Afterimage Preview

I always look forward to Next Fest events that Steam puts on, letting gamers check out tons of great demos for games awaiting release. There are loads of great titles, but every once in a while one feels extra special, like it is sure to be a hit. That is how I felt when I got the opportunity to play Afterimage, developed by Chinese studio Aurogon Shanghai and produced by Modus. This indie game is not only a 2D platformer, but it’s also a role-playing game, and a Metroidvania.

Welcome to the beautiful world of Engardin, created by a supreme deity, this mystical world is full of natural wonders like canyons, massive volcanoes, expansive seas, and a tower that is so tall it touches the clouds. You take on the role of Renee, a beautiful long-haired warrior armed with a sword. The god Aros has granted her the Gift of the Gods, which allows her and her sprite companion, Ifree, to survive this broken world together. Basically, you can repeatedly keep coming back to life, death is not permanent. The story takes place years after a cataclysmic event referred to as “The Razing” which nearly wiped out all of human civilisation. 

Renee awakens in the ruins of the capital city with no recollection of the preceding events. Dangerous monsters have been appearing right outside of the village, and as you go to inform Madame — the Leader of the Village — her soul is kidnapped and put into a crystal right in front of Renee by a mysterious cloaked figure. She sets off on a journey to retrieve her mentor which will determine the fate of this human race in the new world. 

On your adventure, you will meet fantastical creatures like dinosaurs that look like they were bred with a bunch of grapes, massive beasts like fire wolves that you will do battle with, and angry spirits called Wanderers — who have to be defeated to set their souls free. Normally when people pass away their essence is taken to the soul steam, where it awaits a new body to inhabit. Something has happened and this process has been disrupted, causing these Wanderers to appear. They go after corpses that you missed picking and cleaning up after. Taking on the form of glowing ghost knights armed with either bows or large swords, you quickly learn that dodging is just as important as attacking is. The enemies won’t hold back, and if you are in the way, you are in trouble.

Afterimage is a beautiful game featuring a fantasy world that is full of life. Green meadows with lilies blooming everywhere and a bright blue sky with fluffy clouds, Engardin is full of unknown secrets to discover as you explore this vibrant world. Each area you visit has its own story to learn and reveal as you find out how each section connects to the rest of this world and learn the hidden truth of Engardin. The soundtrack in Afterimage feels sad and full of melancholy, reminiscent of games like Hollow Knight, which feels polarising compared to the bright and colourful world of Engardin. 

The sound effects accompanying the music are great, each enemy you come across makes their own little sounds like the flower pot with eyes and moss on top, they make silly mumbling sounds when they are walking around then get excited and chase after you when you get close. The Wanderers drag their sword on the ground as they walk around, you can hear the sound of the metal scraping on stone. Touches like these make this fantasy world come to life, it is fun hearing an enemy before you can see it so you know what is coming after you next!

Save Point trees update your map with the new areas you have discovered, replenish your health, and save your progress. If you have to do some grinding to improve your level, select a location near one of these trees. It is nice being able to save your progress and fill your health gauge without wasting one of your potions. Every time Renee gains a level, you will get an Afterimage Point that you can spend on her Skill Tree (which looks more like a web) to make her stronger, increase the amount of HP she has, or learn new abilities. These can also be found in hidden chests if you search secret areas. When you level up, your health gauge is replenished, which is great if you are grinding for levels and have wandered far away from a save point. 

There are so many other things I could talk about, but this is just a preview so I’ll wrap it up here. Afterimage is easily one of the best Metroidvania-type titles that I have played in recent memory. It looks and sounds amazing, has a great story, and features a variety of vibrant enemies and creatures to interact with. Engardin is a world that anyone who enjoys 2D adventure-platformer titles needs to experience. I can’t wait until the game releases on the 25th of April 2023 to play more of this title, and I highly recommend checking it out for yourself!