Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi Preview
/A First Glimpse of Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi – A Work-in-Progress Fantasy Adventure
Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi brings us a future indie action-adventure game that already made a lasting impression through its playable demo. It was created by MarsLit Games and takes inspiration from popular fantasy hits such as The Legend of Zelda, along with the atmospheric magic of Studio Ghibli. In its initial form, the game exposes players to a world that is enchanted with puzzles, corrupted creatures, and the strong connection between a girl and the fox who is her companion. While the demo remains rough around the edges technologically, the overall experience already promises much.
A World Touched by Magic and Ruin
The story of Altheia follows a young guardian named Lili and her mystical fox companion, Sadi, as they explore the mysterious and crumbling realm of Atarassia. This world has been affected by the dark powers of the "Void," and it’s up to Lili to confront its forces and uncover the truth behind its destruction. Although the demo does not reveal much of the story, the atmosphere of the world is deepened and vivid in its description of a world with secrets, spiritual energies, and mystic ruins.
Graphically, Altheia is breathtaking. The demo features a vibrant, hand-painted aesthetic that takes the best of Breath of the Wild and traditional Ghibli movies. Watercolor landscapes, soft lighting, and top-tier detail on character animations give a dreamlike atmosphere. Paired with a soothing, emotive soundtrack, the world is brought to life and is nothing short of magical.
Gameplay Centered on Companionship
What separates Altheia from other action-adventure titles is the dynamic between Sadi and Lili. Sadi is not just a plain sidekick but has a lot to do with how puzzles are solved and enemies can be beaten. For example, Sadi can bite enemies to distract them, press pressure switches, place energy bombs, or even create illusions to mislead enemies. This two-hero system complicates puzzle-solving and makes exploration more interactive.
Fighting is quick and straightforward. Lili has a sword, bow, and magic that builds up charge for big finishing moves. The gameplay isn't overly complex but is responsive and backed by a smooth UI. Dungeons are filled with puzzles such as rotating levers, diving underwater to flip switches, and blasting spirit goo off the screen. These aren't new puzzles by any stretch of the imagination, but they're well done and serve to keep the game moving along at a fine pace.
Space for Improvement
As good as the demo itself appears, it's not blemish-free. Some gamers have reported the bow going offline from time to time and having to be restarted by reloading the demo. There are a few graphical glitches, such as floating persons or clanky animations. The camera pans at a frustratingly slow speed, which can make combat or exploration frustrating. Another issue is loss of progress on exit, so players have to begin from scratch each time.
In spite of all these glitches, none of them are game-breaking. They are more like the humps on the road that can be fixed with patches. The players appear to be ready to overlook them because the overall experience is good. The Steam community already has the demo scored as "Very Positive," which indicates that the majority of the players realize the potential of the game.
Conclusion: A Journey Worth Watching
Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi can very easily be described as being in beta, but their demo leaves it very obvious that the developers have things in hand. By combining good graphics, an emotional world, and friendly companion gameplay, the game really stands out against other indies. If only the technical problems get worked out and the story gets fleshed out, Altheia would be a modern classic of the action-adventure type. For fans of Zelda-like quests or fantasy worlds thick with mystery and magic, this is one to see.
