Noreya: The Gold Project (2024)

“Noreya: The Gold Project” is almost at odds with itself when it comes to be or not to be a metroidvania. Although shorter than most games in the genre – which is a blessing nowadays – Dreamirl prioritized platforming and visuals over a more in-depth combat system. It’s a must for those who wants to enjoy some fantastic visuals, but unremarkable other than that.

In terms of modern Metroidvania titles, Noreya: The Gold Project is a game that doesn’t stray far from the core elements of the genre. But that is in no way a knock against the title, as its emphasis on the genre’s fundamentals (and understanding of how they should work in practice) sets it apart from many of its contemporaries. Noreya‘s pacing and combat tend to struggle a bit in comparison to the game’s excellent platforming and visual style, but its manageable length and responsive controls act as a salve to any of the minor weak points the game may have. Noreya is a “meat and potatoes” experience that sets reasonable expectations and nails every one of them, and its technical performance on the Steam Deck is rock solid following a rapid slew of updates in the wake of the game’s initial release.

While Kali’s journey may be more inspired than original, Noreya: The Gold Project is nonetheless a pretty solid Metroidvania, but does suffer from a few issues that could feel very limiting to seasoned players of the genre. It’s far more simple than I had hoped for, but I still found it to be impressive nonetheless, coming across as being a great time for the 8 or so hours it took to complete.

Overall, Noreya: The Gold Project is a sprawling Metroidvania that offers 20-hours of nimble exploration amidst some simple combat and a somewhat fractured plotline. Despite sporting some lovely pixel art visuals, a wonderful musical score and an intriguing premise, there’s a general lack of polish that left me a little wanting. Established Metroidvania fans will find a solid addition to the genre with plenty to enjoy, but in the end Noreya might serve as a reminder that all that glitters is not gold.

Overall, Noreya: The Gold Project offers an interesting blend of historical lore, complex dynamics between humans and gods, and engaging platforming puzzles. While it may not redefine the Metroidvania genre, it provides a solid and enjoyable experience for fans of dark fantasy adventures.