about doing consistent damage and being highly aggressive. While, this is just one example of a particular build the variety available for both characters will make cooperation key as some skills are great for crowd control while others can focus on fighting one enemy at a time. So, the possibilities are endless for players in regards to how they want to fight enemies in the dungeon.
Other than some gameplay elements, the overall quality of the game from the character designs, are very much anime-inspired and focuses on this saturated aesthetic giving off this feeling of nostalgia. This nostalgic feeling will be especially true for those who are familiar with the anime Sailor Moon as there is one in-game sequence that is in homage to the magical girl transformation sequence. Aside from that the two playable characters during the alpha test were Effy and Kira and both had their positives and negatives with the other future playable characters in view. Effy uses a hammer primarily and focuses on melee combat primarily, with some other variations stemming from upgrades after beating certain dungeon levels. These alternate upgrades can focus on primary melee, range, and a shield that can be relied upon for more close-quarters combat.
Kira is focused on range and deals with exploiting enemies at further ranges and areas of effects. As for what she can do during the alpha test, she is mostly focused on range and crowd control for the most part. This makes her more focused on positioning, as her total HP at the start of each dungeon is quite low and offers some risks if players are too reckless. So, players will need to be careful about their positions and when to dodge accordingly as to not die too early in the run.
The alpha test so far is pretty good and allowed players the chance to experience a better version for those who played the game at Anime NYC 2024. This allowed for a pretty good multiplayer test and allowed players to start dancing together by emoting or just relaxing. As for the gameplay and characters, they felt pretty good, with the only thing feeling a little off being from dashing around the map. Other than that, the game felt pretty good roaming around the hub world, and the fishing minigame is a nice added bonus to break up the monotony of the dungeon crawling. Pahdo Labs has made a really great first impression with the alpha test for Starlight Re:Volver demonstrating for those lucky enough to participate the rare opportunity to appreciate the work they have made so far.
Starlight Re:Volver will soon be heading to PC via Steam Early Access.
Related: Reviews by Kyle Manila
I would describe myself when interacting with games as a strategist with a pension for stealth and loud explosions.
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