Alwa's Legacy

Alwa's Legacy is an excellent example of how to do a proper sequel; it takes everything that the original did well and builds on it, adds in a few new ideas of its own, and corrects the issues that were previously present. It may be a little on the short side, but Alwa's Legacy is the special sort of game that only comes around once in a great while, reminding you of the kind of quality that's possible when a dedicated crew puts in the time to make a polished and tightly designed final product. The best Metroidvania on Switch? That's entirely subjective, of course, but those of you who enjoy the genre owe it to yourselves to give this a try.

Alwa’s Legacy feels like a proper step up from the original title, still maintaining that excellent metroidvania level design and encouraging players who can think outside the box to sequence break and play at their own pace. While I do feel the chaptered format of this game is a bit odd, and how the game can seem a bit too familiar to the original at points, this is still a must-have Metroidvania, and feels like a true refinement of everything that made Awakening so spectacular.

Alwa’s Legacy is a classic metroidvania with original elements and solid gameplay. It offers a well-crafted experience for fans of exploration and backtracking.

Short but sweet, Alwa’s Legacy is a must for both retro fans and fans of quality, exciting Metroidvanias. The visuals tout some of the best pixel art on Switch and are joined with a killer soundtrack and sound design. With clever dungeons to explore and an intricate overworld to travel, Alwa’s Legacy will have players ensnared from the beginning to end. Having played Alwa’s Awakening adds some extra nuance to the adventure, but starting fresh with Alwa’s Legacy won’t leave players in a lurch, as it does plenty to solidify this as its own distinct game. Don’t sleep on this one; Elden Pixels has created a 2D platformer for the ages.

Alwa's Legacy may seem like more of the same, but several aspects of its design help it to stand out among its peers. Unfortunately, the manner in which it’s distinct is not always a good thing.

Would I recommend Alwa’s Legacy? Yes, a hundred times over, yes. It is fun from the very beginning to end, and invites you to explore the contents of its world without hand-holding or a curfew to pull you down.

Alwa’s Legacy is a lovely little metroidvania game well worth sinking time into. The developers clearly took lots of time crafting this world, making the enemy encounters and puzzles count. They made a game that feels wholesome and Zoe is a memorable character. Colourful, charming and a delight to play this is not a gem to let slip away whether your old or young.

Whether or not you fancy yourself a platformer aficionado, Alwa's Legacy should be on your playlist. It combines retro graphics with modern precision to create a wonderfully engaging experience that strikes a fun balance between platforming and puzzle solving.

Alwa's Legacy is a love letter to the Metroidvania genre and 16-bit gaming in general. It's said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. In that case, Igarashi will be blushing. It doesn't always make for a good game, though. Alwa's Legacy is an enjoyable and pretty adventure that's too formulaic to be truly memorable.

While not incredibly long, Alwa’s Legacy feels polished and complete, featuring quality dungeon design and a clever cast of characters.