Samsara review highlights a patient, ambitious Metroidvania

A measured look at Adventure of Samsara on Switch, a decade in the making by Ilex Games, released on the same day as Hollow Knight Silksong.

Samsara Review Probes a Slow Burning Metroidvania Experience

Adventure of Samsara lands on Nintendo Switch amid high expectations for a retro styled Metroidvania. The Brazilian studio Ilex Games spent years crafting a game that leans toward weighty, deliberate combat rather than ultra responsive action. The result is visually striking and clearly its own thing, drawing inspiration from Prince of Persia and Super Metroid while nodding to the Atari 2600 classic Adventure. The game’s world mixes ten biomes from frozen ruins to eerie cloning labs, and a solar powered toolkit to clear obstacles and restore platforms.

Combat centers on a shield and sword with a timing based parry, supported by spells, a bowgun for ranged hits, and a heavy hammer for big damage. You upgrade weapons and a wrist gauntlet to tailor your build, tweaking speed, damage, and spell cost. Boss battles stand out for their atmosphere and need for study and patience. Yet the game can feel punishing during backtracking, with frequent knockbacks and a ping pong effect when crowding foes in tight spaces. Recovery can be slow and requires precise timing, and a few bugs and a rare crash crop up, though nothing stops progress once you learn the rhythm. The flow shifts between tough combat gauntlets and exploration driven sections, which helps when the pace dips.

The game makes a deliberate choice to resist hollow imitators, prioritizing its own pace and atmosphere. That choice may frustrate players looking for instant gratification but it rewards those who invest time in learning the fights and spacing. Samsara’s combat system, while punishing, invites a steady practice that deepens over hours of play. The visuals and sound design reinforce a world that feels solitary yet alive, a fit for fans of Souls like titles seeking a somber mood and meaningful boss design. The release timing adds risk: a big rival on the same day can mute visibility, yet it also spots Samsara as a bold, independent project that stands on its own merits and could gain traction through patches and community discovery.

In the long run, the game may become more approachable as it matures through updates, but its current balance will likely keep casual players at a distance. For Metroidvania and retro enthusiasts, Samsara offers depth, rewards, and memorable boss duels even as it asks for patience and careful play.

Highlights

The world is rich enough to draw players back for another run as patches refine the rough edges.