The review code for Constance was provided by Plan of Attack.
Metroidvanias are a dime a dozen in the indie scene. To stand out from the crowd, a new entry in this genre needs to do something unique or impactful, and Constance by BTF Games does just that. Its 2D, hand-drawn art style might immediately bring to mind the biggest Metroidvania from this year, Silksong, and the two aren’t dissimilar – in a good way. They share a similar design philosophy in the gameplay department. However, regarding the story, I believe Constance one-ups Silksong in emotion and relatability. It is a storyline that certainly hits home.
This indie highlight won’t go in-depth on the story of Constance, as it is best to experience it yourself, but I can share the basic setup. Word-for-word from the game’s own Steam page: ‘Constance is a 2D hand-drawn action adventure featuring a paintbrush-wielding artist, striving to escape from a colorful but decaying inner-world, created by her declining mental health.’ The cause of that declining mental health is revealed over the course of the game through unique mini-games depicting scenes that might hit too close to home for many modern-day adults, especially those working in creative industries. It feels all too real, and tackling that specific topic in a game left a lasting impact on me.
That Steam page description also highlights two other aspects of Constance that I really enjoyed: the world and the painting mechanics.
Starting with the former, I appreciated how unique the biomes are in Constance. A lot of games in this genre follow a typical formula: cave, castle, ruins, fire area, swamp area, ice area, etc. Constance still has some of these (the first main area is a cave) however, most of its locations are far more vibrant and artsy. You have an urban market, a bright glasshouse full of sculptures and paintings, a carnival in the clouds, and an expansive library. Each produces a unique aesthetic that is rare in this genre, all rolling back into the game’s main theme of artistry.
Speaking of art, the painting mechanic is Constance’s unique gameplay feature. Essentially, it is a way of contextualising the usual stamina or magic meter found in other games. A bar representing the Artist’s paint is depicted below the health; every special ability, whether movement-based or attack-based, depletes this bar. The twist goes into effect upon depletion of the paint bar: emptying it causes the Artist’s hair to turn black and corrupted for a short time. While in this form, there are no limitations on what abilities can be used, but, using any paint will cause self-damage.
This creates a gameplay style of conservatism, encouraging thoughtful and efficient play. Waiting patiently for the paint bar to refill before continuing a platforming challenge, travelling around the room in the fewest possible moves, or bracing for pain and attempting to clear a difficult challenge regardless. No matter the scenario, the paint meter mechanic forced me to act more thoughtfully than I might have done in similar games, which is the sign of a successful mechanic.
Constance also has several smaller mechanics that serve as positive additions to this already enjoyable game. A good sense of movement is vital for the genre, and thankfully all the abilities the Artist learns are fun to use. Constance takes the best movement options from across the genre: aerial dashes, wall jumping, pogo-sticking, and homing attacks, and combines them seamlessly.
Backtracking is a key part of any Metroidvania, and to assist with this, Constance introduces a camera feature. Notice an area or upgrade that can’t be reached? Take a snapshot of it, and it gets marked on the map as a reminder to revisit later. Said map can be seen in the menu as one would expect, but it can also be brought up in real-time for quick reference, which I really appreciated.
Constance is also very speedrunner friendly, even featuring a built-in speedrun timer. Unlike Silksong, Constance’s length and level of content are more traditional for this genre, encouraging multiple playthroughs where obtained knowledge and skill can be used to clear the game faster, and potentially sequence break. It is a game that demands mastery of its mechanics to fly through various challenging platforming segments. While these can get overwhelming at times, it was always satisfying to finally clear a tough sequence.
In a year where Silksong launched and risked overshadowing other games of its type, Constance stands tall as a Metroidvania of equal quality. It may not be as content-rich as its more well-known contemporary, but the game feel is top-notch and the story far more memorable. There are very few criticisms I can levy against Constance, it would all be extremely nitpicky, so I strongly recommend giving Constance a go, whether you are new to the genre or a long-time fan.
Constance: Constance is more proof that games with a focus on fun, challenging, traditional gameplay can also be art. The fun exploration and progression system in Constance is nothing new but it has been done in a perfect way here, while also managing to tell a story that will hit very close to home for many creatives. All this while sporting a gorgeous presentation. Definitely a must-play for fans of the metroidvania genre. – NantenJex
