Combat

Despite being a wizard, melee combat is a vital part of the way in which Alicia deals with her enemies. Alicia is more like a Gandalf-type warrior wizard than a traditional pure spellcaster archetype. With her enchanted whip in hand, she’s a nimble close-quarters fighter, capable of dishing out loads of damage as she runs (and jumps) circles around her target. You can see towards the end of this gif that Alicia uses a charged attack to lay down the finishing blow, which is the first of a slew of melee upgrades she’ll acquire over the course of the game to help her take down enemies.

Throughout the game, you'll be able to dramatically improve your abilities with the Lace and deliver progressively more devastating attacks as you acquire upgrades to increase its damage, range, apply further enchantments, unlock mighty special attacks, and more.

Of course, magic is an essential part of any wizard's life, and here it provides Alicia with a potent arsenal of destruction. As she acquires spells over the course of the game, she'll grow in strength from a novice wizard to a master of magic, capable of facing any enemy that stands in her way.

Each spell is distinct, multi-purpose, and can upgraded to become even more powerful (if you can figure out how!). More than that, as with special abilities in any well-crafted Metroidvania, spells are also integral to solving puzzles, discovering secrets, and progressing through obstacles.

Alicia won't be the only one using magic, either. The fairy companions that she acquires throughout the game have their own magical talents to help her through nearly any situation and against any foe. They can dish out damage of any element, temporarily provide an impenetrable shield, help you gather unreachable items, replenish your energy when you need it most, and more.