Afterimage

I always look forward to Next Fest events that Steam puts on, letting gamers check out tons of great demos for games awaiting release. There are loads of great titles, but every once in a while one feels extra special, like it is sure to be a hit.

- Alana Dunitz

That is how I felt when I got the opportunity to play Afterimage, developed by Chinese studio Aurogon Shanghai and produced by Modus. This indie game is not only a 2D platformer, but it’s also a role-playing game, and a metroidvania.

Welcome to the beautiful world of Engardin, created by a supreme deity, this mystical world is full of natural wonders like canyons, massive volcanoes, expansive seas, and a tower that is so tall it touches the clouds. You take on the role of Renee, a beautiful long-haired warrior armed with a sword. The god Aros has granted her the Gift of the Gods, which allows her and her sprite companion, Ifree, to survive this broken world together. Basically, you can repeatedly keep coming back to life, death is not permanent. The story takes place years after a cataclysmic event referred to as “The Razing” which nearly wiped out all of human civilisation.

Renee awakens in the ruins of the capital city with no recollection of the preceding events. Dangerous monsters have been appearing right outside of the village, and as you go to informMadame— the Leader of the Village— her soul is kidnapped and put into a crystal right in front of Renee by a mysterious cloaked figure. She sets off on a journey to retrieve her mentor which will determine the fate of this human race in the new world.