Sands of Aura

Sands of Aura is an action RPG heavily drawing from hack'n'slashes and soulslikes. It was developed by an independent American studio Chashu Entertainment.

Plot

Sands of Aura is set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world. Years ago, a powerful spell got out of control and drove the land of Talamhel to the brink of ruin. Empires of old are gone, buried under a massive ocean of sand. Occasionally though, the wind uncovers small islands hiding the ruins of the previous civilization. Our playable character must travel between those islands aboard their ship, facing dangers and learning about the past. It's up to us whether we'll listen to the advice of our caretaker Lawrence, or Aura, a ghostly spirit.

Mechanics

Sands of Aura tasks us with traversing and exploring an endless desert. The islands exposed by the wind hide not only ruins and secrets, but also many different threats. Fast-paced combat plays a major part in the game, letting us wield various melee weapons and magic. The player must be agile and perceptive, as overcoming enemies requires figuring out their attack patterns and discovering their weak spots. As we progress further, we acquire better weapons. Each sword, hammer and spear are made of three components - style, head and pommel - which can be modified, making them more powerful and versatile.

While exploring ancient ruins, the game makes use of the top-down perspective. While traveling aboard our boat, in uses third-person perspective.

Technical aspects

Sands of Aura is impressive visually. The game uses a colorful, yet dark artstyle intensified by low-key lighting.