Slivercall: A Retro Action-Platformer RPG Adventure

Slivercall, a new action-adventure RPG, has just launched on Steam, inviting players into a retro pixel-style world filled with challenging platforming and fast-paced combat. As an amnesiac adventurer, you'll navigate treacherous terrain, battle monsters, and collect Memory Crystals to uncover your lost past and the truth behind Aishe's rise as the "Saintess". Is this retro-inspired journey worth embarking on? This review dives into the core mechanics, performance, and overall value of Slivercall to help you decide.

Embarking on a Nostalgic Quest in Slivercall

Slivercall is a love letter to classic action-platformer RPGs, boasting a charming retro aesthetic and a compelling narrative. The game's pixel-art style immediately evokes a sense of nostalgia, while its tight controls and challenging level design provide a rewarding gameplay experience. Players will take on the role of a forgotten hero, tasked with piecing together their memories by collecting over 100 Memory Crystals scattered throughout the game world. This collection mechanic serves as both a primary objective and a means of gradually revealing the story, adding depth and intrigue to the exploration. The game features nearly 100 meticulously designed stages that will test your skills. From navigating treacherous jumps to engaging in thrilling battles, every level presents a unique challenge that demands precision and strategic thinking.

Combat in Slivercall is fast-paced and engaging, requiring players to master a variety of weapons, armor pieces, and accessories. With over 20 weapons, 20 armor pieces, and 30 accessories, each with unique abilities, players have ample opportunity to customize their character and develop their own playstyle. The game also features epic boss fights and diverse NPCs, adding further depth and variety to the gameplay experience. One of the most intriguing aspects of Slivercall is its multiple endings. The fate of the protagonist, and the world around them, depends on how much of their memory you restore, adding replayability to the title. Players will need to explore every nook and cranny of the game world and collect as many Memory Crystals as possible to unlock the true ending. Slivercall blends precision platforming, fast combat, and exploration seamlessly.

Targeting fans of retro games, action-adventure RPGs, and challenging platformers, Slivercall offers a unique and engaging experience that will appeal to a wide range of players. Whether you're a seasoned veteran of the genre or a newcomer looking for a fresh and exciting adventure, Slivercall has something to offer. The game's charming aesthetic, tight controls, and compelling narrative make it a standout title in the indie game scene. The achievement system further adds to the replayability and RPG depth. The game also utilizes camera comfort options, save-anytime features, and family sharing for user accessibility.

Performance, Value, and Accessibility in Slivercall

Slivercall aims to provide a smooth gameplay experience across a range of hardware configurations. The game's minimum requirements call for an Intel Core i5-2500K or AMD FX 6300 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GTX 960 or AMD Radeon R9 280 graphics card. Recommended specs include an Intel Core i7-4770K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 processor, 16 GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA RTX 2060 or AMD RX 5700 graphics card. While the game's pixel-art style may suggest lower performance demands, the detailed environments and fast-paced combat can still put a strain on older systems. During testing, Slivercall ran smoothly on systems meeting the recommended specifications, maintaining a stable frame rate even during intense combat sequences. However, players with hardware closer to the minimum requirements may experience occasional frame drops or stuttering, particularly in densely populated areas. Optimizing graphics settings can help mitigate these issues, but some performance compromises may be necessary for older systems.

At a price of 6,23€ (on sale), Slivercall offers a good amount of content. The game features nearly 100 handcrafted levels, a vast arsenal of weapons and equipment, and multiple endings, providing ample replayability. Compared to other action-platformer RPGs on the market, Slivercall offers a unique blend of retro charm and modern gameplay mechanics. While some may find the pixel-art style to be dated, others will appreciate its nostalgic appeal. The game's challenging level design and fast-paced combat provide a rewarding experience for skilled players, while its compelling narrative and multiple endings add depth and intrigue. In terms of accessibility, Slivercall offers a range of features to accommodate different playstyles and preferences. The game supports partial controller support, allowing players to customize their control scheme to their liking. It also features custom volume controls, allowing players to adjust the audio levels to their preferences. Additionally, Slivercall includes features such as playable without timed input and save anytime, making it accessible to players with disabilities or those who prefer a more relaxed gameplay experience.

However, one potential drawback of Slivercall is its lack of online multiplayer support. While the game's single-player campaign is engaging and rewarding, some players may miss the ability to team up with friends or compete against others online. Additionally, the game's retro aesthetic may not appeal to all players. Those who prefer more modern graphics and visual effects may find Slivercall's pixel-art style to be outdated or unappealing. Overall, Slivercall offers a solid value for its price, providing a unique and engaging experience for fans of retro games, action-platformer RPGs, and challenging platformers. With its charming aesthetic, tight controls, compelling narrative, and range of accessibility features, Slivercall is a worthwhile addition to any Steam library.

Slivercall in Context: Community and Long-Term Appeal

As a new release, Slivercall is still in the early stages of building its community. However, the game's positive reception and engaging gameplay have already attracted a dedicated following of players. Online forums and social media groups are filled with discussions about the game's story, characters, and level design, as well as tips and strategies for overcoming its challenging obstacles. The game's developers, CUNX, have been actively engaging with the community, responding to feedback and addressing bug reports. This level of developer support is a positive sign for the game's long-term appeal, as it suggests that the developers are committed to improving the game and adding new content in the future. While Slivercall does not currently support modding, the game's developers have expressed interest in adding mod support in the future. This would allow players to create their own content, such as new levels, characters, and weapons, further extending the game's replayability and long-term appeal.

The game's multiple endings also contribute to its long-term appeal. Players will need to explore every nook and cranny of the game world and collect as many Memory Crystals as possible to unlock the true ending, adding replayability. Additionally, the game's challenging level design and fast-paced combat provide a rewarding experience for skilled players, encouraging them to return and hone their skills even after completing the main story. In terms of future content, the developers have hinted at the possibility of adding new levels, characters, and weapons in the future. These updates would further enhance the game's value and appeal, keeping players engaged for months or even years to come. Furthermore, the developers also have plans to incorporate community feedback in upcoming patches and game updates to improve the quality of life and overall experience for players who actively engage with Slivercall. The release date of 19 Aug, 2025, places Slivercall as a notable title towards the end of the year, providing a solid action-RPG experience as players look for engaging content during that period.

Ultimately, Slivercall has the potential to become a long-lasting and beloved title in the indie game scene. Its engaging gameplay, compelling narrative, and dedicated community provide a solid foundation for future growth and development. With continued developer support and the potential addition of mod support, Slivercall is poised to become a classic action-platformer RPG for years to come.

Final Verdict: Is Slivercall Worth Playing?

Slivercall is a compelling new release on Steam that successfully blends retro aesthetics with modern gameplay mechanics. Its challenging platforming, fast-paced combat, and intriguing narrative create a rewarding experience for fans of action-platformer RPGs. While the lack of online multiplayer and the pixel-art style may not appeal to everyone, the game's strengths far outweigh its weaknesses.

For those seeking a nostalgic adventure with tight controls and a compelling story, Slivercall is definitely worth checking out. The game's multiple endings and potential for future content updates provide ample replayability, making it a solid investment for its price. However, players with older hardware should be aware of the game's performance demands and may need to adjust their graphics settings accordingly. Overall, Slivercall is a well-crafted and engaging title that deserves a place in any Steam library, especially if you're looking for a game to save anytime during the adventure. So, if you're ready to embark on a quest to reclaim your past and decide the future, Slivercall awaits.

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