Last year might have been the year of Cyberpunk, but 2021 looks to throw out the cyber and introduce a little steam with an upcoming indie steampunk sidescroller that looks just as good as it plays. Announced last year, Gestalt: Steam & Cinder is a Metroidvania developed by Metamorphasis Games and published by Sold Out Digital. The developers state that Gestalt, "fuses tight 2D platforming and exhilarating combat with an engrossing, twist-laden narrative in a stunningly handcrafted steampunk world." All it takes is one look at the debut trailer and fans of the genre can be certain that Gestalt is one worth keeping track of.

Gestalt seems to be a loving homage to classic era NES and SNES sidescrollers, and the answer to the question of what could have been if game design continued evolved this medium rather than going full 3D. The game is a swashbuckling, steampunk tale of impending doom and the end of the world wrapped in a gorgeous pixel art package.

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In Gestalt, players control Aletheia, an adventurer who can handle herself in all situations, whether it be combat or a battle of wits over a flagon of ale. Aletheia becomes embroiled in an adventure to discover the secrets of Canaan, a massive steam-powered city in a narrative that holds the future of mankind in the balance.

Throughout Gestalt, Aletheia will, "Unravel centuries-old conspiracies, battle hosts of monstrous automata and thwart the twisted schemes of the city's corrupt overseers, the Comitium." It's a story that is both interesting and seemingly another throwback to the classic world-ending tales of iconic games like Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger.

Just as the story is straight out of the 2D era, Gestalt features a gorgeous art style that would seemingly be at home on the cover of a 1994 issue of Nintendo Power magazine. Gestalt's art is both detailed and colorful, with top-notch level designs and character animations. Whether Aletheia is traversing a massive iron-clad factory filled with automatons brandishing blunderbusses, or perusing a town, exploring the quaint interiors and interacting with the colorful townsfolk, Gestalt is visually engaging and just plain nice to look at.

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Gestalt succeeds in its visual style by capturing the nostalgia that so many players have for the classic Nintendo and Super Nintendo era. Gestalt looks like what players remember games like Super Mario World and Super Metroid look like while simultaneously doing more in terms of effects and fluid animation. The particle effects off of enemy fire and explosions pair with Aletheia's sword flourishes and deft maneuvering in impressive ways. Aletheia can fluidly battle her way through the wonderful steampunk aesthetic levels, wall-jumping Ninja Gaiden-style as a shadow trail follows her motion, her sword cutting a fiery red slash effect over the enemies unlucky enough to encounter it.

Aletheia is also a blast to play, making players feel just as powerful and fearsome as Aletheia is during various conversations with NPCs. Gestalt's combat is fast, fluid and responsive, as players can switch seamlessly between gunplay and sword attacks. Aletheia can attack with flourishes from her sword or bounce off of enemies' heads, with a dive-kick attack available for an added bit of positioning strategy and flair. The level of control players have over Aletheia feels just right, and it's reminiscent of games like Hades and Dead Cells.

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Furthermore, Gestalt pairs the excellent combat with RPG elements that allow players to upgrade attributes including endurance, strength, dexterity, luck and defense to build a version of the character that fits their playstyle. Alethia can also engage in conversation with various NPCs, taking on sidequests and extra tasks and adding more RPG style to the game.

Gestalt: Steam & Cinder is another Metroidvania that is more than the sum of its parts. While it doesn't reinvent the wheel when it comes to innovation, it looks to be a solidly made and fun to play homage that's colorful and visually appealing. Although only briefly available last summer as a Steam demo, the full release is planned for this year for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, albeit without a specific release date. However, fans of Metroidvanias should take note, because Gestalt looks like it's worth the time.

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