Platform: PC
Genre: 2D, Action, Platformer, Roguelite

The world truly needs more Mega Man-like titles. Yes, 30XX was great and all, but we do need more until Capcom decides to push out its own new Mega Man entry. For now, the indie scene is keeping that alive, with 2026’s Super Alloy Crush firing the proverbial blaster to kick things off.

Super Alloy Crush is part linear action title with a sci-fi plot that starts out kinda confusing, but doesn’t waste time in getting you in the action. It’s also part roguelike with a few endless modes that grant your selected characters new buffs as you progress further and further. You get to control either as Muu or Kelly; one’s a close-ranged fighter while the other dishes out the pain with his blaster. Both can be equipped with chips that passively buff their stats if there are block spaces left, as each buff comes in its own shape and size you need to slot in. They also can call down Supports -usually a fairy girl or some sci-fi pixie- that either dish out assist attacks or health/Special Points drops for a limited amount of times.

You’ll need all of these in your stage invasions, going left to right and even down to up finding the final room to deal with the stage’s boss. They range from decent to challenging, with my favourite fights involving a flying valkyrie-like lance-wielding queen to a demon goth chick guitarist who uses amplified sonic blasts and red lightning that is tricky to dodge. The challenge in Super Alloy Crush doesn’t let up, but it is stage-based and manageable if you’re smart with your loadouts pre-battle.

I played both characters in various linear stages and the survival mode, but it’s clear as day that I prefer Muu who plays like Mega Man X/Zero’s Zero. She’s got quick slash combos, great aerial slash moves I can chain up to three times (2 normals and 1 super before she cannot act in the air), and great dodges. I got far with Muu only because she has invincible dodge frames and is quick with her feet and Air super attacks. All of my deaths, usually in the roguelike and hardest no-continue difficulty mode, are skill-based; the controls are spot-on and perfect. Both Muu and Kelly move and dash around with as much freedom and flexibility as those aforementioned Capcom action platformers.

The game’s graphics and music are eye-popping and catchy too, reminiscent of a high-res Game Boy Advance action title with better synths and catchier jingles. I do wish the in-game portraits and talking heads are consistent with its art style instead of switching between clean line drawings and pixelated art, though that’s something that can be fixed when the game hits 1.0.

Part linear side-scrolling action, part roguelite, all fun: that’s Super Alloy Crush in a nutshell(and bolts) and it’s just a small taste from the Early Access build that you can get right now.

Not-So-Final Score: 80/100

Review copy provided by publisher.

https://youtu.be/ifN9n_E5iJ8

https://youtu.be/KFBa96tl7xI