Trapped in a corrupted world where light and shadow collide, Ayasa must journey through cursed lands and eerie presences to restore the shattered balance.
Aya Games transports players into a dark and surreal universe with Ayasa: Shadows of Silence, a horror-tinged platformer that blends light-and-shadow mechanics with an unsettling atmosphere. We explored the demo’s opening stages, gathering insights into its potential and the areas that could still improve.
A Dystopian Journey Between Light and Darkness
Ayasa’s universe unfolds in the Inverted World, a once-balanced realm maintained by Tas, the Absolute. As darkness spread, this equilibrium crumbled, and Ayasa, the protagonist, must traverse six corrupted lands – Faith, Hope, Love, Greed, Indifference, and Betrayal – to retrieve fragments of light and restore harmony.
From the very first moments, the game instills a deep sense of unease. The introduction depicts a sudden explosion and the arrival of an alien army, immediately casting a menacing shadow over the experience. The thick atmosphere of mystery and tension blends with an implicit narrative, leaving much open to player interpretation.
An Experience Reminiscent of Inside and Bramble: The Mountain King
Right from the start, Ayasa inevitably evokes titles like Inside and Limbo, both in its narrative tone and gameplay structure. Meanwhile, its aesthetics and some mechanics channel the eerie fairytale quality of Bramble: The Mountain King and the dreamlike distortions of Darq.
Unlike many horror platformers that favor 2D movement, Ayasa opts for a 3D environment with slightly restricted movement compared to games like Bramble. This balance between three-dimensionality and guided pathways preserves visual depth without compromising precision in controls.
One of the game’s most striking aspects is Ayasa’s relationship with the world around her. The protagonist appears unusually small in contrast to her surroundings, an effect heightened by the presence of disproportionate creatures – gigantic rats and an unnaturally small dead elephant. These details reinforce the sensation of moving through a warped, unstable world where reality feels deliberately distorted.
Gameplay Mechanics: Platforming and Escape
Gameplay revolves around a mix of exploration and skill-based challenges, with environmental puzzles that leverage the interplay between light and shadow. Ayasa can use light to reveal hidden paths and manipulate shadows to bypass obstacles or evade enemies. This system introduces an engaging dynamic reminiscent of puzzles in Little Nightmares and Inside, though the execution in some demo segments feels less refined.
The platforming sections demand precision, yet the lack of controller support complicates the experience, making certain sequences more cumbersome than necessary.
One mechanic in particular feels almost identical to an element from Little Nightmares: a “Big Brother”-like presence – an enormous alien eye casting a conical red surveillance beam. Avoiding its gaze remains crucial.
Another standout feature involves the use of sound during chase sequences. When Ayasa finds herself pursued, the soundtrack shifts to a frantic and unsettling tone, amplifying the sense of urgency.
A Well-Crafted Atmosphere, but Not Entirely Original
Without a doubt, Ayasa’s art direction stands as one of its strongest points. Detailed environments and masterful use of lighting and shadow heighten the eerie, surreal mood. However, despite its visual appeal, the artistic design doesn’t break new ground. Players familiar with Inside, Bramble, or Little Nightmares might recognize clear influences in its stylistic choices.
The sound design, while effective in certain moments, could use improvement. Some sound effects lack the impact expected from a horror game of this nature, and greater attention to this element could further enhance player immersion.
A Promising Demo with Some Reservations
The demo concludes as Ayasa reaches a seemingly deserted town, where a candlelit building invites exploration. This suggests that the narrative will expand further, potentially introducing new characters or more complex gameplay dynamics.
Overall, Ayasa: Shadows of Silence presents itself as an intriguing and well-crafted title, though it borrows heavily from existing experiences. If it manages to stand out with original content and a more refined level design, it could carve out a place in the indie scene. The demo hints at a dark and captivating journey, but time will tell whether the full game delivers something truly unique.
Demo Campaign
Aya Games actively engages with its community, maintaining a dedicated Discord server for discussions and player feedback.
The full Ayasa experience promises to expand upon the mechanics introduced in the demo, and we eagerly await to see how far it will push the boundaries of the horror platformer genre.
The game’s release is scheduled for April 20, 2025.
