Shadow of Aya

MASTER THE ELEMENTS of poison, fire, ice, and meteorite in Shadow of Aya, a top-down action-adventure ode to the 8-bit classics. But beware—as your powers grow, so do the forces against you. The journey downward is choked with shadow, and the creatures who lurk among them.

• Every rock is carefully placed, so leave no stone unturned. Shadow of Aya is meticulously designed to evoke the “gotta find every secret” vibes of the old-school titles.

• An interconnected overworld and underworld mean that as you gain abilities, you also gain choices. Set out in whichever direction you favor, filling every corner of your map.

• Secret paths, endless staircases, forbidden forests, hidden graveyards—the world bristles with relics, riddles, and rare powers to aid you on your quest.

• Every element has its weakness. Learn how to exploit them to blast, melt, burn, slash, and freeze your way through waves of unwitting enemies.

• Wanderers, cartographers, alchemists, and a sisterhood of blood witches are among the many strangers you’ll encounter. The question is—which among them can be trusted?

• Wield the elements to freeze lakes, burn forests, smash walls, and more. A new discovery might reveal a shortcut back to where you started—or a secret glade where the sun can never reach.

• The classic two-button A + B control style is easy to learn, challenging to master. Each elemental power gives access to a new pair of moves, unlocking an entirely different style of play.

• Permanent character and weapon upgrades await those who would claim them. Some require you to earn the trust of reclusive sages. Others can only be paid in blood.

AS A COUNTERPOINT to procedurally-generated maps, Shadow of Aya seeks to challenge those who love combat as much as a lovingly crafted world. This one’s for the players who seek 101% completion—to solve each mystery and collect each piece.

In the end, those who hope to complete their adventure in full will be forced to think big, be creative, and return to an older style of play. Each secret has a pattern, every pixel is a clue. (Okay, maybe not every pixel.) The path is most fulfilling for those who truly lose themselves within the Shadow of Aya.