Afterimage Reviews

Afterimage is ranked in the 67th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
9 / 10.0
May 18, 2023

Not just a pretty face: Afterimage is not only a beautiful metroidvania, but also a very competent one, clever in taking inspiration from the right sources and able to deliver a world that you never get tired of exploring. Good thing too, considering how big it is.

Review in Italian | Read full review

90 / 100
Apr 25, 2023

Afterimage has all the elements of a great metroidvania. More than that, it's also a game with excellent graphics and setting, which undoubtedly makes it one of the best games recently released in the genre.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

9 / 10.0
Apr 28, 2023

Afterimage is a fascinating and content-rich metroidvania, capable of keeping us glued for dozens of hours through fantastic worlds, an elegant combat system, challenging bosses, and platforming stages to master. All beautifully blended and delightfully packaged, making Aurogon Shanghai's adventure shine as one of the best titles of its genre.

Review in Italian | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
May 3, 2023

Although not without flaws, Afterimage manages to stand out in the panorama of 2D adventures in metroidvania sauce, thanks to its wonderful backdrops, good level design and playful set-up.

Review in Italian | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Apr 25, 2023

Afterimage is a vibrant and vast Metroidvania adventure that rewards you the more you dig into it. A must play for fans of the genre. (Review Policy)

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8.5 / 10.0
May 3, 2023

Afterimage is a solid and aesthetically amazing metroidvania. Despite some minor flaws, it's a title absolutely worth playing for all the fans of the genre.

Review in Italian | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Jun 2, 2023

A gorgeous and solid Metroidvania on PS5

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8.5 / 10.0
May 31, 2023

If not for some design flaws, Afterimage could have been an exemplary metroidvania. Not knowing where to go most of the time and the confusion of the story prevented it from getting a higher rating, but for fans of the genre, it's a real (and endless) blessing.

Review in Turkish | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
May 1, 2023

The Aurogon Shanghai studio definitely created Afterimage as a work made of a lot of effort and beauty. The intention to produce such a vast and dense metroidvania doesn't always contribute to the game as a whole but it delivers a ton of content to explore, admire and face. Curious players will be rewarded with many discoveries in impressive sceneries, but those who are bothered by backtracking and a lack of direction may be frustrated by the big distances between the spots of Engardin.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

80 / 100
Apr 28, 2023

Afterimage is a game with many and varied virtues: aesthetically it is beautiful, its addictive combat, soulslike mechanics and difficult bosses are a challenge... But in the same way, it does not do anything especially innovative, nor surprising, diluting a little all the good that is in it, which is not little. It is also quite long and comes translated.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

May 3, 2023

With a more than 26-hour runtime, Afterimage kept me hooked to my seat as I ventured through the beautiful world with elegantly designed creatures and battles everywhere I turned. For the price of entry - Afterimage is one of the best Metroidvanias I have personally ever played.

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Apr 25, 2023

Even if there are a few rough spots, Afterimage is a magical Metroidvania that shines. Most of the issues require a little patching but the core remains engaging. The combat works because the enemy variety compliments Renee's moves, and overcoming previously difficult bosses is intensely satisfying. Platforming has a few quirks, but using enemies as impromptu platforms to find secrets or barely making a jump is exhilarating. Even the story, which doesn't start out with alot to set it apart, blossoms thanks to a spectacular world and interesting themes. This title is an absolute gem for Metroidvania fans.

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GameSpew
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Apr 25, 2023

Sure, Afterimage has plenty of flaws. It’s a little too difficult at times. Its choice to lock fast travel behind a rare potion is frustrating. And it’s all too easy to feel like you’re at a dead end. But despite its issues, it has kept us coming back for more. This is a beautiful metroidvania with a huge, impeccably-designed world that begs to be explored. Whether you’re a long-time metroidvania fan or enjoy action RPGs, Afterimage is well worth pouring some time into.

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8 / 10.0
Apr 25, 2023

Afterimage is a great Metroidvania with a beautiful artstyle and a large world that you can enjoy it in. While there are a few issues with it, the progression and combat make it a fun experience overall. If you want to get the full story of the world and its characters, however, be prepared to hunt for it.

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8 / 10.0
Apr 25, 2023

Afterimage is a truly beautiful experience, one worth taking the time to enjoy. There are some frustrating moments like a lack of clarity in direction or forced moments of experience grinding, but a compelling story and fascinating world kept those from ruining the experience.

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Apr 25, 2023

Afterimage is a game that requires some level of patience, taking a bit of time to embrace its potential and relying later on players' willingness to backtrack and sniff out secrets. For those willing to invest, the high points provide ample rewards in fluid, engaging combat and a gorgeous world. Afterimage may not do anything particularly new, but it does many things quite well. If players are looking to play a new Metroidvania while waiting for Hollow Knight: Silksong, Afterimage captures some of the best elements that the genre has to offer.

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80 / 100
May 1, 2023

You have to give props to developer Aurogon Shanghai for putting a lot of secrets and areas to explore and conquer, as well as a New Game+ and a couple of extra endings to unlock that try to make sense of the plot involving an amnesiac and her tiny familiar. Afterimage is solid search action bliss that will keep you immersed and engrossed for 20+ hours on end, even if it sounds like a third-party Photoshop plug-in.

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4 / 5.0
Apr 25, 2023

If you’re looking for an adventure that will keep you busy, Afterimage will fit that bill quite nicely. A single playthrough will take you roughly 30 hours to complete. With such a sizable quest, heaps of hidden items to uncover, and multiple endings to unlock, dedicated players can expect the game to keep them busy for weeks on end. Not bad for a Kickstarted project from a tiny Shanghainese studio, right? To call Afterimage ambitious would be an understatement, to put it mildly. Despite its excessive backtracking and hard-to-follow story, Afterimage is hands-down the most enjoyable Metroidvania I’ve played since Hollow Knight. With an engrossing world to explore, superb combat, and a plethora of fun abilities to master, it’s a game that’s almost impossible to put down once it gets its hooks in you. Even if you feel like you’ve had your fill of Soulslike Metroidvanias in recent years, you owe it to yourself to make time for Afterimage.

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RPG Fan
Top Critic
78%
Feb 29, 2024

A relatively enjoyable Metroidvania that is still noticeably rough around the edges.

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7.8 / 10.0
Apr 25, 2023

I had a good time with Afterimage. Its levels got more and more interesting as you progressed, the characters you’d run into were well-acted and I liked the interactions Renee had with them. There’s a lot of game to go through with Afterimage, multiple endings in fact. And though I spent most of my time cheesing encounters because I could, and I take issues with the game’s presentation, there’s a strong gameplay loop that I think many players, especially those new to Metroidvania-style games, will enjoy in Aurogon Shanghai’s first venture into 2D action games.

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