Valfaris PS4 Review

Valfaris is a 2D Side-Scrolling shooter for PS4, XBONE, Switch, and PC which was developed by Steel Mantis and published by Merge Games and Big Sugar.

The developer team was known for their previous title such as Slain: Back From Hell which is a one of the finalist of Unity Awards.
I had discovered this game when the actual trailer came out on YouTube around last year summer and then my reaction to the trailer is how f***ing amazing the game looks.
It is heavy metal style 2D shooter which combines Iron Maiden meets Contra filled with mind-blowing gorefest, shredding metal soundtrack, upgradable weapons, brutally challenged bosses and more ultra-violence action is the reason why I wanted to pick this game up for my PS4.
The game is gruesomely fun because I've really enjoyed the Valfaris experience for its classic-style gameplay, unique graphic visuals, dark and gritty presentation, and has replay values are the main highlight point in the game, but with the minor drawback for its short length of the single-play and the lacking few features in the game which I will explain further on this review.

So without go further do, lets start the review.



Presentation


The game takes place in a far corner of space. It starts off with the metalhead warrior named Therion travelling in the voidship to his homeland in Valfaris as he set his quest to uncovering the truth behind his father's crime and set free from the enemy that invades home planet.

The story in the game is quite simple to understand which doesn't need to have much of the in-depth plot as the story goes on in each boss battles that really adds the interesting story between the hero and villain starts confronting each other for their treason which is the reason why they kept the game quite straightforward without adding so much extra details.
You have the long-haired metal dude named Therion, who is son of Valfaris, which is also named after the symphonic metal band from Sweden.
I really liked his looks on the title screen comes with badass armory mixed with his red-metallic outfit while holding his huge ass rifle and you can also see the demonic look on his face is like he wants to slaughter the shit out of you in pieces making it a fearless protagonist that you don't want to mess with.
There are most insanely enemies in the game such as bog worm that can hit you everywhere, toxic flower that shoot out acids, hive solder will blast you with plasma balls, sentry bot will fly around you, the sword master will throw his sword at you in far distance, and more enemies with different variety of attacks will instantly kill you in deadliest way, but their looks are so awesome.
I also liked the boss in the game like junk gargoyle, bloodstalker queen, exterminator, and Lord Jylskel are amazing, but I got to say furrok and kyvok are sure both tough m***er f***er that really kicks lot of your asses in whole time, wow holy shit these guys are sure hard as a nails.

Aside with the simple story and badass protagonist, the whole presentation in the game is remarkably well crafted with dark-gritty Sci-Fi universe filled with metallic environments, machinery objects, alien-like scenery, and atmospheric tones for most levels are actually pretty damn good for 2D shooter title.
It almost reminds of the classics from the 80's/90's like the Turrican series regarding on the settings of the game is the reason why the game is looking so incredible for most part.
You will have the locations such as the underground landing pad filled with nest and webs, the eco-dome has wiggly looking forrest with bugs and plants, the hive that has neon-bright places with flying insects, the power chambers has facility rooms, the tombs filled with sands and misty places and theres plenty more levels to discover.
The weapons are looking so badass for its design, so you have standard plasma pistol that shoots 3-ways projectiles, Vroll's sidearm that shoots rapidly, the bishop's reach that shoots several arms out, the hellhammer is basically shotgun for short range, the envoy of destruction that fires many missiles, the man o' war bursting flamethrower, the blood axe is the fastest melee attack, and of course the bastard sword is one of the world's most powerful melee weapon that easily slain all the bastards clean off.

Overall, it has straightforward story, the badass protagonist, and the wicked presentation.



Gameplay


You take control of Therion in 2D side-scrolling perspective as your goal is to beat all the bosses as possible.
Your character has ability to jump and climb on ladders and objects which are used for platforming segments.
There are a checkpoints in the level where you can activate them by using the resurrection idol which the item can be found on most level, so after your death this will help taking you back to the last location you activated where you left off.
You have three different variants of weapons such as primary, melee, and destroyer. The primary weapons are weak ranged attack with unlimited ammunition, the melee uses the close range attacks that will increase your energy with every successful strike, and the destroyer weapons are powerful ranged attack that uses energy. You can also shoot in any direction by holding the trigger button to stand still while pressing the fire button. You can use shield to block enemy's projectiles, but also you can parry their attack and grab their projectiles to shoot back at them are also effective for some enemies.
The blood metal item is a upgradable item which can be found on piles of bones throughout the game including secret locations and being dropped by certain enemies after you kill them, while the final upgrade of every weapon will require a Blood of Valfaris in some level.
Upgrading the weapons will improve the range of attacks and the damages which is making your weapon quite powerful to kill not just the hard-hitting enemies, but also makes easier to kill tough bosses.

Most of the levels in the game are filled with the hazards objects that can instantly kill you in such ways such as bloody spikes, falling pit, electricity zapper, toxic acids and more hazardous stuff that requires player to avoid these deadly objects in order to keep alive.
The enemies in the game is actually well made for its attacking patterns and their A.I system are the reason to keep the game quite satisfy depending how implemented and brutally these guys are because you have sword master that blocks your primary attack, the guards can shoot you in any direction, the turret that shoots you with laser beam, the big jellies can simply roll around, and tentacle can swing wildly which I think it worked really well for its overall challenge especially with the boss battles are definitely the biggest highlight of all Valfaris experience will satisfy your gaming action.
My favourite part in the game is that you can ride on exterminator in some level as the big huge machinery are sure slow but has the ability to use flamethrower as primary, 3 pointy blade for melee, and the firing turrets for heavy damage which is the reason why I've enjoyed many impact of carnage. 

I really liked the overall gameplay for its weapon system, unique platforming level, and impressive boss battles which really helps me to memorising the attack patterns and being able to keep up with the ongoing single play which makes the game very entertaining, but it's a shame that the single-player mode can only last about between 2 to 3 hours of play which is ridiculously short unless if its more than the 3 hours of play depending how many deaths did you count in the game.

Overall, it has great weapon system, unique platforming level, and impressive boss battles.



Graphics


The graphics are surprisingly look amazing for 2D metal-action. It kinda almost like very close to 16-bit era filled with cool 2D sprites on protagonist and enemies, the gore animation is gruesomely brutal with so many particles and effects showered with blood everywhere, and the use of the visuals effects in some levels are also pretty good filled with great use of lighting shades, misty smoke, the water animation, and it has gooey and slimy environments everywhere in the game which really fits perfectly well on Sci-Fi universe.
The game ran absolutely well with 60 fps which you won't notice any of major slowdowns in the game which means that it won't have any of sluggish frame-rate especially if you're playing on the system like Switch will able to work best on both dock and handheld mode.

Overall, it has cool 2D sprites, gruesomely gore animation, and has the use of visuals effects and environments design.       


Music and Sounds


Valfaris definitely has the awesome soundtrack that keeps you heart pumping for more gorefest action. It was composed by Curt Victor Bryant, a former extreme metal guitarist from Swiss band Celtic Frost, did a excellent job of making his most epic metal soundtrack in video game history giving a intense 2D action experience.
The sound effects in most part is pretty well done for its the use of background noises and atmospheric effects in most levels giving a intense feeling to the game's personality and I got to like a grunting voice of the enemies and bosses during the battles.

Overall, it has epic metal soundtrack and intense sounds design.



Special Features

The game did offer the new mode called full metal difficulty which is the new game plus where you still retain the weapons from the previous new game mode, but it is by far the hardest game mode that most enemies are doubles their power to give you a huge ass kicked all the way making it a most challenged game so far.
Aside with the new game mode which adds the nicer replay values, it's kinda shame they didn't include the features like for example: they should have been include gallery mode, boss rush mode, and other interesting stuff that could have been a greater addition to the game.

Overall, it only has one new mode, but it really needs adding more new features in the game.




Advantages


Wicked presentation

Great weapon system

Impressive boss battles

Gruesomely gore animation

Epic metal soundtrack

Nice replay values

   

Disadvantages


Short length single play

Lacking few features




Final Verdict


Presentation 8.5/10 - straightforward story, the badass protagonist, and the wicked presentation.

Gameplay 8/10 - great weapon system, unique platforming level, and impressive boss battles.

Graphics 8.5/10 - cool 2D sprites, gruesomely gore animation, and has the use of visuals effects and environments design.

Music and Sounds 9/10 - epic metal soundtrack and intense sounds design.

Special Features 5/10 - it only has one new mode, but it really needs adding more new features in the game.


Overall 8/10 - Valfaris is a strong title which offers a experienced classic days side-scrolling action filled with fun packed gameplay, hardcore visuals, exciting original soundtrack, and more instant badass are making it the satisfied 2D shooter game on the genre.
The actual price of the game is cost between £20 to £30 from Amazon and Ebay, so if you're the huge fan of classic side-scrolling shooter games or have listened to hardcore metal music then you should able to pick up a copy for PS4 and Switch physically or get it from digital storefront for various PC and Consoles version.

So it is Valfaris everyone, just raise your metal horn, grab your controller, power up your system and get ready to kick some ass. YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 


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