YOHANE THE PARHELION -BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE- drops you right into the fray with only a brief cutscene explaining everything and how Yohane must rescue her friends. Yohane controls beautifully and all of the standard Inti Creates Metroidvania elements are here, including the unique takes on powers like double jumping and wall grappling. As you rescue the others from their distress, you will get new powers that will greatly affect the game.
While you start out using Lailaps paw swipes to attack enemies, you will soon find a vast array of abilities to make use of. These will gradually make Yohane feel somewhat overpowered, especially when combined with how enemies and equipment work in the game, but it all ends up feeling just right. Again though, this is meant to be a beginner-friendly game and such things must be taken into account, including the game’s forgiving difficulty, especially when compared to games like Gal Guardians.
Yohane will primarily attack with Lailap and the powers borrowed from the Aquors, but she has another method as well. You can craft weapons for Yohane to use that can be activated with the right trigger button, but there is a catch. Attacking consumes Dark Points and you need to keep an eye on the meter to ensure you do not get into a sticky situation. Still, once you unlock all accessory slots, the game really becomes less of a challenge since you will be able to equip high-stat gear and craft high-damage weapons.
It also needs to be noted that Inti Creates was a lot more creative with the level design this time, especially when compared to Gal Guardians, which did have a bit of a repetitive feel to it at times. These are still basic levels, but the way they are put together, just feels more natural and cohesive, and there are also large unmapped areas that allow for a lot of exploration. Inti Creates tried something different here, and I have to say it was appreciated.
I will admit upfront, I have never seen Genjitsu no Yohane -SUNSHINE in the Mirror before, nor did I see Love Live! Sunshine!!. Still, I never felt lost playing the game and felt enough was explained that even someone unfamiliar with the property could enjoy the game. Overall, YOHANE THE PARHELION -BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE- is a delightful beginner Metroidvania and Inti creates did a good job creating a game welcoming for non-fans and those who are fans and still want to give themselves a bit of a challenge if they know what to do. I recommend this game, as you will not go wrong with Inti Creates action.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
