Valfaris: Mecha Therion

The main pros of the game

• Visuals and Art Style: The game features impressive graphics and a unique 2.5D aesthetic that many players found appealing. The visual design is often described as a love letter to PlayStation-era aesthetics, creating a vibrant and engaging atmosphere.
• Soundtrack: The heavy metal soundtrack is widely praised, adding energy and intensity to the gameplay experience.
• Gameplay Mechanics: The combination of ranged and melee attacks introduces a strategic element to the gameplay, where players must manage their ammo while engaging in combat.
• Boss Fights: Boss encounters are well-designed and engaging, providing a satisfying challenge for players.
• Fair Difficulty: Many players appreciated the balanced difficulty, with a forgiving checkpoint system that allows for repeated attempts without excessive frustration.
• Replayability: The game offers a variety of weapons and upgrades, encouraging players to experiment with different playstyles and replay the game on higher difficulties.

The main cons of the game

• Gameplay Shift: Some players were disappointed with the shift from the original run-and-gun style of the first Valfaris to a side-scrolling shoot 'em up format, feeling it detracted from the experience.
• Limited Ammo Mechanics: The need to melee to regain ammo was criticized by some as limiting and cumbersome, detracting from the overall enjoyment of a traditional shoot 'em up experience.
• Minimal Story: The narrative is considered thin and not as engaging as in previous titles, with some players feeling that the story does not justify the gameplay changes.
• Visibility Issues: Several reviews mentioned difficulty in visibility due to the chaotic screen clutter and flashy effects, which could be exacerbated for colorblind players.

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

• Cloud Saves: Some players noted the absence of cloud save functionality, which was present in the original Valfaris.
• Customizable Control Schemes: There were complaints about the inability to customize keybindings as freely as in the previous game, which affected some players' preferred playstyles.
• More Depth in Storytelling: Users expressed a desire for a more developed narrative that ties together the lore of Valfaris and its sequel, as well as a more substantial engagement with the characters.
• Perfect Guard System: The removal of the perfect guard mechanic from prior games was mentioned as a loss, as it added depth to combat in the original titles.

Summary

• Overall, Valfaris: Mecha Therion is seen as a strong title in its own right, despite the significant shift in gameplay style and some criticisms regarding its mechanics and story depth. Many players enjoyed the new direction, while others preferred the original's gameplay.

Summary generated on: October 30, 2025