Altered Alma - A love child of Hollow Knight and Mass Effect

The Metroidvania genre is experiencing a resurgence, fueled by the success of games like Hollow Knight. New developers are stepping up with fresh takes on the genre, and one of the most exciting newcomers is 2Awesome Studios with their game Altered Alma. Their recent Kickstarter campaign not only launched with enthusiasm but also hit its initial funding goal within an impressive six hours.

Accompanying the campaign’s launch, 2Awesome Studios released a public demo of Altered Alma, which offers a tantalizing glimpse into the game’s blend of influences. The demo showcases how the game merges elements from both within and outside the Metroidvania genre into a compelling new experience.

Altered Alma draws its primary gameplay inspiration from a fascinating mix of Hollow Knight and Mass Effect, while also channeling the visual style of cyberpunk classics like Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner and Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element. Set in the neon-drenched, futuristic city of Neo Barcelona, the game’s striking visual style and pixel art reminiscent of Blasphemous make it a standout.

The Quantum Blade: Revolutionizing Combat and Platforming

Central to Altered Alma's combat is the Quantum Blade, a unique tool that combines weapon and traversal functions. This device allows the protagonist, Jack, to teleport across the screen and execute stylish attacks on enemies. Before Jack acquires the Quantum Blade, players will engage with the game’s fundamental melee combat, which includes a rewarding parry mechanic with a generous timing window. Once the Quantum Blade is in hand, its influence is clear, drawing comparisons to Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. The blade enhances the game’s platforming challenges, demonstrating its versatility in various scenarios.

Modern Metroidvanias often feature character customization, and Altered Alma is no exception. The game incorporates its own version of Hollow Knight's Charms through equippable Mods. Though the demo features only a few Mods, they introduce intriguing new abilities to Jack's skillset, such as a powerful area-of-effect attack and fire damage enhancements for evasive moves.

Story and Setting: The Heartbeat of Altered Alma

While Altered Alma excels in its combat and platforming mechanics, it is the game’s narrative and setting that truly enrich its Mass Effect-inspired elements. Jack’s journey involves recruiting a diverse crew of characters, each with their own quests and dialogue options. Building relationships with these crew members can lead to deeper connections, including romance, depending on player choices.

The game’s retrofuturist setting, Neo Barcelona, enhances the Mass Effect-like atmosphere. The city’s design, heavily influenced by classic science fiction from the 70s and 80s, including Blade Runner, is almost a character in itself. The detailed environments communicate a lot about the world and its residents, making Neo Barcelona a central element that ties together the game’s various aspects.

Altered Alma is shaping up to be a must-watch title for fans of the Metroidvania genre and those who appreciate a rich, story-driven experience. The game is currently in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X/S, and it’s definitely one to keep an eye on.