Demons of Asteborg Review (Yaerveth)
Demons of Asteborg is originally a game for SEGA MegaDrive/Genesis that came out in 2021 and it is both available as a physical cartridge and as a downloadable ROM for emulators and flash cards. If you're not into retro gaming and not an avid follower of the market, then this might sound crazy to you and you may ask why would anyone make a game for an outdated console? There are various reasons for that but the main purpose is obviously nostalgia.
As a MegaDrive/Genesis game, it pushes the console to its limits. It's a semi-metroidvania platformer inspired by Ghosts and Goblins, Castlevania, Mickey Mania, and Space Harrier. I apologize if I missed any references but these were the ones I was able to spot while playing the game. Each level has its unique enemies that you won't encounter for the rest of the game and they also give you unique skills exclusive to their respective levels, meaning you only get to use them for the duration of that one stage, then they get replaced by another one. You are also technically forced to use those skills against stage bosses with the exception of the first boss. However, you can find or buy specific upgrades that will stick with you for the duration of the game. There are also three difficulty options for you to pick but the received and given damage stays consistent through difficulties. Only changes are the item drops and checkpoints.
The story is decent. You're donning the role of Gareth, a royal guard of Asteborg who's trying to prevent a potential demon invasion caused by a breach of pact that had been signed between the demons and humans in order to live peacefully in Asteborg a long time ago. It is supported by flashbacks and some other playable characters which I found quite interesting. Soundtracks are also spot-on and have been composed perfectly and carefully. I personally don't have any complaints about the game but it's worth mentioning that it runs through an emulator so, you may end up changing a few settings each time you boot it up.
TL;DR
A semi-metroidvania platformer for SEGA MegaDrive/Genesis that runs through an emulator. If you're into retro games and have a nostalgia itch that needs scratching, look no further than Demons of Asteborg.