Chasm (video game)

Chasm is a Metroidvania video game developed and published by Maryland, USA-based studio Bit Kid, Inc. The game was initially released for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita on July 31, 2018,[1] and Bit Kid announced a Nintendo Switch version shortly afterward, to be released October 11, 2018.[4][5][2]

For the 1997 game, see Chasm: The Rift.
Chasm
Promotional artwork, depicting the protagonist surrounded by the game's NPCs and antagonists
Developer(s)Bit Kid, Inc.
Publisher(s)Bit Kid, Inc.
Designer(s)James Petruzzi
Programmer(s)Tim Dodd
Artist(s)
  • Dan Fessler
  • Tony Redmer
  • Glauber Kotaki
Composer(s)James Stevulak
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One
Release
  • Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
  • 31 July 2018[1]
  • Nintendo Switch
  • 11 Oct 2018[2]
  • Xbox One
  • 9 Nov 2018[3]
Genre(s)Metroidvania
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

Inspired by Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Chasm tells the story of an aspiring knight eager to prove their worth, on a quest to a mining town whose resources are essential.[6] Although the story is the same for all players, the exact layout of the world map is unique for each adventure,[7] through the game's use of procedural generation combined with handmade room sequences.[8] Combat (also similar to Castlevania) gives the player an option of a melee weapon and a sub-weapon to do most of your damage.[9] As the players venture down into the mine, they can level up, collect new weapons from swords to whips, use artifacts which make the environment explorable in different ways for new areas. The boss fights in the game rely on memorizing attack patterns.[10] Besides that, there are rooms with moving or disappearing platforms, environmental hazards and traps, making a balance between combat and platforming.[11] On the journey, there are townspeople trapped in cages. Releasing them sends them back up to the town, with a shop or service offered in the process, and unlocks a new sidequest expanding on the service they offer.[12] Each map is segmented into themed sections like catacombs and gardens.[13]

Development

Initial development started in 2012 with a prototype. The main character was only able to fight and jump, and his design barely changed since then. Bit Kid, Inc. hoped they could sell the idea of an old-fashioned game to publishers at the Game Developers Conference, but nobody offered to fund the game.[14] The team decided to crowdfund the game instead through Kickstarter in 2013, which was successful.[15]

Reception
Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic72/100 (PC)[16]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Game Informer7.5/10[17]
GameSpot8/10[18]
IGN7/10[19]
Hardcore Gamer[20]

Critical reception for the PC version of Chasm was mixed to positive.[16][21][22] Jeremy Peeples of Hardcore Gamer called it "one of the finest Metroidvanias ever created."[20] Tom Marks of IGN said "Chasm is a lovely and fun Metroidvania with a lot of cool new ideas, even if its randomized maps are uninteresting."[19] Writing for GameSpot, Tom McShea said "Chasm is a well-crafted adventure" and praised its "superb combat and visual design."[18]

References
  1. Michael McWhertor (9 July 2018). "Indie Metroidvania Chasm, in the works for six years, hits July 31". Polygon. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  2. Phillip Stortzum (5 October 2018). "SwitchArcade Roundup: Will Nintendo Switch Things Up with the Switch?". TouchArcade. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  3. "Buy Chasm". Microsoft Store. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  4. Bit Kid, Inc. (28 August 2018). "Chasm is coming to Switch, PAX West 2018". Kickstarter. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  5. Ed Orr (29 August 2018). "Chasm comes to Nintendo Switch". GameSpace.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  6. Chris Moore (13 August 2018). "Prairie Nerds: Game Review - Chasm". Tulsa World. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  7. Patrick Klepek (31 July 2018). "The Randomness of 'Chasm' Makes It Impossible to Know If It's Any Good". Vice Media. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  8. Andy Kelly (31 July 2018). "CHASM REVIEW". PC Gamer. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  9. Neal Ronaghan (11 October 2018). "Chasm (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  10. Ethan Gach (1 August 2018). "Chasm: The Kotaku Review". Kotaku. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  11. Mike Williams (31 July 2018). "Chasm: Symphony of the Mines". USgamer. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  12. Mitch Vogel (11 October 2018). "Chasm Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  13. Chris Carter (5 August 2018). "Review: Chasm". Destructoid. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  14. Chase Cook (12 August 2018). "'Chasm': A story of a game designer's dream, and the sacrifice needed to make it work". The Capital. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  15. Bit Kid, Inc. (11 April 2013). "Chasm by Discord Games LLC". Kickstarter. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  16. "Chasm for PC Reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  17. Reeves, Ben (July 31, 2018). "Chasm – Lagging behind greatness". Game Informer. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  18. Tom McShea (31 July 2018). "Chasm Review: The Battle Below - GameSpot". GameSpot. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  19. Tom Marks (July 31, 2018). "Chasm Review". IGN. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  20. Jeremy Peeples (4 August 2018). "Review: Chasm". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  21. "Chasm for PlayStation 4 Reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  22. "Chasm for PlayStation Vita Reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
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