Constance Review – Constant Greatness

Ernest Hemingway once said, “I learned never to empty the well of my writing, but always to stop when there was still something there in the deep part of the well, and let it refill at night from the springs that fed it.” This quote came to mind playing 2D metroidvania Constance, a dark horse for game of the year, that quite succinctly portrays burnout: how it creeps in, its consequences, and as The Old Man And The Sea writer eloquently put, a solution to its ever-present risk.

Not every single one of our problems can be attributed to our upbringing, but in some cases it can certainly explain some damaging patterns. First introduced to the imaginarium of Constance’s mind, the videogame develops here as she fights a slew of demons that reflect her life through carefully elaborated levels with her paintbrush. The real “Connie”, on the other hand, is struggling with being a painter and graphic designer with pushy coworkers that seemingly do not understand the meaning of the word boundary. This duality perfectly conveys how she was set up for failure since an early age due to her being an overachiever, and at the same time keeps players engaged with its snappy gameplay.

Meeting an adorable cast of characters that all need help in some way, much like many other games in the genre, our protagonist must collect four tears scattered through five biomes to free a train stuck in strings. Even though it is not subtle, it sets a clear goal, setting expectations early. Constance is not a long game, but the crafted setpieces are strongly memorable. After defeating a major boss, we get a glimpse of what real-world Connie is up to. Incisive “minigames” show her frantically responding to a barrage of emails, or trying to paint as the darkness encroaches, evoking a sense of desperation only an interactive medium like this could bring.

An untold amount of metroidvanias exist today, so it is easy to discern where Constance’s brilliance lies. Yes, you go through each area unlocking a new ability, like attaching to walls and being able to bounce eventually being able to flow almost as freely as water, but it is not only that. The size of the environment is just right. Getting lost is a common issue in games of its ilk, but not in this case. Thanks to the nifty photography mechanic that lets you record images on the map to remember when the ability needed is unlocked, exploring is encouraged. No space is wasted, with useful abilities, items or hidden treasure waiting to be found.

Combat is fast, and it has you learning enemy gimmicks in no time. Area of Effect attacks, cowardly magicians that you have to pursue while balancing platforming and projectiles are always fun to adapt to, especially with the bar of paint that limits your skills. Of course, losing and persevering is a core element of both the gameplay and narrative. This is countered by a genius option called the Puppet’s Curse which lets you revive at the cost of empowering enemies when revived in the same area. The risk-reward assessment for players to increase the difficulty for the sake of no backtracking comes up when the dreaded game over screen comes along.

When I think of Constance, I think of polish. Just like the Mona Lisa, which 500 years later people still make the pilgrimage to stare in awe at every little detail, so does the full package deserve praise. The hand-drawn art style is a feast for the eyes. The softer steampunk style shines bright with its yellow hues. Poor Constance’s skeleton being electrocuted when a platforming section goes wrong in that area is astounding and hilarious. An area solely dedicated to astronomy has a much more introspective theme to it. What only heightens the adventure is the soundtrack attuned to the ups and downs of a rattled mental state.

The gentle piano sounds carry a melancholy with it, or the carnival-themed stage with its cheery but haunting tone keeps lingering long after moving on to the next area. Hitting the paintbrush to a wall looking for secrets makes the unmistakable hollow sound of a piece of wood; dashing turns you to paint, and an aqueous noise accompanies it; bouncing through spikes does the sharp effect you’d expect. Our small purple-haired character also wobbles when moving through platforms, adding a charming comedic effect to the whole ordeal.

Everything is executed to the highest degree, even some platforming chase sequences. Although these will require some expertise, being able to pull off a precise dash, bounce and move gives off a satisfying feeling that goes back to the game’s motif. Not backing down even when the going gets tough is a message carved into the game’s essence. Each boss is appropriately challenging as the game progresses. For those not craving a tussle that could take more time and possible frustration, welcome accessibility features to reduce or completely negate damage are available. This makes it much easier for me to recommend this game to a wider audience, because its narrative is one that begs to be experienced.

Verdict

There is a pervasive thought that to have a breakthrough you must push someone to their limit; this could not be further from the truth. As much a top-of-the-line metroidvania as an emotionally charged cautionary tale, this is one of the most beautiful games of all time, both literally and figuratively. Its exquisite hand-drawn art style and delicate portrayal of burnout paint a masterful picture. Its crafty backdrop serves as the perfect catalyst to elevate this indelible journey. From the instant the story starts until the credits roll, Constance not only respects your time, but has the potential to change your life.

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