For #9 of 2020, we turn to a game that I know most people missed out on. Alwa’s Legacy did everything a good sequel does: improved the design, add more content, and continue the great gameplay of the original.
#9 Alwa’s Legacy
Alwa’s Awakening was a great hidden gem that struck that right balance between modern retro design. With the kickstarted sequel released earlier this year, I know most people did not play it which was a shame. A 16-bit follow-up that built off of the first one, Alwa’s Legacy works for me because it sets the standard I feel for what a modern retro game should be.
There’s an attention to detail in terms of art and aesthetics. The gameplay is once again a mix of puzzle and platforming design with a return of your three core spells along with new items. Creating a block, bubble, and a projectile may not sound exciting, but the game is set up to allow expert players to sequence break and really explore the space.
Alwa’s Legacy is the most “traditional” of the games on my list this year, but it’s a good example of a game that does what it set out to do and sticks the landing. I hope we see another title from this series, and fans of modern retro design should take notes from it.
With that we’ll move on to #8 with a game that was announced and released in about 2 weeks and represented a major shift from a well-known franchise
