Tevi is a metroidvania with bullet hell and RPG components. That straightforward description belies the true nature of this side-scrolling title, which options pretty graphics, chibi characters, Japanese dialogue, a deep menu system, and a powerful fight ingredient. With a lot occurring, does it hit the mark?
There’s an extended and detailed story right here, with the titular Tevi performing as our protagonist. She’s additionally a beastskin, a species of human with animal qualities. She’s an outgoing gal who ventures into the wild to hunt legendary gadgets referred to as astral gears. These uncommon artifacts are launched by way of a cutscene set years earlier when the world was underneath assault. Unbeknownst to Tevi, others are additionally looking for these gears, triggering a race to search out all of them.
Alongside the way in which, Tevi meets many fascinating characters. These embrace all method of creatures, corresponding to demons, angels, and different beastskins. Some are extra pleasant than others; you by no means know when Tevi’s powerful persona has offended the unsuitable particular person up to now, triggering a boss battle. Different conferences are extra fortuitous, together with her biggest allies even becoming a member of her quest. These celebration members aren’t playable, as an alternative hiding inside Tevi’s spinning orbs to grant her additional energy. The orbs function Tevi’s long-range assault, though she additionally has a melee choice that’s equally helpful.
Tevi carries a lethal sword that she wields with precision. Fight is fast-paced, with button-mashing combos proving to be very satisfying. Every time you encounter an enemy, your assault is scored by a letter within the high proper. I loved the sensation of accomplishment that got here with attaining an S as typically as doable.
Enemies differ immensely. That is additionally the place the bullet-hell ingredient comes into play, with sure enemies spawning projectiles that have to be prevented. Merging bullet-hell gameplay with platforming components presents a brand new problem in case you’re used to the standard top-down fashion of the style. Avoiding bullets in a side-scrolling surroundings will be difficult, but it surely works nicely total. Fortunately, Tevi comes with six issue settings to cater for all talent ranges.
As with all metroidvania, exploration is an element and parcel of proceedings. There’s an enormous world to discover, which might get difficult. A map helps make clear issues, but it surely wasn’t essentially the most intuitive instance I’ve seen. This participant discovered herself wandering round very often, not sure of the place to go subsequent. This might be irritating for some gamers, but it surely appears typical of the style. Varied save factors and teleportation pods assist preserve issues accessible, too.
One factor that took me unexpectedly was the quantity of on-screen dialogue. For those who’re on the lookout for a text-heavy story, you’ll get pleasure from this outing. Initially, it interrupted the circulate fairly considerably. My suggestion is to keep it up, because the motion does choose up after the primary couple of hours, revealing a extra sturdy outing. It’s a disgrace the dialogue bogs issues down throughout the early a part of the sport.
Aside from exploring and combating (and speaking), there are a number of different targets to maintain you taking part in. Objects will be discovered hidden across the panorama or on the market within the city retailer. These improve your stats, permitting you to customise Tevi to a point. You can too use recipes to arrange meals, offering one other enhance to your stats. There’s rather a lot occurring within the menu, and it pays to examine again often to be sure you’re as powered up as doable.
The graphics are pretty. This side-scrolling journey options many different and colourful backdrops with a 16-bit look that’s merely charming. The background stands out whereas the foreground pops. The chibi-looking characters are additionally nicely designed, oozing persona. Apparently, these brief, cute characters are juxtaposed with taller, extra anime-esque variations of themselves throughout dialogue scenes. It creates an fascinating fashion and compliments the audio and voiceover work.
The soundtrack is equally great and a stand-out a part of this sport. Upbeat tunes and dramatic beats accompany you in your journey, including to the environment. The audio blends a synth beat with an anime vibe to assist draw you additional into the motion. The voicework—which is solely in Japanese with subtitles—is great, too.
Total, Tevi is a beautiful-looking side-scrolling metroidvania with bullet hell and RPG components. A heavy load of dialogue slows issues down initially, however there’s a deep sport hiding beneath the floor with satisfying motion and gameplay.
