Valfaris: Mecha Therion (2023)

Developer: Steel Mantis
Publisher: Silver Lining Interactive
Platforms: Windows
Genres: Action, Indie
Rating: 4.6 of 5, 454 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 6.5 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

Playing Valfaris: Mecha Therion feels like piloting a high-powered metal death machine through a relentless, chaotic barrage of color, gore, and explosive firepower.

explosive actionfast-pacedheavy metalintenseviolentdifficultretro-stylearcade-like

What players say

Players are split on the shift from metroidvania to shmup, calling it a fantastic arcade shooter that demands memorization. Difficulty spikes force learning by heart, and some find it less compelling than the original despite solid action.

Screenshots

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More by Steel Mantis

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.