Valdis Story: Abyssal City

The main pros of the game

• Combat System: Many users praised the combat as fun, challenging, and rewarding, with a variety of combos and magic elements to experiment with. The satisfaction of defeating bosses and the ability to earn permanent stat boosts were highlighted as positive aspects.
• Art and Sound Design: The hand-drawn art style and the soundtrack were frequently mentioned as standout features, contributing to the game's unique identity and immersive experience.
• Engaging Story: Several reviews noted the compelling storyline and enjoyable dialogue, adding depth to the gameplay experience.
• Exploration: The game offers a decent-sized map with plenty of treasures and opportunities for exploration, which is a hallmark of the Metroidvania genre.

The main cons of the game

• Control Issues: A common complaint was about the controls being awkward or clunky, making combat and platforming frustrating at times. Some users found the movement mechanics to be stiff and difficult to master.
• Difficulty Level: The game is perceived as quite challenging, particularly for newcomers. Boss fights can be punishing, and the requirement for high scores to improve stats added to the difficulty.
• Backtracking and Level Scaling: Many players found the backtracking tedious, especially with enemies scaling to the player’s level, which undermined the sense of progression and made exploration feel less rewarding.
• Platforming Challenges: Timing puzzles and platforming sections were described as unforgiving, with some players expressing frustration over the strict requirements.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

• Replayability: Some users felt that the game lacked sufficient incentive to replay, as they felt they had seen most of what it had to offer after one playthrough. Suggestions for more varied character builds or different play modes were implied.
• Improved Magic System: A number of reviews indicated that the magic system could be streamlined, with some spells deemed situational and unnecessary, suggesting that cutting down the number of spells could improve gameplay.
• Quality of Life Improvements: Users expressed a desire for features like skipping dialogue or a more forgiving backtracking system to enhance the overall experience.
• Enhanced Leveling System: The leveling up process was seen as underwhelming, with users wanting a more satisfying progression system that felt impactful.

Summary

• Overall, *Valdis Story: Abyssal City* is recognized for its strong combat and artistic presentation, but it also faces criticism for its control mechanics, difficulty spikes, and some gameplay design choices that may frustrate players.

Summary generated on: November 24, 2025