Chasm

Chasm is a classic metroidvania, the kind that doesn't take sides with anyone, neither roguelites nor Soulslike mechanics. If that's what you're looking for, get ready, because Chasm promises to raise the bar not only in exploration, but also in its platforming and even its most basic enemies.

You can tell that Chasm is from the school of Symphony of the Night and its sequels when it comes to taking inspiration from its mapping, enemies, progression system, weapons and attacks, and even that way of jumping and attacking and then attacking again quickly on the ground. Chasm is arguably too traditional and doesn't provide much more than its procedural map system.

It may not seem like it from the first enemies we encounter, who barely have a predefined path and are not affected by us, but we quickly realise that each one of them is perfectly designed, with a clear pattern that must be understood and countered, and that they will not make things easy for us. It's not as extreme a challenge as some of today's other games, but it does require the patience to study each enemy and not ignore them until you've reached a sufficient level.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Chasm is its procedural feature. If we didn't know better, one could say that the game and its map are crafted by hand. This speaks very well of its structure, which allows us to explore its world in a balanced way, making use of all the skills and without that feeling you get in procedural games that you're visiting random rooms which don't quite seem to have that extra layer that comes with an attentive touch behind them.

Chasm tries to bring something more into the territory of exploration as well. In addition to the classic artefacts that allow us to overcome obstacles to move forward (the typical sliding on the ground, the double jump, grabbing edges, bouncing off the wall...), there is also the search for the inhabitants of the village. A good excuse to explore 100% of the map and add some side quests that these characters give us.

The exploration system is true to the genre in its most classic form, so if you like exploring your surroundings and retracing your steps, you'll enjoy it. However, because of this classic feature, it also contains some of its more endemic counterpoints, like wandering too much when you can't find the way forward.

Chasm’s graphic style is classic. It’s a style that doesn’t age and is difficult to work with, as each sprite and animation has to be dealt with individually. All in all, the characters, enemies and scenery have a certain charm, and in the graphics options you can select a CRT filter that makes the origins of the Bit Kid Games team even more evident.

If you are looking for a traditional experience, Chasm is the game for you. It is solid and challenging at times and you'll enjoy exploring its passageways. Highly recommended!