Developer: Metamorphosis Games Publisher: Fireshine Games Release: 07/16/24 Genre: Action-Adventure Also on: Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One
Next to cyberpunk steampunk is one of my favorite settings. And just like cyberpunk it has hardly been explored up until recently. Steampunk has mostly been the province of the occasional shooter and RPGs until now. It is good to see creators finally start to branch out and explore this setting more in depth. Gestalt: Steam and Cinder uses its setting and world to stand out in the Metroidvania crowd and wows with its gorgeous pixel art and in depth story. Although it is good it feels like the first part of a much larger story and suffers slightly for it.
Long ago a door to the Abyss was opened and a race of demons nearly wiped out humanity. In order to combat this threat mankind crafts armors from the power of the Abyss. And while those that wore the armor were able to beat back the threat the power of their suits would drive them mad. These Akkhaians, led by the betrayer fought humanity until one of their number held on long enough to drive them in to the wastelands. A city was built out of the rubble; dubbed Canaan it is the last bastion of society. But the Akkhaians still lurk in the shadows and swear revenge. As Aletheia, a Soldner in Canaan you take odd jobs for pay. But fate has bigger plans in store for her that will decide the future of the steam city…..
Compared to most metroidvanias Gestalt is very story heavy. The world has an interesting premise, charming characters, and in depth history. While the cast is small you learn a lot about most of them and the plot is thick with mystery. The revelations come fast as a result of the game’s pacing which is to its detriment to an extent. It feels like there is more the developers want to elaborate on as they drop keywords and such with little to no explanation left and right. A little more time to let the plot breathe would have been more than welcome. However what is present is compelling as is.
Combat is engaging due to the duality of gunplay and sword play. Aletheia’s sword begins with a three hit combo. Once you explore the skill tree it blossoms into a sword twirling, heavy slashing beast. There are so many optional skills I forgot some of them. Her pistol has limited ammo that recovers by attacking enemies. A few minutes in you earn tesla charges that activates switches and staggers enemies. The game calls on this heavily, especially during boss battles. Striking a balance between firing from long range, closing in to build charges before a shield recovers and resuming gives the game a strategic element, one that lasts until its conclusion. Even though the skill tree is large leveling has perfect pacing. You earn ability points from quests and items too. Chances are you will learn almost everything before the game ends. The strategy is what to prioritize first.
Compared to most action platformers Gestalt is linear. The world has distinct zones however there is little backtracking necessary between each. You receive the few critical upgrades necessary to progression automatically at which point you can explore to find hidden items in prior areas. The map system highlights missed items in a room and you can buy an item that shows hidden ones too. The fast travel system opens up early but I found I rarely used it. Chances are you will find the majority of the items in each zone with a modicum of exploration. I wish I could say the rewards for thorough exploration were worth it. But honestly they are not. For those that like games with hundreds of trinkets is not for you. But if you like a focused adventure with room to dick around Gestalt fills that role.
The difficulty curve makes the game trivial. In the beginning you are extremely weak. Leveling is slow and the more powerful ability nodes are gated behind story progression. The first few bosses pose a legitimate threat as a result. But due the smooth leveling curve you amass power rapidly and the challenge does not keep up to match. The abilities you learn are overpowering and allow you to breeze through the game. So much so I forgot about the lion’s share of items outside of healing and antidotes toward the end. Crafted accessories significantly boost your power even further and have a tangible, immediate impact. There is nothing wrong with an easy game of course. But with such cool combat mechanics I do with the bestiary were tougher to take advantage of it.
The low difficulty and rapid fire pacing highlight Gestalt’s short length. On average most will complete this one in five hours or so with a near 100% rate with little trouble. That is not so bad; Symphony of the Night is commonly considered one of the greatest games in the genre and is shorter. However the way the story plays out shows signs that it was cut short. Many plot points end abruptly or have no resolution and it is a clear setup for a sequel. That is disappointing; there is no getting around it. The side quests were a perfect opportunity to give more depth to some of these elements. But the majority are boring bounty quests you will complete naturally. I will say however despite my disappointment I will be there day one if there ever is a follow-up.
In Closing
Gestalt: Steam & Cinder is an excellent choice for fans of action-platformers and anyone looking for a visually captivating experience. With its blend of engaging gameplay, rich storytelling, and exquisite art, it serves as a perfect entry for genre newcomers. While it is a little short by genre standards I would still recommend this gorgeous game with no hesitation.
