There's something that remains utterly beguiling about a good Metroidvania. That slow unlocking of new abilities, the map becoming open to you in surprising ways, and the feeling of exploration all make them compelling games, many years after the original Metroid and Castlevania games first appeared on the scene. New platformer Awaken Astral Blade looks set to expand the roster of brilliant Metroidvanias like Hollow Knight, Cave Story, or Blasphemous, and you can try it out for free ahead of its launch.
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