Chasm is one of the finest Metroidvania games ever created. While the game’s developmental journey was longer than expected, the wait was well-worth it. Every aspect of the game shows that a great deal of care was put into it and the attention to detail for the core gameplay pays off in spades. There are many different ways to play Chasm and all of them result in an unforgettable experience. It plays like a dream, looks stunning and features an atmospheric soundtrack that makes every new room both exciting and terrifying.

Chasm is a fantastic addition to the metroidvania pantheon and the best one since Shadow Complex. It’s frustrating to see it come so close to greatness, only to stumble by following too closely in Symphony‘s footsteps. It would have also done better by abandoning the procedural approach and going for a well-tailored, hand-crafted experience. I loved playing through it once, but there just wasn’t enough to pull me back in once it was done.

The game took the developers six years to make, and this is seems to have paid off when looking at in the quality of the visuals, controls, and how well the Chasm’s take on procedural generation and the placement of its rooms works out.

Even when its flaws are obvious, Chasm is a well-crafted adventure, and during the more than 12 hours I spent playing through my first time, I got lost only once.

Chasm is a more traditional offer in the metroidvania genre, without modern fusions with the roguelite genre or souls mechanics. Its bet is that of continuing with a deep, backtracking exploration and to rise up the challenge in basic enemies, with a variety of patterns to learn. The same occurs with the platform elements, more challenging than classic metroidvanias.

While Chasm is an indie Metroidvania title using procedural generation, this isn't another roguelike. Instead, Chasm generates a new map with every campaign for re-playable variety. During the campaign the map stays put, promoting exploration and memorization. Chasm is all about getting around: finding new abilities to open a new path forward and overcoming difficult platforming challenges. Chasm might have been outdone in certain aspects during its five years in development, but what's here is still very good.

An enjoyable old-school metroidvania with wonderful pixel art, focused on platforming rather than combat. [10/2018, p.54]

It has been a long wait for Chasm and I am happy to report that it provides a great classic Metroidvania experience.

With an unrelenting sense of character, Chasm successfully works the Metroid formula into a procedurally-generated fantasy platformer, producing an intricate, challenging and enduring treasure hunt that more than justifies its five-year development.

Beautiful pixel art and tight controls make Chasm a fine, if reserved, modern take on the Metroidvania.

Chasm's procedural dungeon, though a technical marvel, ends up woefully underutilised and results in a title that does little to set itself apart from its peers.

We must admit that we are not completely satisfied.

Chasm is full of great platforming moments and environments, but these elements are randomly assembled into an uneven experience. Bit Kid succeeded in creating a Metroid-style experience that unfolds in a new way every time you play it, but I would have rather had one playthrough that was consistently entertaining.

Chasm was worth the wait regardless of its shortcomings. It's gorgeous, it sounds wondrous, and even though I'm not quite at the point where I can call it a "classic," it honors the genre. I hope the follow-up doesn't take nearly as long.

A solid, satisfying metroidvania with charming retro aesthetics that is hampered by its unappealing game world, uneven balancing and overall lack of ideas. The whole concept of randomized levels seems unnecessary for a game like this, and one has to wonder how Chasm would have turned out if only it used a fixed level design instead.

Chasm is a lovely experience for all those players who enjoy by playing classic titles like Castlevania and the first Metroid. Great for 2D and pixel lovers, but a little bit repetitive for modern players.

Chasm is a platformer I thoroughly enjoyed playing through once, but I’m not rushing back for more.

An enjoyable Metroidvania with great platforming, gorgeous visuals and solid old-school gameplay... but also some balancing issues due to its procedurally generated dungeons.

There's certainly fun to be had, and there's no doubt in my mind that there's an excellent foundation here for future updates, but Chasm lacks the qualities needed to make it an essential player in an already competitive genre.

A game that took five years to develop feels like it should offer more than Chasm currently does.

A metroidvania with some interesting ideas, but lacks in combat system and level design, resulting just sufficient in all of its mechanics and not worth a second run.

Chasm is a quite good tribute to some classic games of the Metroivania genre, with some pleasant retro style visuals. But many things are lacking - like some fresh ideas and a tighter level design - to make it more than a satisfying experience.

It’s rather unfortunate for an indie production that lasted six years to feel so generic but, alas, that is the case. From the simplistic platforming to the basic combat, Chasm is playing extremely safe and predictable, making all the more difficult to take advantage of its randomly generated world.

Chasm tries something new with its procedurally generated map but it failure to create interesting maps results in a lackluster experience.

The moment-to-moment combat, smooth animation and attractive visuals are serviceable enough to see most players through to the end of the game’s modest duration, but it’s impossible to walk away from Chasm without feeling like the game is a missed opportunity.

Chasm is a retro-infused, Metroidvania style roguelike. Although it brings back many nostalgic feelings with its art style, there is much more to be desired and no real sense of accomplishment once you've completed the game.

Chasm's beautifully realized world can't distract from an ill-fitting gimmick that leaves its gameplay unbalanced and repetitive.