Fans of Hollow Knight and Mass Effect Shouldn’t Miss Altered Alma

Fans of Hollow Knight and Mass Effect Shouldn't Miss Altered Alma

As a seasoned gamer with a penchant for cyberpunk aesthetics and a soft spot for the Metroidvania genre, I find myself utterly captivated by the intriguing prospect of 2Awesome Studios’ upcoming title, Altered Alma. The game’s unique blend of influences, from Hollow Knight to Mass Effect, promises a refreshingly innovative experience that is hard to resist.


The resurgence of the Metroidvania genre, spurred on by the achievement of games like Hollow Knight, has seen numerous new creators entering the fray to offer their distinctive perspectives on this classic formula. One such game is Altered Alma, developed by 2Awesome Studios, which recently initiated a crowdfunding campaign through Kickstarter and swiftly achieved its initial funding target in an impressive 6 hours. To coincide with the launch of the Kickstarter campaign, 2Awesome also released a public demo for Altered Alma. Based on this brief taste of gameplay, it’s clear that the eclectic mix of influences within and beyond the Metroidvania genre are harmoniously blending to create a compelling concoction in Altered Alma.

The Kickstarter page for the game, called “Altered Alma,” mentions that its gameplay is inspired by a mix of popular titles such as “Hollow Knight” and “Mass Effect.” It also draws obvious stylistic influences from classic cyberpunk works like Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner” and Luc Besson’s “The Fifth Element.” Set in the vibrant, futuristic cityscape of Neo Barcelona, “Altered Alma” stands out with its eye-catching visuals, a style reinforced by its striking pixel art reminiscent of “Blasphemous.” With its polished presentation and deep understanding of the Metroidvania genre, “Altered Alma” is a game that fans of this genre should definitely watch for.

Altered Alma’s Quantum Blade Transforms Its Combat and Platforming

The main highlight in the battle system of ‘Altered Alma’ revolves around the Quantum Blade, a unique blend of weapon and mobility device that allows Jack to teleport across the screen and deliver striking finishes on enemies. Prior to obtaining the Quantum Blade, players will be introduced to the fundamental aspects of melee combat in ‘Altered Alma’, which incorporates an enjoyable parry system with a generous window for error. Once they possess the Quantum Blade, it becomes clear that ‘Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown’ has significantly impacted ‘Altered Alma’, as the game’s platforming obstacles promptly test the versatility of the Quantum Blade in various engaging scenarios.

Absolutely, it’s hardly surprising that a contemporary Metroidvania game would incorporate something similar to the character customization and build craft found in Hollow Knight, and Altered Alma does just that with its Mod system. This system mirrors Hollow Knight’s Charms by allowing players to equip these Mods, which function as expected. The demo for Altered Alma offers only a few Mods for discovery, but they significantly enhance Jack’s skillset, enabling powerful area-of-effect attacks or adding fire damage to evasive slide moves for strategic maneuvers.

Altered Alma’s Story and Setting Do the Heavy Lifting to Support its Mass Effect Elements

In essence, Altered Alma demonstrates potential in delivering the seamless blend of combat and platforming that characterizes top-tier Metroidvanias. However, what truly sets it apart is its Mass Effect-inspired relationship management and side quests, which add depth to its intriguing world and characters. The narrative follows protagonist Jack, who must gather a diverse team for her crew by recruiting various characters, each with unique demands that can be met and dialogue paths to navigate. As Jack interacts more with her crew members and completes tasks for them, their bonds deepen, potentially leading to romantic relationships if the player so chooses.

In the futuristic, retro-inspired cityscape of Neo Barcelona, the game’s ambiance echoes that of Mass Effect, drawing heavily on BioWare’s RPG series and the 1982 film Blade Runner, along with other sci-fi from the ’70s and ’80s. It could be argued that Neo Barcelona, with its intricately designed environments, serves as a character in itself within Altered Alma, subtly or overtly revealing aspects of the game’s world and its people. The setting acts as the backbone, binding together all other elements in the game, elevating Altered Alma to the forefront of Metroidvania titles boasting high potential.

Altered Alma is currently in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.

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2024-09-11 13:34