Astalon: Tears of the Earth is a retro 8-bit styled action platforming adventure where you can switch between three differently skilled characters as you climb a twisted tower and save your village.
In Astalon: Tears of the Earth you follow the adventure of a mage, a knight and a rogue as they fight their way through the Tower of Serpents to try and save their village from its impending doom. The tower is a sprawling Castlevania-esque labyrinth, filled with monsters to battle, secrets to discover, puzzles to solve and bosses to battle. Conquering the tower won’t be easy, but you do have one thing on your side – a pact with the Titan of Death himself, which means that not only can you return from death, but come back even stronger!
The retro action platforming gameplay of Astalon: Tears of the Earth feels a little like a blend of Castlevania and Mega Man. A lot of the time you can just use whichever character you prefer, but sometimes you’ll need to use one particular character’s special skills to allow you to pass a certain area – such as using the mage to activate magic orbs or using the rogue to climb up ledges.
The Tower of Serpents is a dangerous place and filled with secrets and unlockable passages that require skill and a little puzzle solving to tackle. If you die then you go right back to the start of the game, but all of the passages and doors remain unlocked, allowing you to easily get back to where you were previously. Also when you die you can purchase upgrades for your characters that can increase your chances of success next time.
It’s shaping up to be a fantastic retro action platforming romp with an interesting story, excellent pixel art animation and clever world design that makes great use of the three playable character’s skills. It already feels like a classic and it’s a real pleasure to explore the tower and discover the many secrets it holds. Highly recommended.
Check Out a Gameplay Video Here
Download The Astalon: Tears of the Earth Beta Demo Here (Steam)