Valdis Story: Abyssal City (PC) Review

Classic ‘Metroidvania’-style gameplay with a light sprinkling of RPG elements. What’s not to like?

The idea of a Metroidvania experience is a rather odd one. It basically constitutes a game wherein all the abilities and power ups can’t be accessed from the get-go and you will not be able to get all of them at random, instead you must go in a particular order. This game mechanic works best in a traditional platformer or in some rare cases, in a FPS as the Metroid prime trilogy showed. The idea of actually earning new abilities without ‘xp’ used as an excuse is a great one, and one that we see less of now days.

Welcome then, to Valdis Story: Abyssal City, a 2D platformer that was created by Endless Fluff games. It was born from a successful Kickstarter campaign back in April of last year and created by a two person team. From this it should be evident that Valdis Story isn’t another blockbuster graphic joyride that we tend to find so much in gaming now, but rather a much more simple indie title.

The game itself has a relatively bare bones story about a boy and a girl who discover a lost city and must solve the mystery surrounding its fall. Its told through in-game dialogue and is greatly overshadowed by the gameplay.

If you plan on playing this on PC, then it would be wise to have a controller as this game requires use of the arrow keys, making it a bit troublesome to enjoy on a normal keyboard. You won’t need more buttons but it adds to the simplicity and enjoyable nature of this title. It uses an interesting mix of RPG and the aforementioned Metroidvania gameplay which makes things very interesting to say the least.

Traveling throughout the city, you will encounter a plethora of enemies that you must slay with either your sword or your magic abilities. A quick dash allows you to pass through an enemy and dodge their attack which is of great use too. Every kill you make rewards you with XP (yes, that’s in here too) which can be used to boost your health, stamina or strength. Each level you gain also allows you to unlock a new ability such as different spells or attacks. You also will spend time looting various chests throughout where you will find better gear and currency which can help upgrade your weapons. This combination of techniques and gameplay conventions makes for a varied experience where you can focus on a certain type of combat if you like.

Valdis Story also has a wonderful musical score with lots of instruments that’s a joy to listen to as you play. It’s not bland and unforgettable, which is great to see. The graphics are fast and fluid here as well. And even though we’re not talking anything cutting edge, let it not be said that Valdis Story doesn’t have beautiful hand drawn backgrounds and characters.

Final Thoughts

This is a wonderfully crafted experience and a prime example of the good side of Kickstarter. Valdis Story: The Abyssal City is definitely something we need to see more of. The great game mechanics and fulfilling combat make this a great title all by itself, which is true to the spirit of the game. The story may not be much, but the great setting helps keep it from getting too dull and there’s always something to do.

All in all, this is great work for an indie team of four and something to be enjoyed.