Alwa's Legacy Reviews

Alwa's Legacy is ranked in the 67th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
7 / 10
Jun 17, 2020

If you need a Metroidvania in your life, it’s a good one. It’s simple to grasp and is very appropriate and playable for kids. It’s got a lot of charm. It’s just not very memorable for those of us who have played the greats of the genre.

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4 / 5.0
Jun 30, 2020

The world needs more good Metroidvanias. And, if developers like Elden Pixels are in charge of bringing those to us, especially if they’re willing to continue growing as they have been, then we’re definitely in good hands.

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7.5 / 10.0
Jun 24, 2020

Alwa's Legacy is a fun, beautiful adventure platformer fans of the genre will have a good time with.

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Noisy Pixel
Ian Goudelock
8.5 / 10.0
Jun 25, 2020

Alwa’s Legacy is a vibrant adventure that takes some of the best aspects of the genre and puts just enough of a spin on it to set it apart. Using magic, puzzle-solving, and exploration through the charming world of Alwa is a real joy. There may be a few hiccups in its control scheme and execution, but it doesn’t take away from the overall experience.

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8 / 10.0
Jun 25, 2020

Alwa’s Legacy is a smooth metroidvania with many creative moments. It is exciting to explore the kingdom of Alwa because of the non-linear progression, the diversity of moments, the many interesting puzzles and the map full of secrets. In addition, the game has a pleasant atmosphere inspired by 16-bit era classics with its pixel art look and music with chiptune elements. The open structure allows the player to set the pace of the adventure, however it is sometimes easy to get lost or stuck in complicated spots. In the end, the combination of all these elements makes Alwa’s Legacy a great 2D platform title and a really fun experience.

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Evan Norris
Top Critic
7 / 10
Sep 29, 2020

While the story goes nowhere and the final boss battle is a letdown, rewarding exploration, creative puzzles, handsome art, and appealing music make it a worthy purchase — particularly for enthusiasts who can't get enough of the indie Metroidvania scene.

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8.5 / 10.0
Oct 1, 2020

Alwa’s Legacy is a whole lot of fun to play, with the enjoyable level design, varied assortment of abilities, and wonderful world coming together to make for a memorable adventure. I had a really good time exploring my surroundings and using my ever-improving abilities to uncover secrets, whilst the battles with bosses always made for neat showdowns too. It does have some imperfections, most notably with the easy to beat enemies, the back-tracking, and the water level (a personal pet peeve… *shudders*), but these are minor issues in what is otherwise an exceptional and very well-designed Metroidvania-style adventure.

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4 / 5.0
Oct 3, 2020

Retro gamers, rejoice! Alwa’s Legacy is finally available on the Nintendo Switch, and boy does it feel good being here. If you have a Pro controller, do not hesitate to hook this bad boy up to the TV and play like you’re a kid again. Alwa’s Legacy will remind you of days gone by, when renting a game from Blockbuster and trying to beat it within a few days to avoid racking up crazy prices was the thing to do, and with pizza in one hand and drink of choice in the other, you really can’t go wrong making a retro night out of this. Be sure to check out Alwa’s Legacy for a fresh game with a familiar feel.

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8.5 / 10.0
Oct 8, 2020

Alwa's Legacy is a great recommendation for anyone looking for a good metroidvania or just looking for a lovely adventure with creative puzzles. Even its few defects are compensated when we think of the experience that is offered. With 16-bit charm and clever elements, we have a journey that manages to develop an attractive artistic level without demanding large commitments from players.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

Liked-a-lot
Oct 18, 2020

Alwa’s Legacy is a lovely little metroidvania game well worth sinking time into. The developers clearly took lots of time crafting this world, making the enemy encounters and puzzles count. They made a game that feels wholesome and Zoe is a memorable character. Colourful, charming and a delight to play this is not a gem to let slip away whether your old or young.

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7 / 10.0
Nov 2, 2020

Alwa's Legacy may seem like more of the same, but several aspects of its design help it to stand out among its peers. Unfortunately, the manner in which it’s distinct is not always a good thing.

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9 / 10.0
Dec 21, 2020

Alwa’s Legacy feels like a proper step up from the original title, still maintaining that excellent metroidvania level design and encouraging players who can think outside the box to sequence break and play at their own pace. While I do feel the chaptered format of this game is a bit odd, and how the game can seem a bit too familiar to the original at points, this is still a must-have Metroidvania, and feels like a true refinement of everything that made Awakening so spectacular.

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Recommended
Oct 14, 2020

While not incredibly long, Alwa’s Legacy feels polished and complete, featuring quality dungeon design and a clever cast of characters.

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7.9 / 10.0
Sep 29, 2020

Games that aspire to capture the look and feel of earlier eras can be a mixed bag, but when executed well can be quite a treat...

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7.8 / 10.0
Sep 28, 2020

Alwa's Legacy is a lighthearted Metroidvania that's hard to put down once you start playing it. With tight gameplay that features an impressive amount of variety, I certainly recommend picking it up if you love exploring 2D worlds.

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8 / 10.0
Sep 28, 2020

When everything clicks into place, Alwa's Legacy soars. The exploration is filled with brain-teasing challenges backed by a great chiptune soundtrack. Hiccups along the way, mostly due to some obtuse item uses, can bring the experience back to Earth, but thankfully, more often than not, this is a super fun game to make your way through.

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GameSpew
Becca S.
Top Critic
6 / 10.0
Oct 1, 2020

Clever puzzles, a decent story and beautiful pixel graphics make up Alwa’s Legacy‘s strengths. But there’s little here that makes it stand out from a sea of more superior games in the genre. If you enjoy classic Metroidvania-style platforming, Alwa’s Legacy is worth a play – but don’t expect an experience that will blow you away.

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A-
Nov 5, 2020

Short but sweet, Alwa’s Legacy is a must for both retro fans and fans of quality, exciting Metroidvanias. The visuals tout some of the best pixel art on Switch and are joined with a killer soundtrack and sound design. With clever dungeons to explore and an intricate overworld to travel, Alwa’s Legacy will have players ensnared from the beginning to end. Having played Alwa’s Awakening adds some extra nuance to the adventure, but starting fresh with Alwa’s Legacy won’t leave players in a lurch, as it does plenty to solidify this as its own distinct game. Don’t sleep on this one; Elden Pixels has created a 2D platformer for the ages.

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7.5 / 10.0
Oct 15, 2020

Alwa's Legacy is a love letter to the Metroidvania genre and 16-bit gaming in general. It's said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. In that case, Igarashi will be blushing. It doesn't always make for a good game, though. Alwa's Legacy is an enjoyable and pretty adventure that's too formulaic to be truly memorable.

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8 / 10.0
Oct 16, 2020

Whether or not you fancy yourself a platformer aficionado, Alwa's Legacy should be on your playlist. It combines retro graphics with modern precision to create a wonderfully engaging experience that strikes a fun balance between platforming and puzzle solving.

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