Awaria – “I can fix her”… and generators too

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• DEVELOPER: vanripper
• PUBLISHER: vanripper
• PLATFORMS: PC
• GENRE: Action
• RELEASE DATE: November 16, 2024
• INITIAL PRICE: Free-to-play
• REVIEWED VERSION: PC

More than four years ago, we got elegantly dressed demon girls and chocolate pancakes from the game Helltaker. Now, vanripper, the creator of that short puzzle game, has returned with a new title: Awaria. Although both games share many similarities in terms of art style and soundtrack, Awaria moves away from the typical sōkoban puzzles known from the previous game and focuses more on “bullet hell” scenarios with added time pressure. This time, players face a new challenge, finding a way to kiss the ghost girls who are haunting them.

From Hell to Bullet-Hell

In Awaria, we play as Ula Usterka, a young worker running through tunnels and a member of the maintenance team. Her job is to ensure that the shield generators are working correctly, which is no easy task given the constant need for part replacement. Each time, you must check what is wrong, craft the necessary parts, and then deliver them to the appropriate generator. While it sounds simple, the tasks become quite demanding when you have to deal with aggressive ghosts throwing sharp pieces of scrap or lightning at you. It all depends on you how to win them over, dodge the bullets, and still adhere to safety protocols.

The gameplay is certainly the strongest asset of this game. The mechanics are intuitive and straightforward; we use WASD controls for movement and the Enter key to interact with objects. Each level features different generators and threats, so players must adapt quickly: escaping one enemy might work in some situations, but it won’t help when you have to watch out for multiple phantom girls and obstacles emitting deadly electricity. There is no easy way out; even if you are not playing on Hard Mode, the game leaves little room for error but definitely requires skill and practice to complete, regardless of the difficulty.

Industrial, Paranormal, Original

Although Awaria can technically be completed in under 30 minutes, the high replayability allows for hours of fun as you attempt to finish the game on a harder difficulty. While the challenges from the regular levels and the final main boss fight are the focus, the game also strives to add depth to the characters and their relationships. After all, securing a kiss after battling new obstacles is truly rewarding, not to mention it helps develop the story in interesting and somewhat unexpected ways. While the new girls may not be as memorable as the characters from Helltaker, they certainly bring more energy to the game thanks to their unique personalities.

Since I am comparing the two games again, I cannot ignore the cute design and catchy music that worked in both cases. The distinctive art style created by vanripper and the electronic beats composed by Mittsies form a combination that simply cannot fail. Additionally, the exceptionally smooth animations and the excellent use of neon green light further enhanced the atmosphere of the mechanical environment. The graphics and soundtrack were the main reason I kept trying to pass the harder levels – just when you wanted to give up, these elements would draw you back to the game.

Final Thoughts

Awaria is a free and short game, but don’t be fooled, it takes players much more seriously than it seems. Whether you just want to test your motor coordination or actually complete Hard Mode (good luck), the game will present you with a challenging but surmountable task. And those who remain patient until the very end will be generously rewarded, because who cares about kisses when you can get a brand new recipe for another dessert! However, we advise caution: the danger of choking is the only threat we want to avoid in the context of this game.

Free-to-play