Steel Seed
Steel Seed
Game
Game2024
AWAKEN - Astral Blade
Developer Dark Pigeon Games
AWAKEN - Astral Blade is a 2.5D action-adventure metroidvania where you play as Tania, a bionic warrior fighting through a world twisted by Karpas energy. Master parries, upgrade your abilities, and survive relentless enemies and bosses. Is there any chance of survival in such a desperate place? From the Steam store page
219 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy, Mastodon) · newest Nov 2, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
78
LovedLoved
151 positive · 43 negative
95% range 71–83%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 151 | 43 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 2 | 1 | 19 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 1 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
337 of 400 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
79% recommend · 152 yes, 41 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 193 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (1,041 of 1,267 positive).
Players find Awaken - Astral Blade a decent but unremarkable metroidvania with strong visuals. [1][2][3] The combat is fluid and fun, though some criticize boss fights as frustrating. [4][5][6] The story is considered generic and the English voice acting dull. [2][7][8]
Liked
Representative posts
- [5]
The game is pretty alright (6.5/10) with one massive glaring issue: the bosses. They're awful. Damage sponges, able to stunlock you, attack timings feel inconsistent and I feel the parry just doesn't work sometimes on attacks it worked on last attempt. Add that for some reason almost every boss has two phases. It really feels like the bosses were designed less to be a fun challenge and more just to be a frustrating …
- [1]
As of finishing this game and getting the "True Ending", my feelings on the game are, overall, pretty solid. I do recommend this game BUT with conditions. If you're going into this expecting a deep and complex storyline with lots of lore like you get in other Metroidvanias like Nine Sols and Hollow Knight then you maybe a little disappointed. Not to say the story is bad or anything as there are some good ideas here …
- [2]
Very decent metroidvania, but nothing more. Visual style is, probably, the strongest side of the game. It's beautiful. Story is kinda okay, but nothing special. It's simple and predictable, but good enough. Music just exists. Just simple ambient tracks. Yes, they kinda fit each location but they're not catchy and I don't have an urge to add any of them to my playlist like I added almost each track from HK. Also …
- [7]
Awaken: Astral Blade is a Chinese Metroidvania that draws heavy inspiration from Nier: Automata in both character design and plot. While it doesn’t reach the same narrative heights or existential depth as its muse, it remains a solid experience for fans of the genre. What you might like: Fluid Combat: Fast-paced action with a satisfying parry system and weapon variety (Sword, Scythe, and Darts). Exploration: The map …
- [3]
This is a rather bland metroidvania but it is otherwise serviceable. I got the first ending and I'm not going to be able to get the other ones because apparently it requires doing an impossible platforming challenge. Maybe there is an ability that lets you triple jump? I don't know. It takes a lot of inspiration from afterimage and it has better writing, but as a game it is clearly weaker than afterimage. For the …
Summarised from 34 of the 226 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 12, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
79% of the 193 Steam reviewers we collected recommend AWAKEN - Astral Blade. The complaint that keeps coming up: boss fights are damage sponges with inconsistent timings. Deal-breaker or nitpick?
Reactions
60 of 219 · most liked firstThe game is pretty alright (6.5/10) with one massive glaring issue: the bosses. They're awful. Damage sponges, able to stunlock you, attack timings feel inconsistent and I feel the parry just doesn't work sometimes on attacks it worked on last attempt. Add that for some reason almost every boss has two phases. It really feels like the bosses were designed less to be a fun challenge and more just to be a frustrating time waster.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The story is ok... I think. The translation was never proofread by a native speaker. Exploration is fun like all metroid wannabes, held back by a not very helpful map. Unlike Afterimage, the combat isn't fun. You get all moves at the beginning and keep doing the same moves for the next 30 hours. Sound is barebones
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I saw another review point out the boss fights as a big weak point, but I ignored it - even if they're bad, it can't be so bad for that alone to leave a negative review, right? Reader, let me tell you, they are. I'm not able to fully express in words the disappointing soul-drain I experienced during the boss fights. I will probably still finish this game, slowly, as I build up my fortitude between play sessions. But... wow, I really can't recommend it to others unless you have a very high…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Look, I like metroidvanias but am also not very good at games, so I have a low standard when it comes to pretty stylised metroidvanias that I actually have an ability to play (unlike, say, Nine Sols). And as such I won't pretend I didn't have a whole lot of fun with this until the final boss (which I could not do). But christ this game is a mess. Nonexistent worldbuilding consistency, a serious lack of enemy variety and the whole thing just feels sloppy. It fills time but I'd still have to…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Awaken - Astral Blade (why do so many games insist on sub-headers now?) is a sedate platformer that struggles to be a metroidvania until about a third of the way through. The story begins with voiced dialog that makes the Saturday morning toy commercials of the 80s look Shakespearean by comparison, but, as you progress, you find that only segments of dialog are given even that much attention. This is, perhaps, for the best, as to call the writing middling would be an insult to fan fiction you…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Current game lineup this week.... Review copies: - Awaken: Astral Blade - The Bridge Curse 2 Pre-orders: - Sonic x Shadow - Black Ops 6 Want to keep playing: - Metaphor - Ys 9 - Castlevania GBA Collection So much to play, so little time!
neutral · AI labelView post →I bought this game after the demo convinced me to add it to my wishlist. Oh boi, why did i do that ? Playing it was a chore, a slog. This game doesn't shine anywhere, there is nothing special in it. It's neither super bad nor really good, it's ... meh (4-5 / 10) ? (Maybe i played too much games of this genre ?) Here my opinion on Astral Blade : (+) Graphics : Environments are OK, Animations are flashy, it's not beautiful nor ugly, but it does it's job. (+) Exploration : map is at…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I love Metroidvanias. I love the exploration and skill useage. Something about this game just isn't fun. It is higher action yes, but sometimes in a weirdly limiting way. The art style looks better in the images than it feels like in game. I felt as though I would leave an area then be permanently gone from it never to return. I've yet to find anyway to backtrack at all and here is where it loses that metroidvania field. there a few points where you just progress and can't go back. Also, in the…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →There’s a part towards the end of the game. Where you’re in a maze like area taking portals. Near these portals there are turrets on top of the ceiling. Well as you’re entering these portals, apparently the turrets can hit you. It was a very frustrating area. Also there are many area you’re climbing up to a new platform, well as your character is doing the climbing animation, an enemy is already charging at you. Once my character is finished climbing, I’m already getting hit and knocked back…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game has good sound, graphics and control. Unfortunately it feels infected with Souls-like ideas where even little mistakes are heavily punished. Hard to sit back and enjoy.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As of finishing this game and getting the "True Ending", my feelings on the game are, overall, pretty solid. I do recommend this game BUT with conditions. If you're going into this expecting a deep and complex storyline with lots of lore like you get in other Metroidvanias like Nine Sols and Hollow Knight then you maybe a little disappointed. Not to say the story is bad or anything as there are some good ideas here and I did like Tania as a character but the plot just felt a bit lacking to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I enjoyed this game somewhat, enough to finish it, but I have a hard time recommending it in the state that it's in. The story is passable, but is relayed to the player in 'cutscenes' that generally involve zooming in or out of a sketchy, awkward looking drawing-kind of reminiscent of an animatic but lacking the refinement that a fully released game should have. The gameplay isn't bad, and feels pretty smooth for combat purposes. The weapons are relatively interesting and I will say that the…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →it has been over a week since i last played overwatch so playing some now was a bit refreshing. will continue the weirdery that is called Awaken: Astral Blade tomorrow and maybe probably finish it?! Legend says it's a super short game so we will see anyhow have a good one chat, sleep tight 🫡
neutral · AI labelView post →It's an "okay'ish" game. The core gameplay and visuals are decent. Pros: You get the double jump very early and you can pet cats. Cons: 1. The character design does not suit the environment. 2. The game's audio is barely existing, lots of squish sounds and not much else. 3. Let’s say half of the map is ok and the other part is just bad (empty area, bad platform). 4. Movement is pretty janky. 5. Many bosses and enemies are redesigned or…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Pros Beautifully Vivid Art Style Story: Nothing Gripping, But Not Terrible Music Soundtrack That Goes From Tranquil to Intense Steam Deck/Linux Friendly (with frame dips as low as 40FPS in some of the larger levels of the game when playing on Deck.) Voice Acting: Better In The Original Chinese Gameplay Mechanics: Average, But Fun You Can Pet 12 Cats! Accessibility Features for Story Quests (But none for hidden items) Cons: When reading the dialogue, sometimes the names don't change when a…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have played a lot of metroidvanias, this one is very boring and the world is very empty. Im surprised of how many positive reviews this game has. I lost interest to the story at the beginning to the game. The combat feels good and even has a parry system... that's it
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Enjoyed every minute of this game. Never had an issue. Status should be changed to verified.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Awaken - Astral Blade" tries really ambitious, but it just falls flat. It's like the game is trying to do too much and ends up doing nothing well. First off, the story lost my interest almost immediately. You're supposed to care Tania and and her relationship with her father, and the history of this world, but the characters are dull, and nothing exciting ever really happens. It feels like a story you've heard a million times before. Then there's the lore – that's all the backstory and…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Awesome GAME!! I'm definitely looking forward to the next Metroidvania you guys put out,as this ticked all the boxes Highly recommend to anyone thinking of getting the game!!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Solid metroidvania style game. Enemy difficulty weirdly spikes in the mid game and then reduces down to 'trivial' in the late game. There is a LOT of GRIME-esque precision platforming, but there is an option to make that skippable if that's not your thing. ~18 play hours gets you 100% and both endings.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Awaken – Astral Blade delivers a dark and richly textured adventure where you play as Tania, a bionic girl exploring ancient ruins, mysterious energy mutations, and increasingly dangerous foes. You’ll fight using fluid combos, dodge or parry attacks, employ a Quick Rise to recover fast, and even slow down time when dashing into enemies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGssWlWNE-k Collecting Aether feels rewarding, you can enhance Tania’s skills, upgrade weapons, or buy useful items…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Played on OG 512 Steam Deck without issues. Enjoyed this beautiful game very much!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very decent metroidvania, but nothing more. Visual style is, probably, the strongest side of the game. It's beautiful. Story is kinda okay, but nothing special. It's simple and predictable, but good enough. Music just exists. Just simple ambient tracks. Yes, they kinda fit each location but they're not catchy and I don't have an urge to add any of them to my playlist like I added almost each track from HK. Also voice acting in eng is dull, not even all of the dialogues are fully voiced. Map…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Well, 100% on my first playthrough and it was a lot of fun for the most part. I liked the level design and movement skills you had and the combos were cool as well. This really felt like a sort of 'Afterimage lite' and I hope to get another game down the line. There are a few critiques for sure like limited enemy variety, some recycled bosses especially during Cythna's quest and the final weapon - those throwing thingies - came way too late so I basically did not use them at all. The story was…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's a pretty fun game honestly. The combat is pretty fun, the game doesn't need a computer from NASA to run, the story is pretty interesting.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I got bored half way through. MV is one of my favorite genres, and all I ask is that a game to have 3 of any of this 5 things to hook me; good exploration, good visuals, good combat/movement, good story and good music. This game might only have 1, the visuals, but not that good tbh just average it just looks good on SS. Combat and movement is floaty and feels unresponsive when you need it most, enemies are damage sponges (but maybe I didn't grasp which upgrades are actually good since early…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Feels clunky and cheap. Combat is all over the place and the first boss (mini-boss?) has sudden and severe difficulty spike.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Decent Metroidvania. It is difficult at times, but there several settings to get by the tough spots.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A dark, beautiful Metroidvania with a strong personality. The combat animations are easily some of the best in the genre. A must-play for fans of stylish action games.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Hello, Bluesky! We're ESDigital Games, Indie Game Publisher behind Steel Seed, AWAKEN - Astral Blade, BattleJuice Alchemist, Sky of Tides and more! 🎮👋 #indiegames #videogames
neutral · AI labelView post →Made me listen to Christmas music in the summer. Final boss's projectile killed me on its way back after I beat her. 10/10. Seriously, though, the game's mechanics are on point. Combat feels like a souls-like, giving you access to an invulnerable dodge, running by holding down the button after said dodge and parries. But it amps the action RPG elements up to a level similar to fighting games in that you can convert your basic combos into special moves (performed similarly to command normals…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Games like this live and die by how crisp and responsive the combat system is. Here it's clunky, and altogether plain frustrating.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →When you look at it, this game feels like a sci-fi take on AfterImage. And I'm not the only one who thinks that- the developers actually did a collab with the game, and Renee's outfit can be used in-game. But despite the looks, Awaken is very much it's own thing. You play as Tania, a "synth" (read: android) employed by a scientific conglomerate that is trying to unlock the secrets of an alien planet. The research complex is located close to the ruins of a magnificent city, and throughout the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Awaken: Astral Blade is a Chinese Metroidvania that draws heavy inspiration from Nier: Automata in both character design and plot. While it doesn’t reach the same narrative heights or existential depth as its muse, it remains a solid experience for fans of the genre. What you might like: Fluid Combat: Fast-paced action with a satisfying parry system and weapon variety (Sword, Scythe, and Darts). Exploration: The map is well-designed and rewards you with plenty of upgrades and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a rather bland metroidvania but it is otherwise serviceable. I got the first ending and I'm not going to be able to get the other ones because apparently it requires doing an impossible platforming challenge. Maybe there is an ability that lets you triple jump? I don't know. It takes a lot of inspiration from afterimage and it has better writing, but as a game it is clearly weaker than afterimage. For the first 8 hours or so, you'll get the metroid dread treatment but thankfully it does…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Don’t underestimate this one. It looks pretty, sure, but it’ll absolutely test your reflexes.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →GAME #23 Awaken: Astral Blade Really not worth any big words imo It's fine for what it wants to be The story is super whatever Gameplay starts shining in the later half tho and it's super short so it kinda works (also the game gets piss easy at the end..) also i found peak
neutral · AI labelView post →Overall it's just decent. Exploration is actually very good for a metroidvania. The combat and the skill tree system is also very fluid and responsive. The enemy variety definitely could be better though. And the boss quality could be way way better. I think the only two bosses that were actually sort of alright were dr herveus and the final boss. Story was okay, didn't really care a lot towards the end though. I will say, that area with all the portals is karpa airship could be better designed…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →While the game doesn’t shy away from tough encounters, it never crosses into the realm of frustration. A beautifully crafted game with ambition and respect for its genre lineage.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I had an excellent time playing this. The combat kept me hooked, the environments and smooth traversal kept it feeling good to explore, and the story/voice acting gave it this oldschool, cobbled-together vibe that I really found myself enjoying. Think, "you were almost a Jill-sandwich!" and you'll have an idea of what I mean. If you like metroidvanias, this is worth a play.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game is great and fun, even though it's short. However, it has the right idea, design, and characters. Thanks to the producers and everyone who made it. We hope to see a similar or even better game in the future. Thanks again.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The combat is the highlight here, nothing special, nothing flashy but when you are overpowered is kind of fun. The map is terrible imo, i found it very confusing. Some of the jumps you have to make to get some items are going to frustrate some players. Story is very mid but I usually dont care about stories in games. Got it from a steam sale under 7 dollars and finished it 100% in around 15 hours (don;t know why steam says is a lot more). Overall 6/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The combat system feels handcrafted for players who like precision and challenge. The mix of dark fantasy and futuristic elements gives the game a unique soul. Absolute gem.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fast-paced action with perfect parry windows and slick dodges. Love it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →1hr first impression says fans of Metroidvania games will enjoy this. Sadly, the genre doesnt appeal too much to me, but not enough to downvote the game. Play if its to your liking
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I feel like the demo was better. overall id give this a 6/10 very little enemy variety and pallet swap bosses.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →@pressengine.net provided the review code and Jason got completely lost (in a good way) in Awaken - Astral Blade. Check out his review: www.deargamers.net/reviews/awak...
neutral · AI labelView post →NOW ONLINE!! AWAKEN Astral Blade - I had forgotten about this game til now 【 21:9 Ultrawide 60fps / ENG 】 twitch.tv/onepunkarmy #Twitch #TwitchStreamer #TwitchStreaming #TwitchStreamers #TwitchGaming0
neutral · AI labelView post →AWAKEN Astral Blade is a cozy little metroidvania with a big heart. The exploration feels classic, the combat is fun, and, most importantly, you can rescue cats, pet cats, and then have those same cats help you sniff out secrets.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Awaken - Astral Blade is a solid pick for fans of hack & slash metroidvanias. The game features a nice art style, attractive character design, challenging bosses, and satisfying combo mechanics. Combat feels fluid, and overall control is responsive. Its biggest strength, in my opinion, is the movement and positioning of the main character - it actually does this better than Afterimage, which is quite impressive. It’s not perfect, but definitely worth checking out if you enjoy the genre.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →the EN dubbing is so bad, just turn it off then turn your brain off next, you don't need to read the story because it like an AI hallucinating and write it out just don't buy because of the "Yes, you can pet cats /ᐠ｡" text at the game description like i am
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Gameplay is captivating, music fits the areas/scenes, and progression is fun and not tedious.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game feels good if you enjoy hitting combos and perfect parrys/dodges. You don't lose ressources upon dying. What I like the most? That I don't get damaged when I run into enemies. They can bodyblock you, yes. But you can dodge through them if they do. You only have to dodge or parry the actual attacks. So you don't have to worry about colliding with enemies. Difficulty? You can adjust it as you want. There is also an option to skip difficult plattforming sections. Story? Don't care…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Absolute banger of a hidden gem metriodvania. The combat system is exhilarating, fluid, dynamic and the spotlight of the game. Every time I pick this up I become immersed, engaged and it's hard to put down. The visuals and level design is pure eye candy, Bosses are a bit lackluster but can be challenging. Overall I give this a solid 8/10 and an easy pickup for most fans of the genre.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →AWAKEN- Astral Blade is an okay game. The basic enemies are very reoccurring as you explore a map and find items to upgrade your weapons and increase your health. I found combat to be engaging despite being very simplistic. Attack and then push the pad in different directions for different combos. The game has a parry mechanic which helped with the third boss but in general I never bothered using it. You can spend your money on new abilities but I completed the game without unlocking half…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Amazing action metroidvania! Must play for fans of the genre, fun fact - this is my 101st 100% game :D Suggestion, do yourself a favor and play it 1st time on HardCore, my 1st play was on HC and I think lower difficulties are 2 easy/shouldn't be there.. + Great graphics + Amazing combat/comboes + 3 weapons to have fun with (usually would say needs more but for the comboes in the game its perfect) + Nice enemy variety - Enemies are often 2 easy, not challenging enough + Great bosses - Wish…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I just beat the game for Ending A - clicking "Go Review" took me here instead of where I thought I was going, to clues to what I might have missed for other endings. Overall, 8/10 game - I would have liked more exploration and just "loose wandering" in my Metroidvania. Combat and movement does take a bit of getting used to, but it's not horrible. Overall: if you've played Afterimage and want more, this is a game you should look at.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As a fan of the metroidvania / 2D platformer genre, I actually quite liked this game. Now, don't get me wrong, the story is pretty bad but when it comes to platformers, I usually zone out anyway. Like a few others in its class, its not going to re-write any rule books but if you are new to the genre and working your way up to the big guns like Hollow Knight or Aeterna Noctis, then this is great launching platform. Not too difficult, interesting combat, tried and tested powers and a half…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →a new review is up on the calamity archives: part 1 of a group of smaller game reviews, including the demos of EDEN'S GUARDIAN, EMBERBANE, RUBI: THE WAYWARD MIRA, and AWAKEN - ASTRAL BLADE! calamityarchives.wordpress.com/2024/02/17/s...
neutral · AI labelView post →NOW ONLINE!! AWAKEN Astral Blade - Somehow I had forgotten about this game again! 【 21:9 Ultrawide 60fps / ENG 】 twitch.tv/onepunkarmy #Twitch #TwitchStreamer #TwitchStreaming #TwitchStreamers #TwitchGaming
neutral · AI labelView post →
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