Chasm: A Challenging But Flawed Metroidvania Adventure
Chasm combines beautiful pixel art with Metroidvania gameplay, but stumbles with clunky combat and frustrating difficulty. While hardcore genre fans might enjoy its challenges, casual players may find its mechanics too unforgiving. A mixed bag that's best grabbed on sale. [2.5/5 waffles]
TL;DR:
After spending two hours exploring the depths of Chasm, I came away with decidedly mixed feelings about this retro-styled Metroidvania title. While it nails certain aspects of the genre and showcases some beautiful pixel art, frustrating gameplay mechanics and design choices hold it back from reaching its full potential.
The Good
Let's start with what Chasm gets right. The pixel art and animation work is absolutely gorgeous, with detailed character sprites and atmospheric background environments that really sell the dark fantasy dungeon-crawling vibe. The soundtrack also impresses, offering both a traditional orchestral score and an optional chiptune version that adds to the retro feel.
The core concept of procedurally generated dungeons within a Metroidvania framework is intriguing, even if the execution doesn't quite live up to the premise. There's a decent variety of enemies to battle and equipment to collect as you delve deeper into the mines.
The Not-So-Good
Unfortunately, several fundamental issues detract from the experience. The combat system feels clunky and unresponsive at times, with a frustrating delay between attacks that leaves you vulnerable. You have to wait for attack animations to complete before changing direction or dodging, which leads to many unavoidable hits.
The difficulty balance also feels off, even on Easy mode. Enemies hit surprisingly hard and respawn when revisiting areas, making backtracking more tedious than it needs to be. The Hard difficulty setting simply inflates enemy health and damage without adding meaningful challenge.
Save points are too sparse, and the health recovery system relies heavily on finding food items scattered throughout the levels. This creates a lot of situations where you're left limping along at low health hoping to find healing items or the next save point.
The Verdict
After two hours with Chasm, I'm giving it 2.5 out of 5 waffles. While there's potential here and some players (especially hardcore Metroidvania fans) may find plenty to enjoy, the frustrating combat mechanics and occasionally unfair difficulty spikes made it hard for me to fully recommend.
If you're interested in checking it out, the game is currently available at a steep discount on GOG. Just be prepared for some challenging gameplay that doesn't always feel fair. Despite the beautiful presentation, I likely won't be returning to explore these monster-filled mines any further.
The Good:
- Gorgeous pixel art and animation
- Atmospheric soundtrack with chiptune option
- Interesting procedural generation concept
- Solid variety of equipment and enemies
The Bad:
- Clunky, unresponsive combat
- Frustrating difficulty balance
- Sparse save points
- Tedious enemy respawning
- Limited dodge/defense options
Final Score: 2.5/5 Waffles
Who It's For:
- Hardcore Metroidvania fans
- Players who enjoy challenging combat
- Retro gaming enthusiasts
- Pixel art appreciators
Who Should Skip:
- Casual platform game players
- Those frustrated by unfair difficulty
- Players looking for smooth, responsive combat
- Anyone who dislikes backtracking
Have you played Chasm? What did you think of its blend of procedural generation and Metroidvania elements? Let me know in the comments below!
FAQ:
Q1: Is Chasm worth buying at full price?
A: No, wait for a sale. The current 80% discount on GOG makes it more palatable given its issues.
Q2: How long is the game?
A: While we only played 2 hours, most completions range from 10-15 hours depending on exploration and difficulty.
Q3: Can you adjust the difficulty mid-game?
A: No, difficulty must be selected at the start of a new game and cannot be changed.
Q4: Does the procedural generation make each playthrough unique?
A: While layouts change, the core progression and major areas remain similar between playthroughs.
Q5: Are there different character builds or playstyles?
A: The game offers various equipment and items, but the core combat mechanics remain relatively unchanged.
Q6: How does the save system work?
A: Save points are scattered throughout the map and restore health, but they're often far apart.
Q7: Is there a fast travel system?
A: Yes, there are special rooms that allow transportation between discovered fast travel points.
Q8: Does the game have multiple endings?
A: The game has a single main ending, though completion percentage can vary.
Q9: How does it run on different platforms?
A: The game runs smoothly on most systems due to its 2D nature and modest requirements.
Q10: Is there any post-game content?
A: Yes, there's an Arcade Mode and daily/weekly challenges for additional replay value.
