Here's a stunning looking Metroidvania. Navegante Entertainment, of Mexico, launched Greak: Memories of Azur in August 2021.
It met with strong reviews but has since been somewhat lost amongst the constant stream of new games coming out every week.
We want to celebrate it again after finally catching up with the game, which we think is a fine artistic creation that offers some excellent platforming peaks.
Colourful Platforming in the Puzzle-Platformer Greak: Memories of Azur
This beauty of a game is available on Steam, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
Since its launch it's disappeared amongst the continuing mass of new releases. And whilst it's not the best side-scroller around its current "mixed" player review rating on Steam is harsh. Why? As there's a lot to like here.
We will note it's a clear effort to emulate Moon Studios.
The inspirations from Ori and the Will of the Wisps (2020) are clear. Not that it's a bad thing to aim that high, just the potential to fail is on when you're aiming at such platforming peaks.
In this one you're in the land of Azur. It's under threat from an evil bastard who have infected the baddies of the land.
Your task? You take control of three siblings (Greak, Adara, and Raydel) and combine/use their abilities to traverse the colourful world around you. Like this!
Right, so it's a bit like Unruly Heroes (2019) with its option of switching from one character to the next. This helps solve certain puzzles you encounter, as each sibling has a distinct special power.
Whilst we found Unruly Heroes a massive disappointment, Greak: Memories of Azur delivers on its potential much more.
Swapping between characters is free-flowing, although still cumbersome all the same. The combat system is a bit messy, too.
But the puzzles are often very good and certainly one of the highlights to what is, otherwise, a fairly unremarkable platformer. There are so many brilliant modern 2D platformers around these days it's tough for titles like Greak to stand out.
Navegante Entertainment certainly tried its best with the character swapping dynamic, but it doesn't hold an enormous amount of appeal.
Where the game does stand out is with the obvious time and effort put into its exceptional appearance. The graphics are amazing and this is complement by the soundtrack (see below for the latter).
However, super graphics don't make up for everything.
Whilst Memories of Azur is great fun, sumptuous looking, and packing around six hours of gameplay, it's one thumb up instead of the two.
Lots of platforming fun is to be had here. Its just not delivered a way that'll leave jaws dropping as with titles like Moon Studio's two Ori games.
Greak's Orchestral Glory of a Soundtrack
Navegante Entertainment really went all out for the soundtrack.
As you can see, they got a full orchestra in to bring to life Majo Félix and Oscar Alcalá's music. It's dramatic stuff!
Some 20 pieces were recorded for the game's music. It all follows the same orchestral style, ramping up the sense of drama in the game.
The work was performed and recorded by the Cinco de Mayo Philharmonic Orchestra in Puebla, Mexico.
It's a fine work and very accomplished. You can't complain at all with the standards being set by indie game soundtracks.
Greak: Memories of Azur is another example of such lofty heights. Innit.
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