Alwa’s Legacy is a modern retro game full of dangerous dungeons, mystic items and ancient secrets. Upgrade your magic and choose your own path in this non-linear adventure game brimming with exploration.
The player controls Zoe, a young adventurer, who must navigate the interconnected world and uncover its ancient secrets. Zoe has three main abilities: a protective block, a floating bubble, and a lightning bolt attack. These abilities can be upgraded and combined in various ways to traverse the environment and overcome obstacles. For example, the block can create platforms, shield against enemies, or be thrown as a projectile, while the bubble allows the player to float to high platforms or change Zoe's color to activate different mechanisms.
The non-linear world encourages exploration, as new abilities and upgrades gradually unlock, granting access to previously inaccessible areas. The world is filled with secrets and hidden paths, rewarding thorough investigation with optional items and collectibles that enhance Zoe's traversal options. To mitigate repetitive backtracking, the game features a fast-travel system that allows the player to quickly move between discovered warp points.
Puzzle-solving is a core part of the gameplay, presenting a variety of environmental challenges that often require creatively using Zoe's abilities in different combinations. These puzzles range from simple platform challenges to more complex, multi-stepped conundrums, striking a good balance between difficulty and engagement.
While combat is not the main focus, the game features enemy encounters and boss fights. The combat system is relatively simple, with the lightning bolt attack being the primary offensive option. Enemies typically have straightforward attack patterns that can be learned and avoided through careful timing and positioning. The overall difficulty leans more towards a puzzle-platforming experience, and the game offers an "Assist Mode" for a more forgiving experience.
Progression is tied to the collection of blue orbs, which can be used to upgrade Zoe's three core abilities. The upgrade system provides a sense of character growth and customization, as players can tailor Zoe's abilities to their preferred playstyle, whether it's focusing on mobility, defensive capabilities, or offensive power.