Entertaining character interactions, the inclusion of an enemy respawn mechanic and a retro-facing aesthetic art-style offer enough to save this Metroidvania love-letter from the trappings of repetitive gameplay, an uninteresting plot and predictable enemy movements.
A well-presented - if misjudged- presentation based on an obscure IP with a fresh feeling graphic style that is often bogged down by the lack of relevant additional modes and an online play system which is better left untouched. Excessive action, revealing costumes and an additional story mode are not enough to save this average fighter from a destiny of mediocrity.
Only suffering from minor problems, Salt and Sanctuary proves that not all 2D platform games are for children.
A fun - if forgettable - entry into a saturated genre which serves as a new 'timesink' for 'Empires' and 'Warriors' fans the world over and offers a range of intuitive systems which never quite find their feet and leave the average gamer bewildered and confused throughout.