Twilight Monk invites you into a beautifully hand-drawn world of martial arts, mystical monks, and enough fantasy action to make even the most disciplined warrior do a double take.
Developed by the incredibly talented creator of the Twilight Monk graphic novels, this game blends fast-paced combat, platforming, and an engrossing narrative into one stylish package.
A Combat System in Need of Refinement
From the moment you step into its painterly world, Twilight Monk feels like a love letter to classic action-adventure games but with a fresh twist.
The story follows Raziel, a young monk with a destiny more complicated than a cryptic prophecy.
As he navigates the beautifully drawn landscapes, players uncover secrets, battle monstrous creatures, and interact with an eccentric cast of characters that bring the world to life.
The combat is fluid for the most part, but while chaining together stylish combos can feel great, enemy activations need some serious work.
Too often, they stand around like they’re waiting for an invitation to the fight. And the lack of combat “juice” – that satisfying feedback when you land a hit, make some encounters feel floaty instead of impactful.
The platforming sections are enjoyable when some questionable design choices don’t slow them down. For example, the absence of a dash ability makes traversal feel more drawn out than it needs to be.
A Visual Masterpiece With Some Artistic Clashes
Visually, Twilight Monk is nothing short of stunning. Every frame looks like it was lifted straight from a graphic novel, with vivid colours, expressive characters, and breathtaking environments.
However, the contrast between the in-game art and the dialogue portraits creates a bit of an uncanny disconnect. Despite that, and despite the demo’s other rough edges, Twilight Monk still shows promise.
The world is intriguing, the combat, when it clicks, can be fun, and the art direction is undeniably striking.
It just needs some polish and refinement, and if the developers address the enemy AI and combat feedback, this could be truly special.
BOTTOM LINE:
As it stands, Twilight Monk is a stylish adventure with great potential, but it needs a bit more training before it can truly master its craft.