Review - Valfaris: Mecha Therion

Publisher: Steel Mantis

Developer: Big Sugar, East2West Games

Available on: PC (Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One)

In the far reaches of space, one serious angry warrior is about to take revenge on his dad. Sometimes, to make a statement, you need to hop into a mech and lay siege to precious accessories.

Developer Steel Mantis has made a solid reputation with their state of games. Slain: Back from Hell infused hardcore gameplay with a heavy metal soundtrack to produce an interesting, memorable take on action platformers. This was followed up by Valfaris, which took that setting to space. Now, Valfaris returns, this time in an action-packed follow-up featuring mechs.

Rock and Roll

The quest against Vroll is not over. His corruption and darkness continue to spread throughout the galaxy. His Son, Therion, will not rest until revenge is enacted. However, dangerous times call for more hazardous methods. This new mission calls for Mecha Therion, a cutting-edge mech woven with the power of heavy metal and lethal firepower.

Valfaris: Mecha Therion is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up. Players move across the screen in various directions, both attacking enemies and avoiding their fire. The game follows the traditional rules of a spaceship shmups. Fight hard, avoid dying, and tack the score.

Heavy Metal

There are a few additions to the gameplay that make playing an absolute joy. Mecha Therion is a war machine. The mecha can be equipped with several different types of firearms from flaming shotguns to pulsating laser rifles. The catch is such weapons consume energy. While they aren't useless at low energy, they are greatly weakened. The key is to keep energy levels up to keep the weapons strong.

To do so, enemies are vulnerable to melee attacks. Using the sword Excalibur, players hack and slash through enemies, restoring energy while satisfyingly slaying the enemy. Finally, there is the special attack. When charged, the attack can hit multiple targets at once. One such attack uses an electric discharge to damage multiple enemies. There are two additional modules. One module can be interchanged with various parts, with some being secret. These involve throwing the sword like a boomerang or collecting far-away items with a magnet.

Cosmic Castaway

Valfaris: Mecha Therion is a rip-roaring that shreds and strikes in all the right places. The heavy metal is more than just a soundtrack. It is an aesthetic of carnage, death, and mayhem. That aesthetic is woven all over the game in every frame and pixel. While this aesthetic was in Steel Mantis' preceding games, it's still a welcome and pleasing one.

The levels have an early PlayStation vibe and the color palette reminds me of the many rock and metal covers one would see in the record store. Form asteroid bases to fortresses, and even one world that is a call back to Slain: Back from Hell. The enemy variety is imaginative too, ranging from interstellar fighters to alien jellyfish. Even the boss fights happen to have plenty of charm and character.

Blast Across the Stars

The gameplay digs hard and fills with punch. The attitude of the weapons on display is euphoric. The best is having the sword to deflect or party certain enemies. Slicing through a boss is fantastic. One in particular likes to lock weapons, leading to a standoff that is a blast to tackle. Each of the firearms has its own attitude and abilities. The shotgun, in particular, fires a flaming blast at the enemy but also has an angel accompanying the player, providing more fire at the enemy. Each weapon can be upgraded for more efficiency. To do so, players gain blood currency from defeating waves of enemies. Every wave defeated is another dollar.

Like its predecessors, Valfaris: Mecha Therion doesn't pull punches. It's a challenging game, even on normal. The screen becomes filled with enemies, all slinging heavy firepower at players. Even with a health bar, one wrong move, and the journey ends in flames. Fortunately, there is a lenient checkpoint system, but for those who dare to be the true masters of the universe, higher difficulties are there too.

Valfaris: Mecha Therion Rocks

If there is one thing I wish Valfaris: Mecha Therion was, I just wish it were a bit longer with different perspective shifts to the combat. I could easily imagine the game shifting to vertical shooting at times or behind the mech. Honestly, there isn't much to fault here other than the game's length, though spaceship shooters are known to be short. The game also has plenty of replay value, which extends the longevity of the game.

Valfaris: Mecha Therion is an amazing action spaceship shooter with a stellar presentation and a hard soundtrack. It's a wonderful successor to Slain: Back from Hell and the first Valfaris in both presentation and gameplay. I do hope that we continue to get more games like Valfaris: Mecha Therion in the weaving of soundtrack and gameplay because they make for a memorable adventure. Valfaris: Mecha Therion rocks!

VALFARIS: MECHA THERION IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Valfaris: Mecha Therion was reviewed on the PS5 thanks to a key generously supplied by Big Sugar