Sands of Aura | PC Preview

Souls-like games are nothing new, but Chashu Entertainment has breathed some fresh life into the genre with Sands of Aura. Not only does it look incredible graphically, its got unique lore, and a different perspective. Fans of this type of game should keep an eye out for this one, as it truly looks like something special.

What Makes It So Special?

Sands of Aura is described as an open-world action RPG. The combat is very deliberate, much like a Souls-like. But instead of a third-person view behind your character, the view is isometric. Imagine if Diablo had combat like Dark Souls or Bloodborne, and you’ll get a pretty good idea of what to expect. Instead of resting at a campfire, you’ll save your progress at a large bell, which also respawns enemies.

What sets this game apart, though, is its weapon customization. At any time, you toggle between different methods of attack. The developers told us that there are over 1,000 different combination with which to experiment. They even showed us a spear with an anvil attached to the end of it, which was quite hilarious. The freedom to choose a weapon aligned to your play style is very welcome.

In addition to your main weapon, you’ll also have secondary abilities resembling different forms of magic. These are on a cool down and can be used at any time. The developers were adamant about these abilities being able to be used at any time instead of hoarded for boss fights. They specifically told us that even though the game provided an intense challenge, they wanted the player to have an enjoyable experience with all of the attacks available to them.

Tell Me More

Another aspect that sets Sands of Aura apart from other games is its “cleansing” system. The world here is heavily corrupted, so attacking enemies causes your weapons to also be corrupted. You must cleanse them of the corruption to keep your attack damage in check. Doing so also gives you extra temporary perks. We saw one that offered temporary invisibility, but there are several others as well.

In true RPG fashion, enemies will also drop loots on occasion. Certain items are not dropped randomly, however, but in specific, predetermined locations. Some enemies may randomly drop runes, though, which help to build your character’s stats. This, much like the weapon options, allows you to customize your character according to your play style. As expected, there’s also a skill tree, which are referred to as “blessings” here.

Watch Your Back

One aspect that I appreciated was how critical hits are handles. Instead of relying on dice rolls, crits are determined by positioning. If you attack an enemy from behind, you’ll do more damage. Likewise, if an enemy attacks you from behind, you’ll run the risk of taking major damage. This plays a vital role in boss fights, where running away from an enemy becomes part of the strategy. But since you can’t run away without exposing your back to an enemy, it makes for nervous fights.

Sands of Aura is definitely worth a look for any fans of the genre. The lore is interesting, the visuals are gorgeous, and the combat looks deliciously satisfying. Look for this one to drop on Steam either at the end of this year or early 2022.