ITORAH – Spotlight
Itorah’s gameplay is based on three pillars: combat, exploration, and platforming. Combat and exploration are to blame for the bad reviews you’re seeing on Steam. If you’re looking for something that’s more like a platformer than a metroidvania, this isn’t the game for you. Despite the game’s large overworld and more focused dungeons, there aren’t many reasons to venture off the beaten path if you have the time or means to do so in the game’s world. There are no subbosses, lore, or new and interesting items or weapons, which is a shame.
The combat isn’t very exciting either. It’s merely passable. Hitting things feels good because of the satisfying feedback you get when you do so. Although the controls could use improvement, the lack of any kind of combos or special moves discourages players from giving it a try. The more agile enemies can’t be dodged or cancelled out of attacks, and combat generally feels slower and clunkier.
I’m recommending this game solely on the basis of its platforming mechanics, as you can see. To begin, the platforming is enhanced by the art direction. Fun dart traps, spike pits, and disappearing/rotating platforms with chains, hooks, and bounce platforms can be found in the ancient Meso-American fantasy-esque temples. With its gauntlet-driven platforming, the gameplay is based on the idea that rather than having a set of really challenging levels like Super Meat Boy, where a level might take 30 seconds to beat but the reality is it’ll take you five minutes because you keep dying, instead of that you have longer, less difficult segments where enemies and hazards slowly chip away at your health.
There is less of a challenge because of the excellent soundtrack and art direction, but the gameplay is still stimulating and ultimately fun, making this a great game to relax with. The fact that the controls are so precise is a big plus. Jumping is exhilarating, and there are enough platforms to keep you from getting bored. At one point, I wondered why I kept playing the game despite the fact that exploration and combat weren’t doing their jobs very well. Then it hit me: I was having so much fun with the platforming.
D-pad inputs don’t always work as expected when rocked back and forth quickly during wall-jumping segments, so I recommend switching to the analogue stick in these situations. I didn’t have much of a problem while playing this game. Thankfully, you can blitz through areas and avoid monsters (aside from the bosses and a few points) to the point where they don’t have a negative impact on the platforming.
It has a mystery plot, but it’s not going to hold your attention for more than the first three hours of the game. The platforming was fun, though the plot was a bit simplistic (world-ending corruption, protagonist doesn’t speak or say their own name, talking side-character weapon, you know, that kind of deal).
In terms of platforming alone, this is a game that I would happily recommend, but if you’re looking for something like a metroidvania or a brawler, I recommend Dust: An Elysian Tale instead. That being said, it’s an excellent 2D platformer with an excellent visual style and an engaging musical score.
