Elderand

Elderand is a game developed by indie studios Mantra and Sinergia Games that presents us with an adventure created to evoke the ancient horrors of Lovecraftian myths. For seven years, the creators have worked to capture the nightmares that have inhabited their minds and, finally, they have managed to give life to a unique experience that combines Metroidvania elements with the horrors of Lovecraft.

In recent years, the Metroidvania genre has experienced a resurgence, with titles such as Hollow Knight, Dead Cells, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, and Blasphemous... achieving great success among both critics and players.

The Fate of the Chosen One, a search for the truth in the confines of madness and perversion

The search has come to an end. The Chosen One has appeared and destiny has pulled the strings so that he could be found by the men who serve the high priest. The fate of the Chosen One has been sealed in a contract written on a blood-soaked cloth and the legacy of the tyrant Sserthris, the lord of the sands, will soon be eradicated to release the evil that has plagued this land since time immemorial.

But fate is a treacherous path, filled with darkness and unknown dangers. The Chosen One will enter a mythical land beyond reason, where sin has won the fight for power. A place where evil has taken over, and where madness and death lurk everywhere.

In this dark and mysterious land, we will have to fight against the forces of evil and discover the secrets of a place that hides a dark past and an uncertain future. Evil is so deep-rooted that Elderand ends up being another protagonist of the adventure, and only Elderand knows the reward that awaits us at the end of our search, but one thing is certain, the price to pay will be high and only the bravest will survive. Only time will tell if we can bear the weight of the fate that awaits us.

At the beginning of the adventure, we will wake up in an unknown and desolate territory. There are scarce and unreliable rumors about this place, but we will soon realize that reality surpasses any legends. The horrors that await us are unspeakable, but we must go on, for only then can we be prepared to face the fate that awaits us in the depths of this cursed place.

Although our adventure begins with little knowledge about where we are. As we continue to save souls in need and meet important characters, the puzzle of lore begins to come together. The fragments of history and the stories written in blood and despair by previous adventurers, give us a clearer vision of the evil that stalks the place and prepares us to face the dangers that lie ahead. With each new piece we fit together, a little more about the past is revealed to us, and thus better understand the present of the place and prepare for the future.

The blessings of the deities of creation are present in this Metroidvania

To understand the importance of the genre of Elderand, we must go back to a remote time, to an era in which the creation of the word Metroidvania was forged. A word that, although known by many, others may still not know its meaning or its archaic origin in the world of video games.

The seed of the Metroidvania genre

It all begins back in 1986, when the mysterious events surrounding the heroine Samus Aran began to be revealed with the video game Metroid on the 8-bit Nintendo NES. This game marked the beginning of many adventures in which the premise was to enter a vast and unknown territory, with unparalleled freedom to recover the capabilities of our protagonist and achieve her final goal.

Over the years, other installments of the Metroid saga emerged to further amaze the player, improving the game system. But it was in the late 90s when the Castlevania Saga launched Symphony of the Night, turning its action saga into something even more sinister, surpassing in perfection the already impressive Metroid game system.

The alchemical fusion of both sagas and the contribution it has made to the world of video games was so great that the community of acolytes granted them the sacred honor of giving birth to a new and exclusive category as a result of their nefarious fusion: Metroidvania.

In Elderand, the Metroidvania style is built from its roots, but additional elements have been incorporated to enhance the fascination it arouses in the player.

The path to ascension: The search for power in a world of shadows

As we embark on this adventure, our character is a blank canvas, lacking skills and characteristics. However, as we enter this world, we will have the opportunity to forge our path, strengthening and improving our skills. As we defeat enemies, we will obtain experience points that will allow us to advance in level. With each promotion, we will have the opportunity to improve one of the four fundamental pillars of characteristics: vitality, strength, dexterity, and wisdom.

The key to success in the unknown land: choosing your weapons

In this vast land, unknown and infested with evil, our character has a wide variety of objects that we will discover as we progress. From heavy swords and axes that will allow us to wreak havoc on our enemies with powerful but slow blows, to thrown weapons such as knives and explosive bombs that will give us the advantage of attacking from a distance.

Along the way we will also find some of them that are more than simple combat instruments, they are also carriers of magical powers that will provide you protection, inflict additional damage, and/or improve your abilities. These extras are a great advantage in battle and we must look for them and use them wisely and tactically.

The developers have given us an unlimited inventory of the variety of objects, but are limited in the quantity of each one. Although it may seem like a blessing, it actually becomes a curse since we will not be able to organize our treasures, sell them for wealth, or get rid of them. Chaos takes over our stashes as we search for the right item in the confusion.

The blessings of programming are countless, but one of the most valuable is the ability to quickly switch between two loadout profiles. On the battlefield, this ability becomes a powerful weapon, allowing us to adapt with agility and precision to any situation that is presented to us. With two attack strategies at our disposal, we can always stay one step ahead of the enemy, giving us a great advantage.

Conclusion

Just like Elderand is a love letter to the Metroidvania genre, the exact words of its authors, this review is a love letter to Elderand, since the game deserves it. Without a doubt, Elderand is a highly recommended experience that will give you many hours of enjoyment.