YOHANE THE PARHELION -BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE- Reviews
There is no shortage of metroidvania games with cute anime girl protagonists. Inti Creates has made a few good ones, but Yohane the Parhelion: BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE is not among them. It is a joyless and mediocre effort on their part.
If you're just in the market for a metroidvania, there's dozens you could choose from that are a little more worthy of your time than Yohan the Parhelion -BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE-, but it does have that signature Inti Creates style that fans of theirs will dig. The experience isn't altogether bad, but it does leave something to be desired. The ideas don't come together in a way that makes this title stand above the property it's based on.
Yohane the Parhelion -BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE- is one of those games that came out of the blue and knocked my socks off; great stuff!
While enjoyable on its own, I believe fans of the Yohane anime and Love Live series will find more to love and cherish here. The characters in the game aren’t fleshed out in context to the game and solely reliant on their personalities and charisma in the 13-episode show, and the character VOs can get grating over time. Still, as a standalone Metroidvania title, you could do worse. I cherished my 5 hours or so going through the entire game, and managed to fight some challenging bosses using the game’s Dark Magic and Companion Summon system, which adds creativity and utility to your playstyle.
Yohane the Parhelion: Blaze in the Deepblue is an excellent Metroidvania-light game with pleasing visuals and rock-solid gameplay. Whether you're a fan of the Love Live! Sunshine universe or simply want to experience Inti Creates' next great action platformer, this game gets an easy recommendation.
Overall I had a great time with Yohane the Parhelion: BLAZE in the DEEP BLUE. I loved exploring the dungeon and seeing all of my favorite Aqours members once again. Each girl’s skills were very unique and suited them very well. Hanamaru having a laptop fall from the heavens to make it explode with a single touch made me laugh out loud since I got the reference from the original anime, and this is what games like this should do. I feel like the package is a bit light on extras since there is nothing to do after completing the game. No new game plus with more difficulty, unlockable galleries or even a way to listen to the music post game. It will take you around eight hours to see everything the game has to offer and I feel like it is worth the $29.99 price tag for fans of the anime or Yohane, but everyone else might want to wait for a sale to snatch this one up. While I loved everything here personally, I was a big fan of the series going into this, so I know I got a bit more out of this than those just looking for another Metroidvania to pick up. That said, I have no issue telling fans to snatch this up ASAP, it’s a lot of fun with girls you know and love.
Ultimately, Blaze in the Deepblue isn't as enjoyable as Gal Guardians, or the better Inti Creates games out there. It's still a fairly good Metroidvania, though, with diverse biomes, tight controls, an interesting set of upgradeable abilities, an approachable crafting system, and striking graphics
Yohane the Parhelion -BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE- leaves something to be desired, resulting in an experience that seems to have been hastily produced without the necessary care to make it truly captivating.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Even if you have no idea who Yohan The Parhelion is, Blaze in the Deepblue is still a fun Metroidvania with a great sense of style.
A charming, well-animated, and generally all-around adequate Metroidvania that still comes up a bit short in the space
It may not do anything that new or spectacular, but Blaze in the Deepblue manages to be a very well made, gorgeous looking metroidvania that’s well worth your time for a 100% clear, even if there’s little here in terms of bonuses for the price.
Given the amount of content the game has, Yohane the Parhelion -Blaze in the Deepblue- will pleasantly surprise both Love Live and Metroidvania fans and is well worth the price.
Yohane the Parhelion -Blaze in the Deepblue- has a major underutilized potential, be it as a metroidvania or as a product for Love Live! fans. From scenery and enemies that get tiresome over time to the few memorable tracks, the only strengths [of the game] end up as the 2D illustrations and the humorous dialogues dubbed by the animation's original cast. Obviously, this doesn't mean Yohane's adventure doesn't have its highlights, especially as a good entrypoint for metroidvania newcomers, but there are better titles in the market for the fans of the genre.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
In conclusion, Yohane the Parhelion: BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE is fun, but it fails to stick the landing totally. Several mechanics felt disjointed. For every crafting system that I lauded, there’s a hiccup to balance it out. Nitpick or not, the slight delay to melee is annoying. I’m known for my kamikaze ways, and I’m invigorated by panicked kills, but I can’t do that here. I did enjoy the homage to a renowned indie gem, though.
If you’re looking for a metroidvania game to play that you haven’t played before, this game is going to deliver. It’s not without charm and it’s not wildly incompetent. But it’s a C- effort and that’s all the worse when you know that the studio is capable of delivering much better. Unless you’re in dire need of a new metroidvania or a big fan of the series it’s based upon, I wouldn’t rush to grab this one.
I love a good challenge every now and then, but I don’t mind being able to coast as I please and feeling powerful to destroy foes to boot. For that, Yohane’s little adventure offers a fun journey through a weird labyrinth with funky, eldritch-looking monsters. An easy recommendation for the 2D action beginner.