Review PC
Pseudoregalia: A Surreal 3D Platforming Dream
A surreal and masterful 3D platformer featuring exceptional movement and a hauntingly beautiful retro aesthetic.
Introduction to a Dream World
There used to be a time when every other day a platformer would release, some of questionable quality, and others that became critically acclaimed cult classics to this day. Not many developers tackle this genre anymore, but when something stands out this much, it deserves to be talked about. This is a 3D platformer metroidvania called Pseudoregalia. Pseudoregalia takes place in a strange castle straight out of a dream, filled with entities to fight and walls to climb. It’s basically a choose-your-own-adventure game where you can beat most of it with as many or as few upgrades as you like. If you dare, you can take on the final boss with as little added to your move set as possible.
Aesthetic and Atmosphere
This game takes inspiration from the classics that utilized the chunky, early 3D graphics of the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation 1, a style that perfectly matches the dreamlike nature of the world as you roam the complex halls and exteriors of a ruined castle. The music is genuinely breathtaking as you take your first steps into this strange world. The creature designs resemble a child’s drawings of animated objects, which isn’t a negative whatsoever. The main character, a goat-like creature named Sybil, is a great representation of the themes this game explores.
Abilities and Exploration
There are eight different abilities in this game, each serving a unique purpose that makes the map much easier to traverse. Alongside these abilities, there are certain aspects that can buff specific moves. With that in mind, the game encourages you to explore freely, reaching new areas with whatever tools you have at your disposal. Some of these tricks can be quite challenging; for example, I made it through the Underbelly without understanding most of the mechanics and somehow managed to obtain a key through a series of difficult jumps.
Combat Mechanics
The combat, aside from the final boss, is quite lackluster and can be summed up as a simple dodge-and-attack routine. The enemies don’t push your moveset to its limits, though they do serve to break up the platforming and occasionally add variety to the puzzles. I think the game showed great promise with its two boss encounters, and I’d love to see this expanded in a future title by the developer.
Movement and End-Game Content
It feels a bit like a scaled-back version of Dark Souls that focuses on movement and traversal as your main defense, though this design is undercut when the first boss lacks these mechanics. The final boss, however, is where the game truly shines, requiring you to dodge and weave through various attack patterns. Lastly, the game includes time trials that test how quickly you can complete certain sections, with the final reward being outfits to customize Sybil.
Narrative and Environmental Storytelling
For those avoiding spoilers, I’ll keep this section as brief as possible. You follow Sybil through a castle in ruin; with little information to go on, you just know you need to reach your destination before it’s too late. The story is subtle, rarely taking center stage until the end. The Goatlings scattered around the map provide small hints and tidbits of lore, but most of the storytelling comes from the environments themselves. The environmental storytelling is, in my opinion, phenomenal.
Conclusion
If you grew up loving 3D platformers like I did, or if you have ever wanted to give the genre a try, I highly recommend this title. It’s hands-down one of the best I’ve ever played, even if the combat isn’t its strongest feature. The movement is comparable to the best the genre has to offer, such as A Hat in Time, Demon Turf, or even Spyro the Dragon. The surreal feeling this game captures perfectly embodies what it means to be trapped in a dream.
Pros
- Exceptional and fluid 3D movement mechanics
- Beautiful N64-inspired aesthetic
- Breathtaking musical score
- Phenomenal environmental storytelling
- Rewarding sense of exploration and freedom
Cons
- Lackluster combat for regular enemies
- Only two major boss fights
- Subtle narrative may feel too sparse for some