Aeterna Noctis
| Aeterna Noctis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | Aeternum Game Studios |
| Publisher | Aeternum Game Studios |
| Platforms | |
| Release | December 2021 |
| Genre | Metroidvania |
| Mode | Single-player |
Aeterna Noctis is a 2021 Metroidvania video game developed in Spain by Aeternum Game Studios.[1] It was released in December 2021 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC (through Steam and Epic Games Store).[2]
Plot
[edit | edit source]Story
[edit | edit source]The series narrates the story of a pair of monarchs who, after being cursed with immortality, have been fighting and killing each other for eternity. But then, a revelation unleashes a chain of events that helps the monarchs find a way to break the curse and find love in the process.[1]
Characters
[edit | edit source]- King of Darkness - the main protagonist of the game and father of the Grey Soul.
- Queen of Light - leader of the forces of light and lover of the King of Darkness. Mother of the Grey Soul.
- Chaos - the Supreme God who rules all Creation and who placed the curses on the King and Queen.
- Chronicler - an elderly being who chronicles all the events of the world and its history in his library.
- Grey Soul - child of the King of Darkness and Queen of Light.
- Oracle - a mysterious being that helps the King of Darkness on his journey.
- Lord Drake VI - an archaeologist and adventurer, he sells Maps and Potions to the King of Darkness
- The Collector - a man who resides in the graveyard, who tasks the King with bringing him rare specimens. He gives the King the bestiary for documenting all monsters.
- B-69 - a robot who operates a train capable of warping through space. He is used as a fast travel mechanic between some areas.
- The Emperor - a powerful ruler who killed three gods before having his powers sealed by the Oracle. He is an optional boss.
- Celestial Dragon - a dragon from outer space disguised as a human. After finding his side quest, the King must chase him to random parts of the world.
Reception
[edit | edit source]| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | (PC) 72/100[3] (PS5) 69/100[4] (NS) 67/100[5] |
| OpenCritic | 50% recommend[6] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Push Square | 7/10[7] |
The PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch versions of Aeterna Noctis both received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3][4][5] Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received fair approval, being recommended by 50% of critics.[6]
Concluding his review of the game for Push Square, Ollie Reynolds wrote: "Ultimately, although there's a distinct feeling of déjà vu when playing Aeterna Noctis thanks to its unmistakable similarities to Hollow Knight, it thankfully manages to nail the most important elements in a Metroidvania: exploration and combat."[7]
Legacy
[edit | edit source]The second installment in the series, Summum Aeterna, a roguelite prequel based on Aeterna Noctis, was initially released for Steam in June 2022, and was released for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch in late 2023.[8] The third installment in the series, Aeterna Lucis, a sequel to Aeterna Noctis, is set for release sometime 2026.[9][10]
References
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- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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