A Retro Inspired Gem in 2022

What do you get when you mix modern day pixel aesthetics with a rockin’ soundtrack and retro-style gameplay? You get Arcade Crew and Berzerk Studio’s beautiful throwback that feels like Castlevania and Zelda II, but made for 2022.

Infernax.

While I have showcased my love for Xbox Game Pass in recent times, I was beyond excited when I saw that Infernax was being showcased in Microsoft’s subscription service. Before it was released, I had never seen anything about Infernax or any of the details around it. I have a pretty good timeline on Twitter and normally I follow folks who will share the type of fanfare that Infernax brings to the table, but this one snuck past me.

The day it was released, I constantly saw these tweets.

And then…I saw the trailer.

Needless to say, I was hooked.

I was also a little surprised to see this pop up on my screen, upon starting the game. If I wasn’t tickled pink about the game before, this was the final piece of excitement that had me salivating before playing it.

Now, as we all know, graphics, music and a retro throwback do not a good game make. So, upon playing Infernax, was it worth my own buildup and hype?

Yes. Yes it was.

I mentioned that the game feels like Castlevania and Zelda II and if you’ve played either of those games, Infernax will feel right at home. Directly? No, of course not. But this game is clearly influenced by those two franchises in terms of how it plays, and that’s a very good thing.

As far as the story goes, it’s not complicated:

Infernax is the adventures of a great knight who returns to his homeland only to find it plagued with unholy magic. While on your quest to find and destroy the source of this corruption by any means necessary, you will face ruthless creatures, dangerous beasts, and precarious terrains. 

Like I said, it’s not complicated, and it doesn’t need to be. You’re here for the gameplay in this one, and it delivers. It feels very much like a retro platformer, where you’re able to upgrade weapons, learn magic spells and increase your abilities as you traverse through the game.

You play as Alcedor, our hero in this venture, and your goal is to slay enough of the undead to destroy five orbs that are locking a large castle door. What’s inside said door? Well…you’ll need to destroy these orbs to find out. There’s a on-screen map showing you where you’ve been, as you discover new areas of the world. 

You’ll come across different areas where it looks like you should be able to access the plain, but you can’t quite reach it, or something seems off. As you develop new skills and abilities some of these areas do become accessible, if you’re able to figure it out. There’s a lot of backtracking in this game, returning to areas to discover new secrets or to further explore the map, but it doesn’t feel like a chore. It’s not backtracking for the sake of backtracking, which is what so many games feel like when they institute this element into their gameplay. Save points are scattered throughout the map and kneeling down at one of these crosses to save your game will also replenish your health and magic, which is a nice element. You can also gets spells and items to help you in your cause, and you’re going to need them.

There’s also moments in the game where you’re forced to make a decision. There’s a few scenarios where you’re faced with the dilemma of saving someone from possession (for example) or slaying them for the monster they currently are. Each decision you make will have an effect on certain outcomes in the game, so every decision is an important one. It also impacts the ending of the game, giving you the option of experiencing this game over again with different results.

And let me just say…the music? *chef’s kiss* While you’re bound to hear the main theme more often than anything else, it’s still a great tune that doesn’t overstay it’s welcome, in my opinion. The soundtrack itself is so good, providing the right mood in the right situations…all the while providing retro melodies with a modern twist. I can’t really describe the music and do it justice, but you’ll definitely regard the soundtrack as one of the high points of Infernax lore.

Oh, and in case you want to do some ‘round the clock boppin’? The soundtrack is available for purchase on Steam.

I can’t recommend Infernax enough. It’s not overly long (>10 hours) unless you’re wanting to go the FULL completionist route and gather every item, uncover every secret, etc. and even then it’s probably not going to take you too terribly long. The game never feels like a slog and presents a solid challenge, while not feeling unfair. There’s a ‘classic mode’ that loads you up at your previous save point after you die, sans any items, gold or magic you acquired before you died. Or, it offers an easier mode that’s a little more forgiving for anyone wanting a smoother experience. Either way, Infernax offers a style for any player. 

With secrets yet to be discovered, different choices to be made, and gameplay that doesn’t get old, I’m really looking forward to experiencing Infernax again and again in the future, and I hope that you'll do the same for yourself.