Astalon 100%, exam tbd
May. 7th, 2025 01:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
schneefinkAfter my February exam I decided to prepare better for my next one. It helped a lot that this time all the classes were a few weeks ago and not months. But then various things happened that were great but had unfortunate timing, and on top of that I got sick last week. Ugh.
Fortunately despite that I think the exam today went well :) I won't find out for about 1.5 months but I'm optimistic.
Now I don't have another exam until October and no classes until July, very nice.
I did finish Astalon: Tears of the Earth last week. I made my way up the Ruins of Ash and discovered (and explored half of) the Serpent Path, then the Darkness, and then made it to the gorgon Solaria. Easy fight thanks to Kyuli (in hindsight, almost a shame I didn't even get to see every party member's dialogue with the gorgon, her statements to Algus and Kyuli both were mysterious and ominous.) Algus told Arias and Kyuli about his deal with Epimetheus (also, apparently Algus promised to take care of them and their mother since he and their dad Silas worked together and were betrayed and murdered, iirc), and then also told them there might be a way for him to get out of the deal but they have to explore the entire tower. (I couldn't find a compilation of rest scenes, I'd have to look for it in a playthrough.)
Next I continued up the Serpent Path, where I finally found the Morning Star for Bram to break the golden blocks with. Then I went back down to the Tower Roots and found the Adorned Key, not sure yet what I need that one for… I still need at least one more red key.
Next up: backtracking with Bram. Around 18.5 hours, almost 90% of the map explored and a little over 80% of items. I want to try and get the last few major items before facing the final boss, ideally.
I discovered the Cathedral and got the magic block for Zeek, and after that I did some more exploring and found the Boreal Gauntlet (which I never found that much use for tbh.) I got to 97% of the map discovered and then decided to face the final battle: it only took me two tries (and I wasn't at full power the first time), Kyuli cleared solo without too much trouble, and without even using her shining shot because I keep forgetting she even has that.
The ending was beautifully done.
I went back to get the "true" ending, for which I needed to 100% the map. I found the Blood Chalice, the only healing ability in the game but it's very powerful, no wonder you need the Adorned Key to get to it. I did have to use a guide for the last 2% and also to find Gil (and without a guide I would not have thought to disturb Epimetheus on the toilet either.) On my way I also encountered the only miniboss I fought with Arias – I mostly used Kyuli and sometimes Algus both for movement and combat so it was good for him to get involved ^^ Most of the rooms I'd missed were in the Serpent Path, but eventually I got to 100% of items and rooms.
That, after another end boss fight (Kyuli solo again) got me the ending in which Algus tricks Epimetheus by giving him his homunculus instead and gets to live a while longer, nice.
That was a lot of fun! It took me around 21.5 playtime total. There are two NG+ modes but I'm not that interested in those atm.
(Sidenote, my top 10 most played games on Steam are now eight metroidvanias and Hades 1+2.)
Fortunately despite that I think the exam today went well :) I won't find out for about 1.5 months but I'm optimistic.
Now I don't have another exam until October and no classes until July, very nice.
I did finish Astalon: Tears of the Earth last week. I made my way up the Ruins of Ash and discovered (and explored half of) the Serpent Path, then the Darkness, and then made it to the gorgon Solaria. Easy fight thanks to Kyuli (in hindsight, almost a shame I didn't even get to see every party member's dialogue with the gorgon, her statements to Algus and Kyuli both were mysterious and ominous.) Algus told Arias and Kyuli about his deal with Epimetheus (also, apparently Algus promised to take care of them and their mother since he and their dad Silas worked together and were betrayed and murdered, iirc), and then also told them there might be a way for him to get out of the deal but they have to explore the entire tower. (I couldn't find a compilation of rest scenes, I'd have to look for it in a playthrough.)
Next I continued up the Serpent Path, where I finally found the Morning Star for Bram to break the golden blocks with. Then I went back down to the Tower Roots and found the Adorned Key, not sure yet what I need that one for… I still need at least one more red key.
Next up: backtracking with Bram. Around 18.5 hours, almost 90% of the map explored and a little over 80% of items. I want to try and get the last few major items before facing the final boss, ideally.
I discovered the Cathedral and got the magic block for Zeek, and after that I did some more exploring and found the Boreal Gauntlet (which I never found that much use for tbh.) I got to 97% of the map discovered and then decided to face the final battle: it only took me two tries (and I wasn't at full power the first time), Kyuli cleared solo without too much trouble, and without even using her shining shot because I keep forgetting she even has that.
The ending was beautifully done.
I went back to get the "true" ending, for which I needed to 100% the map. I found the Blood Chalice, the only healing ability in the game but it's very powerful, no wonder you need the Adorned Key to get to it. I did have to use a guide for the last 2% and also to find Gil (and without a guide I would not have thought to disturb Epimetheus on the toilet either.) On my way I also encountered the only miniboss I fought with Arias – I mostly used Kyuli and sometimes Algus both for movement and combat so it was good for him to get involved ^^ Most of the rooms I'd missed were in the Serpent Path, but eventually I got to 100% of items and rooms.
That, after another end boss fight (Kyuli solo again) got me the ending in which Algus tricks Epimetheus by giving him his homunculus instead and gets to live a while longer, nice.
That was a lot of fun! It took me around 21.5 playtime total. There are two NG+ modes but I'm not that interested in those atm.
(Sidenote, my top 10 most played games on Steam are now eight metroidvanias and Hades 1+2.)
no subject
Date: 2025-05-07 01:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-05-07 07:30 pm (UTC)Years and years *shakes fist*
I'm very glad I had a break from exams after I finished my degree... Now all that's left are the tax advisor exams: five written (of which I've now written two) and one oral. Unfortunately they often don't have convenient dates. If everything goes well, the plan is to be done in spring 2027 \o/
no subject
Date: 2025-05-07 09:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-05-08 09:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-05-09 01:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-05-09 04:02 pm (UTC)