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I wouldn’t call myself a huge fan of the Metroidvania genre. If I had to guess why, it’s probably because I’ve never played a title that really pulled me in. I know there are some incredible games in the genre, I just haven’t had the chance to dive into them yet. So no, I’m not a Metroidvania expert. But what I am is a big fan of Studio Hybrid’s GIGASWORD.
GIGASWORD’s premise is simple enough and won’t feel unfamiliar for fans of the genre. Explore through one large continuous map, slay whatever comes in front of you, gather points for upgrades, and advance towards the next boss fight. The controls are just as simple as the premise: jump,dodge,attack. Despite not being too familiar with the genre, I found GIGASWORD easy to pick up. The demo’s short tutorial does a great job of getting you right into the action without much delay
Where GIGASWORD really shines is in the weight it gives to the sword, not just in its animation but also in the role it plays in the game
Where GIGASWORD really shines is in the weight it gives to the sword, not just in its animation but also in the role it plays in the game. The titular weapon is THE core mechanic of GIGASWORD, you not only use it to slash down mobs, but it’s an integral part of the puzzle solving aspect of the game. Putting it down on a pressure plate keeps the plate down, stabbing it into a heavy box allows you to move it, and letting go of it entirely allows you to jump higher and move faster. The sword not only works as your weapon, but also as your biggest tool in getting around.
On the topic of puzzles, GIGASWORD has some truly fun ones. In my short time with the demo (which I honestly wish was longer although at that point I might as well be asking for the full game) a few puzzles made me stop and think about how to maneuver around in order to advance, it was a fun break from the monster slaying and made for a great combination of brains and brawns.
The puzzle-making wasn’t the only highlight of the GIGASWORD demo, I also really enjoyed the variety in the monsters, despite only seeing a handful.There was enough variety in their attack style to force me to attack them in different ways (and honestly, the number of times I got punished for trying to jump attack only to get smacked down by a flame is a little embarrassing).. The soundtrack to the game was excellent as well, I could have easily listened to the catchy tune playing in the background for another hour, and shortly after I stopped playing, I found myself whistling it.
That said, there were a couple of relatively minor personal flaws I noticed in GIGASWORD. The simplicity of the map stood out, as it felt a bit uninspired and out of place in a game that’s otherwise so easy to pick up and play. It honestly took me a little while to really understand what I was looking at and what information the map was trying to convey. I also ran into a technical issue where I couldn’t play with my keyboard and I was forced to switch over to controller. That said, these are relatively minor hiccups so relatively small that I’m sure that Studio Hybrid is already looking into them and will have them fixed up by launch.
Ultimately, GIGASWORD’s demo is worth checking out, and the game is definitely one that I’ll be keeping my eye on. Studio Hybrid found a way to make me think twice about how to utilize a ridiculously oversized sword beyond just swinging it around, and honestly, I’m curious to see what other puzzles they have in store.
You can check out and download the demo for GIGASWORD here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1885930/GIGASWORD/
