Libra: Shadows of Adam (Switch)
Libra is a series which provides first impressions of games before their full review. These are generally spoiler free, however some base plot points – as well as some mechanic/system reveals – could lurk ahead.
As a lover of retro JRPGs, the labor of love project, Shadows of Adam, grasped my attention as soon as I discovered it. What started as a Kickstarter project turned out to be an excellent throwback to the SNES era of RPGs. Unfortunately, this gem came out on Steam very close to the launch of the Nintendo Switch, and I shelved it after a few hours not because it was bad, but due to falling completely in love with the hybrid console. Thus, when I heard that Shadows of Adam would be coming to Switch – and I could finally complete my quest – I was stoked to say the least. While my full review is still a few days out at this point, for now, you can check out my first impressions below.
The Gist
Shadows of Adam takes place in a time where magic is all but shunned, though there are still those that can wield the powers. A terrible magic-fueled war a century ago forever shaped the face of the world. Living in the town of Adam, Kellan – the son of the legendary hero, Orazio – and Asrael – Kellan’s adopted sister and magic user – have lived a relatively quiet life since their father left mysteriously ten years ago. But today, a darkness that has festered in the background is about to come to a head, and its discovery will not only change Adam and its inhabitants forever, but the entire world as well.
+
- Superb pixel art, on-par with classic RPGs from the 16-bit era.
- Excellent turn-based combat that demands strategy and intelligent ability usage over “button mashing”.
- Stellar soundtrack.
–
- Lacking a bit of polish (occasional visual artifacting, possible to speak to npcs you aren’t facing, etc)
- Despite the promo blurb that would have you think otherwise, battles are typically not “lightning fast”. Not necessarily a bad thing, but worth mentioning.
Be on the lookout for my complete Shadows of Adam review soon!
