Elderand has only just launched on Android, but it might already be the platform’s best Metroidvania. Not that the competition is particularly fierce, mind you.
What’s Elderand?
You head out on a quest across the eponymous world of Elderand, where you have to battle enemies in some gloriously brutal, clearly Dead Cells-inspired combat.
There’s a wide range of weaponry to unlock, including, in a nod to Castlevania, whips. There’s also more traditional fare, like swords, daggers, axes, bows, and shields.
You can also use magic if you prefer to sit back and chuck fireballs. There’s a wide variety of them on offer, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, so it will also appeal to build theorycrafters.
Wait, You Mentioned RPG Mechanics?
Speaking of which, there are plenty of mechanics at play that will appeal to RPG fans. You’ve got character stats to pore over, skills to unlock, and weapons and gear to craft.
When not battling, you will unlock new abilities that will allow you to enter previously inaccessible areas. That’s basically the whole point of a Metroidvania, and Elderand has them in spades.
The area types are vast and varied, too. There’s a cosy merchant village, dark and eery forest, menacing temple prison, picturesque floating islands, and a Castlevania-style cathedral to name just a few.
If collectibles are your bag, you will be pleased to learn that you can collect letters from previous adventurers that lost their lives. That sounds very Dark Souls, doesn’t it?
It’s Very Pretty!
Personally, I’m also a huge fan of the visuals. They combine the colourful flashiness of Dead Cells with the grimdark horror of early Castlevania.
Yes, it’s 2D pixel art in a very saturated market, but its combination of styles manages to stand out where something a little more straightforward probably wouldn’t.
Overall, I do think there’s a place for a new Metroidvania on mobile, and particularly one as ambitious as this one. The best part? It’s a premium experience, so no free-to-play or pay-to-win shenanigans here.
And, for Primal’s benefit in particular, it has hardware controller support! Go ahead and grab it right now on Google Play.
