Valfaris: Mecha Therion

“Valfaris: Mecha Therion is a another indie gem. The original was one of best, most challenging and enjoyable run n’ gun games I had played. Switching the sequel to the shmup genre while keeping the action packed gameplay from the previous entry offers a fresh take. Valfairs: Mecha Therion, much like its predecessor, is a must play experience. If you’re looking for a fun challenge, don’t miss out.”

“Valfaris: Mecha Therion is the direct continuation of 2018's Valfaris but with a gender change in between. From 2D action and platforms to a horizontally scrolling shoot 'em up without losing any of the essence that made the first game popular, what's more, with certain mechanics taken from here and there that make Mecha Therion a very interesting Martian killer. Hectic but with an important component of strategy. Valfaris: Mecha Therion is definitely a pleasant surprise for fans of the first game, and a joy for shoot 'em up fans.”

“If you're a fan of PS2-era shoot 'em ups then you'll happily bang your head to the jams that Valfaris: Mecha Therion is rockin'.”

“Mecha Therion marks an important transition for Steel Mantis. After the success garnered with the first Valfaris, the development team decides to revolutionize its creature, abandoning a successful play structure in favor of a scrolling arcade shooter with bullet hell overtones. The courage is rewarded with a title that is once again compelling and unscrupulous, if much more contained and less dazzling. In the impossibility of comparing two such different titles, it becomes mere subjective taste to prefer one or the other but one thing remains certain: the metal continues to flow powerfully.”

“Valfaris: Mecha Therion did not relax us. This is not a relaxing game at all, but it is an enjoyable one and an easy recommendation if you're in the market for a fun, action-heavy shooter. Blasting through waves of ships, rival mechs, and alien orbs, and making iterative progress as you master each section of the game, is a fun loop. Balancing your attack and defence can be challenging but rewarding. The only downside worth mentioning is there is almost no explanation of the previous game's story. Therefore, it would probably be best to play them in order if you want to make sense of exactly what's going on.”

“Valfaris: Mecha Therion, the new work of Steel Mantis, is the sequel to the acclaimed Valfaris that bets its entire legacy on a radical change of genre. It is one of those titles that we can leave installed on our hard disk since the space it occupies is well used. Besides, bursting mutant insects or battling a colossal boss to the sound of the best heavy metal is epic at any time, day or season of the year.”

“Valfaris: Mecha Therion changes the genre, simplifies the game structure and loses the complexity of the first game.”

“Valfaris: Mecha Therion is an awesome shoot-'em-up. It does a good job of encapsulating the classic shooter sensibilities while also making sure the melee combat fits in without feeling shoehorned. The presentation adheres to the heavy metal style artwork well, while also not obscuring anything of importance. The pacing ensures that the frustration is kept to a minimum. It is nice to see a shooter that isn't just another top-down bullet hell game, and genre fans of all skill levels will really enjoy Mecha Therion.”

“Valfaris: Mecha Therion is a fun follow-up to the original Valfaris that takes what made that one good and slaps it into an entirely new genre.”

“Valfaris: Mecha Therion is a blood-pumping, head-banging, monster-bashing sequel to an excellent game. Steel Mantis has graciously transformed Valfaris into a brutal 2.5D Shmup while keeping the identity of the original intact. It’s a different but, ultimately, familiar experience. I’m all up for a Metroidvania threequel now.”

“A really nicely crafted little shooter with a banging metal soundtrack and the look and feel of the PlayStation 1 era. It's well worth checking out if you're a fan of the genre.”

“Valfaris: Mecha Therion is an intense bullet hell shooter that never takes it foot of the pedal, filled with fantastic gunplay and visuals.”

“The blend of metal music with the constant action of a shmup is a fantastic experience that I would recommend to any fan of the genre.”