Astlibra Revision was an action RPG that caught many gamers off-guard. It was an epic vision by a humble developer with dreams befitting the IMAX format. The story centered on an unnamed hero and his talking crow Karon who go on a quest spanning years, involving time travel, demons, and a lot of crass humor and dirty jokes.
Astlibra was not just an unpredictable anime fever dream with visions of big-breasted angels; it had combat and RPG mechanics akin to Vanillaware’s games. For a hobbyist-made game, it felt like something out of a game industry veteran. It quickly developed a dedicated cult following and would get a DLC side story released on PC.
You don’t need to have played Astlibra Revision to enjoy Astlibra Gaiden. This is possibly why the developer released it as a standalone game on Nintendo Switch. What can gamers expect from this combat-focused action RPG? How is this dog talking? Why does the music sound so awesome? Find out in our Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist review!
ASTLIBRA Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist
Developer: KEIZO
Publisher: WhisperGames
Platforms: Windows PC, Nintendo Switch (reviewed)
Release Date: October 17, 2024
Price: $9.99
Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist centers on a lowly baker girl. In any other JRPG, this character would have been an NPC you spoke to once and forgotten about as you pressed on to go battle some dragon in a Goddamned epic dungeon. In Astlibra Gaiden, that random NPC living in the bakery just so happens to be on a psychedelic journey, plunging deep into a space-bending cave festooned with all the horrors of hell.
The story is very light and designed to foster arcade-like action as players go deeper into randomized floors of the Cave of Phantom Mist. The rogue-lite mechanics are very forgiving if the baker dies in the cave. She gets to keep almost everything she acquires and there’s no penalty for exiting.
The only thing the baker loses when she leaves or dies is her level is reset back to level one. Not that it will matter much because the growth system in Astlibra Gaiden is incredibly deep and carried over from Astlibra Revision. All weapon skills are retained, all money is kept, and most of the power-up crystals are kept so gamers can level up base stats and stat growth.
It won’t matter that the protagonist is back to level one because after powering up, she becomes insanely strong after a couple of level-ups. It’s satisfying to witness the raw and awesome power of a humble baker village maiden become an all-powerful Valkyrie of doom, casting gravity spells and performing devastating combos.
If you played Astlibra Revision, then you will feel at home with all of the game mechanics and systems to level up. Where Gaiden is unique is how the rogue elements allow players to not commit to a single play style since the baker maiden always resets to level one. There is more opportunity to be flexible and the randomized gameplay fosters improvisation, keeping gamers on their toes.
Customization is vast and nigh-infinite. There are multiple styles to choose from which grant large base stat builds. This is handy for gamers who invested heavily in strength but decided to give magic a chance. The protagonist’s talking dog, Polin, also gains passive abilities for the hero which operate like the ability system in Final Fantasy IX. No matter what, it always feels like players are working toward something to improve.
The equipment and combat mechanics differ from Astlibra Revision, and while there are some shared skills, new abilities are introduced that emphasize a magical, caster-focused playstyle. This alternative approach proved to be enjoyable and effective, offering a refreshing change.
The battles in the Cave of Phantom Mist are a raucous cacophony of undead and eldritch abominations meeting the fat end of a blade and searing flames frying their flesh. The combat was one of the high points in Astlibra Revision and it still impresses in Gaiden thanks to the emphasis on magical attacks and cathartic explosive effects.
Customization also extends to cosmetics. The baker maiden’s attire can be customized and players aren’t limited to her plain dress and apron. The options at the dress shop are diverse and parts are broken up by hairstyles, accessories, tops, and bottoms. There are classics like witch hats and maid outfits, but there are also some impressively sexy options like the Japanese high school bloomer shorts or the fetish gear.
Gamers won’t be disappointed with the range and possibilities to customize the protagonist. It can be a bit of a grind to get some of the sexier choices, but it is totally worth it since the artists have improved since Astlibra Revision. The characters’ movements are fluid and hypnotic, inviting the viewer into a world of limitless imagination.
Sometimes the backgrounds resemble a collage of photographs on multiple layers to imply depth. The dungeon floors don’t always look great and succumb to some harsh sprite tiling. The unconventional visual style takes a little getting used to, but when you do, it becomes an aspect of Astlibra‘s identity.
The sound design is intense and visceral. Every metallic clash and monstrous roar resonates physically, enhancing the experience. The parry sound is particularly satisfying, reinforcing the weight and impact of the actions. The music is like a boisterous anime intro; wailing electric guitars and frenetic melodies against brilliant azure skies.
Anyone who enjoyed Astlibra Revision will enjoy this excellent side story in ASTLIBRA Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist.
While the story itself is nothing special, the action is rousing, and the cycle of running through the cave is stimulating. Getting the sexy outfits is the real journey of the game and will take gamers well over 20 hours to earn, which is a huge value for ten dollars.
ASTLIBRA Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist was reviewed on a Nintendo Switch using a code provided by WhisperGames. You can find additional information about Niche Gamer’s review/ethics policy here. ASTLIBRA Gaiden: Cave of Phantom Mist is now available for Windows PC (via Steam) and Nintendo Switch.
