Constance is a gorgeous indie Metroidvania that deserves your attention. It features beautifully drawn visuals, characters, and backgrounds, and the controls feel great. The story is interesting, especially with the idea of using a paintbrush as a weapon. While it is not the most innovative concept, it is still very satisfying. The gameplay is smooth, with fluid animations and movement that help you get immersed in the world.
The game stars a digital artist named Constance and explores themes related to mental health. The narrative is straightforward and uses small bits of lore and character moments to fill in the background. The world map is engaging, reflecting the different mental states the main character goes through, while the player is guided by a mysterious woman named Frida, who is made of flowers. The developers also worked to give each area its own identity, with unique enemies and themes for every location. Like any classic Metroidvania, there are roadblocks throughout the levels that you must return to later once you unlock new abilities.
I was impressed with the fluidity of the combat. The gameplay is the most satisfying part of the experience. The paintbrush is not only used to fight enemies, but its paint mechanic also works as both an offensive tool and a traversal method. Along with a health meter, there is a paint meter that fuels these special paint abilities. The game also offers minor loadout customization through a system called Inspirations, which provide buffs to the character. The paint meter adds a risk and reward element, as overusing it can push you into a state where your health begins to drain more quickly.
While Constance does not reinvent the genre, it offers plenty of enjoyable systems. Enemy variety is strong, with each zone on the world map introducing a different set of foes. Boss fights are fun, though the late-game sections can feel a bit tedious. The difficulty spike near the end comes on suddenly, but most of the game is not as challenging as some of its peers in the genre, such as Hollow Knight Silksong. The game also features a special respawn mechanic where dying once gives you the option to continue, but at the cost of making enemies stronger. You can also respawn normally, but the new mechanic works best when you know the area well and want to keep pushing forward.
One area where Constance truly shines is its presentation and soundtrack. The game has a beautiful UI and a well-designed map. The soundtrack is excellent and matches the tone and mood of each area. Boss fights have some of the best music in the entire game, often raising the tension and energy during major encounters. It is clear that the developers put a lot of effort into making sure the soundtrack leaves a lasting impression.
While the game is not very long and can be finished in under 10 hours, that does not mean you will reach 100 percent completion on your first run. It takes extra time to unlock everything, so there is some replay value here. Alongside the main story, there is optional content as well, and if you are a completionist, there is plenty to find. Several side quests run alongside the main story, and some of them are quite useful since they reward you with upgrades that improve your abilities and arsenal.
Constance also deserves praise for its art style. It has the charm of old cartoons and looks stunning in motion. I spent most of my playtime on the OLED Deck, which really made the colors stand out. The game is well optimized and runs at a high frame rate on the Deck, making everything feel even smoother. When I docked it to play on a larger screen, it still ran flawlessly despite the jump in resolution.
In short, this is a very enjoyable Metroidvania that does not demand a lot of time but delivers a memorable journey. The boss fights are excellent, and the level design is satisfying to explore. The game also uses its narrative in interesting ways to highlight mental health themes. While the late-game difficulty could be better balanced, it never becomes frustrating. This is a Metroidvania that checks all the right boxes and deserves to be mentioned alongside the stronger titles in the genre. It is an easy recommendation.
Constance Game Information
- Price: $19.99
- Publisher: btf
- Developer: btf
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
