Chasing the Sky is a story-driven metroidvania adventure game developed for PC. Players take on the role of Red, a seasoned thief who infiltrates the last flying island with the intent to steal its core. When the heist fails and Red crashes into the lower levels, the journey shifts to an ascent through the island's layers while facing obstacles and revealing hidden truths about the place.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on exploration and progression in a hand-drawn 2D world. Red navigates crystal caverns, cities in the sky, and deadly fungal forests, battling monsters along the way. Movement and combat evolve as new abilities and skills unlock, allowing players to grow stronger, faster, and more capable of reaching previously inaccessible areas. Ancient jewels scattered throughout the island grant unique powers, and selecting which ones to equip shapes individual playstyles and approaches to challenges.
Challenging trials and secret discoveries provide additional upgrades that support further advancement. The narrative unfolds through interactions with survivors, gradually altering Red's perspective on the original mission. A terrible disaster has affected the island, turning many inhabitants into monsters or leaving them deranged, which adds layers to the exploration and story beats.
Traditional frame-by-frame 2D animation brings a large cast of characters to life, emphasizing expressive moments during key encounters. The hand-drawn art style supports the sense of a mysterious, ancient flying island filled with both danger and wonder.
Game Modes
Chasing the Sky offers a single-player campaign focused on story progression and exploration. The experience builds toward a pivotal choice that determines the outcome: claim the core and risk dooming the world, or assemble a team to attempt saving the island. This decision integrates with the metroidvania structure, where backtracking and ability upgrades open new paths and alter how the narrative resolves.
No separate multiplayer or additional modes appear in the game's design. The emphasis remains on the interconnected world, combat encounters, and the personal journey of the protagonist through the island's secrets.
Story and World
The setting revolves around a once-thriving flying island struck by catastrophe. Red's initial goal of theft gives way to deeper involvement with the remaining inhabitants and the island's ancient mysteries. Exploration reveals how the disaster unfolded, while combat and platforming sections punctuate the discovery process. The world design encourages thorough investigation, with fungal forests and sky cities presenting distinct visual and mechanical variety.
Character interactions drive much of the emotional weight, showing how Red's views shift from opportunistic thief to someone confronting larger consequences. The frame-by-frame animation enhances these moments, giving weight to conversations and revelations encountered during the climb.
Is It Worth Playing?
Chasing the Sky suits players who enjoy metroidvania gameplay combined with narrative choices and hand-drawn visuals. The ability progression, jewel customization, and trial-based upgrades create a satisfying loop of growth and discovery in a single-player format. Those drawn to classic 2D platforming with story elements and a focus on exploration will find the core systems align with that preference. The game's emphasis on uncovering secrets and making a meaningful final decision provides a complete experience for fans of the genre on PC.