As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I was thoroughly captivated by Gestalt: Steam and Cinder. The game’s aesthetic perfectly resonated with me, transporting me to an enchanting world filled with intrigue and danger. The sound design was top-notch, making every encounter more immersive and exciting.
In this critique, I intended to avoid employing the term “metroidvania” despite its application on Steam for Gestalt: Steam & Cinder. However, since it falls under this category, it’s necessary to acknowledge it. Although Gestalt conforms to the metroidvania definition, it deviates from the traditional formula slightly – this is not a negative observation, as Gestalt offers something more than just 2D action platforming.
In this rendition, Gestalt introduces you to the hidden metropolis of Canaan, an expansive underground city characterized by steam power and advanced technology. You take on the character of Aletheia, a Soldner or mercenary-like figure in this realm, as she delves into the subterranean vaults beneath this bustling urban center. As she makes her way down, Aletheia uncovers a peculiar ability within herself. Sadly, not much time passes before malevolent forces begin to stir, causing turmoil and mayhem throughout the world.
To call Gestalt a steampunk game would be accurate, but not entirely. The game focuses heavily on the idea of steampunk, but also aged over time — things are equal parts clean, full of steam, and rusted to hell and back. You contend with robots that jam their servos occasionally, explore forgotten vaults full of destroyed technology and rusted-over machinery, and fend off humans that look like they’d fit in during Industrial Revolution-era London (just, ya know, with clockwork gizmos attached.) The spritework is extremely well done — the background of the various maps you visit are detailed and vibrant, and Aletheia’s attacks and movements are fluid. Love her big hat, too!
In this rendition, the narrative of “Gestalt” dominates, interspersed with “Elsewhere…”-esque interludes at particular junctures in your adventure. Although you’re given ample background information on Aletheia, Canaan, and the larger Comitium, the game’s brevity results in a sense that the plot is forcefully advancing with an abundance of Capitalized Keywords. Delving deeper into the lives of the story’s pivotal figures would be welcome; however, given the average playthrough time of five to six hours, it’s expected that we can’t linger and savor every detail. Despite this constraint, there is much to appreciate about the tale as it stands, and optional quests serve to enhance your comprehension of the game universe.
As a dedicated fan of 2-D Action Platformers, I can confidently say that Gestalt truly honors the genre’s rich history. When I play, I feel the gameplay and combat mechanics are finely tuned to perfection. Every input from my controller is immediately reflected in the game world with lightning-fast responsiveness. The puzzles, both platforming and otherwise, offer a delightful challenge that keeps me engaged and thinking.
In the Gestalt soundtrack, the music is exceptional. Every region offers a powerful theme to delve into, with my preferred one being the Outskirts. The blend of guitar twangs and synth beats effectively sets the stage for Aletheia’s journey, aligning perfectly with the game’s visual style. I cannot stress enough my admiration for the overall sound design. Gestalt skillfully employs distinct sounds to signal various threats, enemy assaults, and even concealed Corgis.
While delving deeper into the game, you gain experience points to advance levels and collect Upgrade Points. These points enable you to personalize Aletheia according to your preferences. Reaching the maximum level allows for completing the talent board, but I was anticipating more complex choices and trade-offs. I envisioned constructing Aletheia as a gunslinger, maximizing bullet efficiency with increased damage, and utilizing sword attacks to charge up meter. However, since all abilities can be unlocked, you will inevitably develop a balanced combination of gun and sword expertise for Aletheia. This is rational given her proficiency in these skills, but I had hoped for more nuanced customization options.
A few bosses seemed excessively challenging – Einherjar (Boss 2) appeared to have an excessive amount of health for a standard enemy boss. Fighting them required memorizing their attack patterns within the initial 10%, and repeating the process throughout the battle felt monotonous. Fox (Boss 3) presented a similar issue, but reducing its health by half made it surrender. The remaining bosses were relatively easy to defeat, leaving me unimpressed and not significantly overleveled. The experience points earned from weaker enemies are negligible, so my exploration didn’t lead to substantial leveling up.
The exploration in this game is commendable, yet its map could use some enhancement. It’s plausible that my perception might be off, but I’m drawn to the block-like maps found in games such as Metroid and Castlevania. In Gestalt, there are blocks interspersed with padding and lines indicating exits and entrances. However, sometimes these rooms overlap, making it less clear at a glance which room is which. Despite not feeling lost during my journey, the map’s layout added an unnecessary level of tedium when I needed to refer back to it.
Upon finishing the game, I became aware that its brief completion time makes it suitable for speedrunning. Yet, I was reminded of the inconvenience that there is no way to bypass the cutscenes. When you fail against a boss, the intro gets abbreviated on your next attempt, which is beneficial, but you cannot jump over a cutscene if you haven’t witnessed it in that particular playthrough, which is frustrating. The text in Gestalt is more extensive than it appears, and even rushing through the dialogue boxes, the cutscenes can drag at times. Having the ability to skip them in the future would be desirable.
In summary, if you’re a fan of action platformers, you’ll be delighted by “Gestalt: Steam and Cinder.” Despite its shorter length, the game is brimming with passion for the genre. The developers have invested a great deal of care in creating an engaging world and story that strikes a perfect balance between excitement and suspense. I may have some minor criticisms, but overall, “Gestalt” was a highly enjoyable experience that I plan to revisit frequently. I’m eagerly anticipating where Metamorphosis Games will take the series next and looking forward to more adventures with Aletheia.
9
Versions tested: PC
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2024-07-15 16:26