Reina and Jericho

We have to agree that Metroidvania games are a thing now. Whether you like them or not, they are dominating the indie genre. Reina and Jericho is yet another title that follows that same focus. There's attention pulled on the art style, thought-provoking story, and intense battle mechanics that have made efforts of this caliber popular.

Reina and Jericho don't have a release date yet. However, the developers are confident enough in the game that they've released a demo. Possibly with good reason, too. Despite Metroidvania games becoming tiresome, there's an aura about this game that makes it alluring. So let's give the demo a whirl and discover whether Reina and Jericho is a hit or miss in the sea of indie titles.

Back to Basics

Diving into the playable demo of Reina and Jericho, you'll find all the standards of Metroidvania incorporated into the mix. We've got an underground lair, side-scrolling platform mechanics, and fast-paced combat all waiting for you. But the game instantly jumps out of you and presents exceptional fluid animations and visuals.

The beautifully crafted world around you draws you to Reina and Jericho, setting the tone for the near-instant rich story. The element that makes you stay is the urgency you feel throughout the demo. Despite the mechanics not straying too far away from games in a similar vein, they are remarkably well combined to create an intense gaming experience.

You'll play as Reina (go figure), tasked with the mission of rescuing a prisoner and escaping an underground fortress. Players will leverage a discovered artifact and use its power to battle like a warrior supreme, using fire, wind, and fury to down their foes. The varied combat animations make even the most trivial of fights very satisfying.

But combat isn't the only focus of Reina and Jericho. Players will find themselves solving various puzzles, exploring different areas, and manipulating time to overcome the objects before them. Moreover, choices drive the story development for a more personalized experience. So far, there's much to look forward to in Reina and Jericho.

Reina Supreme

Admittedly, I didn't go into the Reina and Jericho demo with high expectations. The game has the earmarks of another copy-past Hollow Knight job. However, after playing it, I'm glad the game is one of the most exciting offerings in the indie pile this year. It has everything you'd want, beautiful visuals, varied gameplay, and a rich, coherent narrative.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Stunning Metroidvania game that threads and refines the standard mechanics well
• Gorgeous visuals with fluid animations
• Intense combat keeps players on the edge of their seats.

Cons:

• No release date yet