By Shadowheart
Constance is a neat little Metroidvania that looks innocent from the outside, but packs a mean punch when it comes to its story, gameplay, and overall themes.
The story tackles themes of depression, burnout, and apathy in very unique ways, such as a violin session with a strict teacher or an overwhelming job with impossible-to-please coworkers. While these segments are short, they deliver their messages clearly, and it all culminates in a sense of acceptance.
The gameplay consists of platforming, combat, and puzzles:
Platforming is very responsive; it never felt like the game was robbing me, and there are plenty of uniquely crafted, intricate platforming sections. None of them feel repetitive and constantly challenge you in different ways, especially the Milkshake optional challenges, which test your mastery of everything you’ve learned and push it to its limits.
Combat is very reminiscent of the original Hollow Knight; it’s simple, but effective and fun. There aren’t many combat tools, but you can unlock variations of them that spice up the flow of combat. The enemy design is really where the combat shines, some enemies require different strategies to beat, so the depth comes more from the encounters themselves rather than the systems.
The same can be said about the bosses. They are phenomenal, each feeling distinct from the last, and you never approach any boss the same way. Truly some of the best boss variety I’ve ever encountered in a Metroidvania.
Puzzles aren’t very numerous, but they are fun. There are some repeated puzzle types, but they’re handled in different ways to keep them from becoming too repetitive. I will say that the Vanishing Vaults region had far too many puzzles for my liking, and I wish they were more spread out instead of being concentrated in one region. The puzzles themselves were still enjoyable, though.
Art Direction, Soundtrack, and World Design are closely linked to one another. For example, the Chaotic Carnival looks and feels exactly like a Chaotic Carnival thanks to its excellent music and art direction, and the same can be said about every other region. Another great example is the Astral Academy, where the music perfectly captures the whimsical atmosphere and overall vibe of the region.
The progression and mechanics are bog-standard Metroidvania. You upgrade yourself through exploration, which is very satisfying and heavily rewarded with new traversal abilities, Inspirations (basically Charms from Hollow Knight), currency to spend at the shop, Heart Pieces to upgrade your health bar, and Paint to upgrade your Paint Bar—which essentially acts as your stamina bar. Everything besides the double jump and regular attacks consumes Paint, so managing it can feel a little tough during the early game.
Honorable mention to the overall UI and menus; I love the whimsical and artsy feel they have, which fits the game’s aesthetic perfectly.
FINAL VERDICT:
For only $20, you get a beautifully crafted Metroidvania that is a concise 12-15 hour to 100% and keeps you entertained with fresh and different ideas at every turn. If you’re looking for a game reminiscent of Hollow Knight and/or Celeste, I highly recommend Constance
CONSTANCE - 8.5/10 - GREAT