Batbarian: Testament of the Primordials

Batbarian has been saved by the new mechanism of using the bat in the gameplay, so it can be recommended for those who are interested in Metroidvania games.

Batbarian: Testament of the Primordials is what I might call shallow metroidvania. It doesn't take advantage of everything the genre has to offer, but presents enough to have what a game needs: fun and challenge. It would hardly be on my best-of-the-genre list, but the humor and the soundtrack will have a place in my memory and may prompt me to play it one more time.

Batbarian has you play as a barbarian who's friends with a bat and that's pretty cool. Not only that; its gameplay strikes a perfect balance between combat and puzzles to make a supremely rewarding formula and it's quite funny to boot.

Batbarian: Testament of the Primordials is everything you'd expect from a good metroidvania and has a rich world to explore, great text and beautiful audiovisual compositions. If some aspects of the gameplay seem to need a little more polishing, the overall experience is challenging and thought-provoking, and a warrior's relationship with a bat, if it once seemed unlikely, now makes perfect sense.

With an in-your-face title and wacky cover art, Batbarian: Testament of the Primordials was initially not my cup of tea, but that’s me judging a book by its cover. Nevertheless, Batbarian manages to excel in multiple gameplay elements with beautiful artwork, ambient soundtrack, witty story, inventive puzzles, and evolving combat mechanics. Along with its refreshing arsenal of accessibility options and dozens of hours of gameplay, Batbarian is a hidden gem that Metroidvania and puzzle lovers will fall in love with right off the bat (no pun intended).

‎A game that is clearly not perfect, but if very fun and I think that's what counts. I recommend it without problems.‎

Batbarian: Testament of the Primordials is a very solid Metroidvania game. While the story isn't anything special, the humor in the writing is good enough to keep you paying attention to the cut scenes.

Overall, Batbarian: Testament of the Primordials is a simple game, but a very good one. I heartily recommend it to anyone who’s willing to put up with a bit of trial-and-error.

Batbarian wades into the Metroidvania genre with enjoyable exploration, tricky and inventive puzzle mechanics, and an array of impressive accessibility options. A more helpful map that included signposting would make this a real Metroidvania highlight, but it still comes highly recommended for fans of the genre.

The level of challenge won’t be to everyone’s liking, but for those who do like this sort of thing, then Batbarian is a game that will give the player a run for their money. It’s hard, but never unfair, and it lures the player onward with an interesting plot and retro graphics. This one stands as an example of what a good indie developer can do with a classic game genre, breathing life into it and making it their own.