Picture this: some folks tackle tough games for the thrill of the challenge or to snag some virtual treasures. Me? I’m navigating the haunting halls of Awaria just to steal a kiss from a ghost. Łukasz “Vanripper” Piskorz, who brought us the beloved game Helltaker, has returned to entice us all over again with another set of charming characters. But this time, he’s really making us earn every moment.
Awaria is free to download on both Steam and Itch.io, but winning over these spectral ladies is a whole different story. At first glance, Awaria seems as straightforward as Helltaker: you’re a quick-footed mechanic trapped in a series of 2D rooms, each brimming with machinery in need of repairs. Using WASD controls, you scurry around, delivering the right parts to the appropriate machines. But then, ghosts swoop in, aiming to put you in your place, transforming your mechanic duties into a tense bullet-hell dodging extravaganza.
It seems easy enough until those ghostly girls start coming after you. Awaria often feels like a frantic session of Overcooked, where the machines are like demanding diners clamoring for your attention. Your job is to keep them satisfied. But here’s the catch: you’re quite vulnerable, and a mere touch from these eerie women can bring you to your knees. So, you’ll find yourself playing a dangerous game of tag with these phantoms, deftly avoiding their assaults. If you’ve honed your skills in the intense boss battles of Undertale, you’ll find your rhythm here. Personally, I might have tapped out early if every level didn’t culminate with the satisfying conclusion that you’re “READY TO KISS.”
Each victory revelation gives you a glimpse into the complex personalities of these ghostly dames and how they react to a simple stolen kiss. Zmora, whom you encounter first, is adorably flustered, throwing out a warning: “Next time the shields fall, you’ll pay for this,” with her tsundere vibes blazing. Then there’s Cutwire who teases with a whisper that she’ll “stab you in the back” before disappearing. Not to mention Nikita, who looks down at you, quite literally, calling you tiny. Awaria caters to a variety of tastes.
Soon enough, these ladies decide tag-teaming might be even more entertaining, ganging up on you for a tougher challenge. Handling two at once proved my undoing after a handful of levels. Luckily, you can adjust the difficulty settings, lessening the damage you take, or for the daring, you can amp it up and test your mettle against stricter time constraints with constantly malfunctioning machinery.
In Helltaker, unlocking secret endings was the reward for uncovering hidden keys within its levels. I wouldn’t be shocked if Awaria has its own surprises tucked away. The section I played lacked dialogue options or multiple-choice paths, but the achievement list hints at potential rewards for the most agile players. The game’s snappy nature keeps beckoning me back, especially with the soundtrack by Mittsies pumping through my speakers and giving each attempt a fresh burst of energy.
Every ghost girl has the potential to become a favorite, even if their designs don’t quite hit the personal mark like Helltaker’s demon girls did. Maybe I haven’t stumbled upon Awaria’s equivalent of Cerberus yet. Until then, my friends on Discord will just have to bear with my obsession a bit longer as I gamely let these ghostly gals call the shots while I dig deeper to discover what else Awaria has tucked away within its mysterious levels.
