• Price: $9.99 USD (currently on sale for $8.49 until November 7th; first game is also 25% off)
• Developer: KEIZO
• Publisher: Whisper Games
• Release Date: October 17, 2024

A review code was kindly provided by Pirate PR on behalf of KEIZO and Whisper Games. We thank them for allowing us to cover something they’ve worked so hard on.

Note: The first game is rated M, but this is rated E for players 10 years or older.

I reviewed action RPG ASTLIBRA Revision last year and really enjoyed it. Developer KEIZO had also released ASTLIBRA Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist as “DLC” on Steam earlier this year; it’s important to note that unlike the PC version, the Switch version is considered a “standalone story.” The original game, while I recommend it, isn’t required to enjoy ASTLIBRA Gaiden.

This story stars the reclusive baker’s daughter, who we saw in the first game. The town relies on the Guild members – the cast from Revision – to fend off demon attacks and make important deliveries. But one day they go missing, leaving the town defenseless.

So of course that’s when some demons decide to strike. The baker’s daughter freezes up, but a voice tells her to take up her broom and fight the terrifying…slimes?!? (Alright, she’s only level one, so we’ll cut her some slack.)

She manages to defeat them, and finds out that the voice came from a talking dog, who asks her to save the heroes from their predicament in the Cave of Phantom Mist. With a single battle under her (apron?) belt, she’s reluctant to put herself in danger. However, the heroes apparently have medicine that her little sister desperately needs, so off she goes!

Gameplay is similar to that of Revision, with side-scrolling action combat. Gaiden has 4 difficulty levels that affect the penalties for dying. You can switch between all difficulty levels except for Impossible.

Gaiden differs from Revision in that this game has roguelite elements; when you are defeated or when you reach the next stratum of the cave, you revert to level one again. But you keep your stat upgrades, weapons proficiency, spells, acquired items, and coins for subsequent runs.

Each stratum contains 10 stages, with a boss battle in the tenth stage. Once you reach the midpoint of a stratum, you can activate a shortcut that allows you to skip to the midpoint for future trips there.

Stages in a stratum seem to be randomized. You’ll fight demons, who drop “Force” used to upgrade/unlock your stats and magical abilities. No trip is a waste of time, as you gather Force, money, and materials to make new equipment and consumable items.

You might find treasure rooms, or a room full of monsters as you poke around each stage. The type of special room that appears in a stage varies, but it’s well worth exploring and completing those rooms to earn the rewards instead of skipping to the next stage.

If you think you’ve obtained enough resources, you can always return to town to get some upgrades and new equipment before you go deeper into the cave. You can only “Grow” your character’s stats and unlock new spells on her growth board when you’re back in her room.

It’s also possible to get equipment from some squares on that board, but the main source of equipment would be the shop in town. You have to have both the materials and the money for the equipment you want. Later on, you can also upgrade your equipment.

You more than likely won’t have much money to spare in the beginning, but when you do the town has a clothing store that sells hairstyles and costumes for your character. The optional Arena from Revision opens again in Gaiden, which allows you to challenge yourself for nice rewards.

Once you’re ready you can return to the cave. Equipment works the same as it did in the first game: equip your new weapon, armor, and shield and continue to use them until you master them and learn their skills. Polin the dog gives you access to these helpful passive skills.

The spells you unlock work the same way. Build up the ST meter by using normal attacks, and then use the best spells in your arsenal until you’ve mastered them. I really enjoyed watching the spell animations, and there’s also a neat Polin passive ability that displays which spells you have enough ST built up to use.

There are so many ways to manage your character’s growth in the ASTLIBRA games; while some upgrades can only be made in town, you can change certain aspects of your build in the cave as well. Find, buy, or earn blue magic stones used to permanently upgrade your stats, and green magic crystals increase the number of Polin skills you can equip.

You can also find different Styles, which affect the stats that increase when you level up (as well as any passive abilities that activate). For example, the first one I got was the Explorer style, which increases your weapons proficiency gains by 30%. If you get a duplicate Style, it increases its associated stats even further when you level up.

What’s great is that if you want to get even stronger before facing the next boss, you can return to the previous stratums to farm for Force and grind for equipment and magic experience. Although you start at level one each time you enter, you will continue to become a much stronger level one for when you start again.

As you descend into the cave’s depths, you’ll get bits and pieces of story. It’s not as expansive as the plot in Revision, but it’s at least connected to that story. There are 5 stratums in the main portion of Gaiden, and after the credits roll you can complete the bonus scenario, which “contains spoilers set after the main game’s extra chapter.”

The developer recommends clearing that story first before playing this game’s extra content. Players can explore additional character growth options in the bonus scenario, which I kind of wish were available in the main content.

Those who loved ASTLIBRA Revision will also enjoy this experience. Revision took me about 70 hours to complete at level 86, and had more story content. If you want a slightly shorter game with less dialogue, Gaiden is also a fantastic action RPG that allows you to experiment with character growth over 20+ hours.

Both games have gorgeous environments, excellent soundtracks, and engaging gameplay. They’re a delight for completionists especially; for just under $40 you can get both games, which will last you close to 100 hours.