Watch the first 30 minutes of Axiom Verge

In the following gameplay clip we play the first half an hour of Axiom Verge, a new retro-styled, sci-fi Metroidvania game. It's a true gem for fans of the genre, and it was solely developed (code programming, music, graphics) for more than four years by just one man, Tom Happ. After the original PS4 release, the game recently made an appearance on PC as well.

During the opening thirty minutes you can learn how game progression works, with new abilities unlocking blocked paths, and interesting weapons used on both bosses and minor enemies. It's all beautifully rendered in-keeping with the 8/16-bit era aesthetic, with a lovingly realised pixel-art style, traditional animations, and shrill colours and sounds that, once again, resemble the old 2D Metroid games. Also, don't forget to turn the volume up so as to experience the pulsating soundtrack.

For more details regarding Axiom Verge, check out our recent review, and the following interview with Tom Happ: