Vernal Edge is a great Metroidvania game, with deep and satisfying combat, a whole lot of freedom to explore, and gorgeous pixel art.

Vernal Edge seems to put all its heads in the basket of the air ship, in order to differentiate itself, alas, it just ends up being a gimmick without any real gameplay value. Unfortunately it ends up being a bit derivative.

Vernal Edge balances the feel of old-school Metroidvanias while adding quality-of-life features you’ll miss when playing other games in the genre. Platforming has the right amount of difficulty, and there’s enough variety in combat to keep you coming back for more – even if that means fighting nearly identical enemies. The story won’t blow you away, though it’s passable and doesn’t take away from the action. And while you might get lost on Mossy Island or spend 20 minutes trying to remember where you saw that flower vendor, Vernal Edge will keep you coming back for more.