It was quite a shock when Konami recently announced a new game in a series that many in North America and Europe had never heard of before. Getsu Fuma Den was originally a Famicom game that was never released outside of Japan. Back then, it was a side scrolling action adventure title with Metroidvania elements. GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon ups the ante with the inclusion of roguelike gameplay aspects. At its core, though, it’s in many ways similar to its Famicom origins – just with a fresh new coat of paint.
Another surprise about GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon is that it’s coming to Steam Early Access. Who would have guessed Konami would release a title into Early Access in 2021? Although this game is also coming to Switch, there’s no equivalent program on the platform. As a result folks shouldn’t expect to see this game launch on Switch until 2022. Yep, it sounds like it’s going to be spending a good chunk of time in the Early Access program. This may make some worry the game is nowhere near completion and buggy, but it actually doesn’t seem to be in a terribly rough state.
Sure, there’s currently no voice acting and there are oddities, but GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon is playable right now. What you’ll notice first is the artistry of the graphics. The art is clearly inspired by classic Japanese paintings and looks gorgeous as a result. Enemies, too, have come straight out of Japanese lore. The whole game has a powerful aesthetic which was inferred by the Famicom original but simply wasn’t possible in that era. Boss battles in particular look downright awesome with cool, creepy enemies.
The game begins simply enough. Players assume the role of Getsu Fuma (though other playable characters are currently in development), a warrior who must fight against the forces of Hell. You see, an evil being known as Ryukotsuki just opened up an entryway to Hell and now monsters are free to spew forth. It’s a narrative as simplistic as the original Getsu Fuma Den is, but that sets the scene for a lot of awesome creature designs and level upon level of Hellish underworld to fight your way through. There are layers of Hell, each with their own bosses to discover.
Gameplay follows a rather traditional roguelike route. Players begin in a hub area (and respawn there after unavoidable death). Here you’ll be able to change your difficulty, select initial loadout and strengthen your discovered weapons. These are the only places you’ll be able to do so, though. Once in a level it’s up to players to find new weapons on the fly and deal with whatever difficulty they’ve selected. It’s a simple and effective gameplay loop – explore the stage and gain weapons/items, die and return to home base to regroup and start again.
Once in a stage gameplay falls easily into the Metroidvania camp. Levels are 2D and players run, jump and fight throughout them. Each area is rather labyrinthine and filled with dead ends, treasure and eventually a path forward, slowly uncovering the map along the way. Fighting against enemies feels more like a hack ‘n slash with a variety of weapons to choose from. You’re able to carry two main weapons as well as two additional sub-weapons (ranged). Even with all this firepower, enemies are still tough and make progress challenging.
The battle system itself also requires a degree of skill, though you may get decently through early stages just by wildly spamming attacks. Still, it benefits to understand the full scope of the system. For example, you’re able to parry and counter attacks if timed correctly. There are also combos which, when executed, prove powerful. Keep attacking without getting hit and you’ll become progressively more powerful as well. The level of combat complexity should entertain those looking for a more robust Metroidvania.
At this point, the game seems complete, if not completely polished, but it’s clear that there’s still more to come. There are still more levels, playable characters and weapons to be added to flesh out and lengthen the experience. There are also still rough edges and bugs which will clearly receive attention throughout the Early Access period. At this point the developer expects to see GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon remain in the Early Access program for approximately a year. Those who just can’t wait can buy it on Steam during the Early Access period. Switch owners, on the other hand, need to wait all the way until 2022.
