Alcahest is a simple action game with some (very) rudimentary RPG elements (you gain levels and your life and magic points can increase during a playthrough). You are the chosen one who is destined to destroy the evil Alcahest, but before you reach him you have to defeat a big cast of other bosses.
While the overall story is cliched (you even have to free a princess), the execution of it is mostly well done (or simplistic enough not to mar the gameplay). The narrative is even mirrored in the level progression, as you don’t merely visit various landscapes to tick off the usual ice-fire-wood-mountain areas you typically encounter in those games. Instead finishing each area forces you to another area. No free roaming nor exploration, just killing legions of enemies in each level until the plot moves you further along.
The game feels at times a bit repetitive and especially the infinite respawn of simple enemies can be quite annoying. Sometimes you even get the chance to solve some simple puzzles, but mostly its fighting. Fun for one playthrough, but that’s it.
