Painting a Path
“We’ve all got both light and dark inside us, what matters is the part we choose to act on.” Never more have I seen a game encapsulate this quote in gameplay, narrative, and visuals more than the latest platformer, Constance.
Constance is yet another addition to the Metroidvania subgenre of platformers, taking, you guessed it, inspiration from the backtracking design of Metroid and Castlevania. Where this one differs for me is in its compelling narrative, with subtle themes about mental health and depression which are presented in a way that children can understand. It’s a touchy subject for many, but the nuance that Constance approaches the topic with, leaves a touching and thoughtful story that rivals most others in the genre.
Mastering the Metroidvania
As mentioned earlier, Constance falls into the Metroidvania subgenre of platformers; essentially, this means collectibles and secrets will be hidden in previously completed areas, only accessible with future upgrades or abilities. Fans of said genre will be happy to know not only does Constance take inspiration from previous masterpieces, but through its interlinking map and thoughtful secrets, also displays an elegant design illustrating mastery over the art of stage design.
Your main goal throughout this fairground of fun is to discover a way to return home on a broken train whilst also conquering your inner demons. Upon progressing to a certain point, this goal will be achieved by venturing through many environments in search of sacred and magical Tears. Locations such as Chaotic Carnival transform this grounded concept into a whimsical and vibrant adventure, with each area containing distinguishing mechanics and designs.
Although the map design Constance puts on show is exceptional, it means nothing unless it’s fun to traverse these, so how does Constance’s gameplay fare?
Brush Techniques
Every platformer has what I like to call their star power; Sonic is of course his spin dash, Crash has his box destroying spin, and Constance has the Brush Techniques. More specifically, it has the Paint Dive, the first of many brush techniques you’ll discover which always remains the most crucial, propelling you horizontally whilst also allowing you to pass through hazards. Of course this comes at the price of draining your Paint Meter, however Constance implements such a simple mechanic to introduce a whole new risk-reward element; whilst yes, your Paint Meter can theoretically become empty, any further abilities can still be utilised, but will drain your health bar. It seems obvious in retrospect, yet this is one of the first successful implementations I’ve seen of such a mechanic.
These abilities are what aid in making Constance’s main gameplay loop so fulfilling, with them perfectly complementing the map’s design. Said map consists of interlinking rooms filled with foes, obstacles and platforming challenges, with a few secrets sprinkled around for extra fun. Whilst the difficulty is certainly an issue for myself (being rather on the easy side), I can recognise the target demographic for Constance is… well not me.
To assist with gameplay, players can either obtain inspirations, acting as perks, or collectibles to upgrade health or the Paint Meter. Their implementation as secret collectibles gives players a true incentive to go out and explore the map, as any obtained will aid in completing Constance.
Another expert mechanic is implemented for those pesky secrets unobtainable thanks to the Metroidvania design, being that of Snapshots. An NPC named Robert will give you a camera (after ridiculing you for your lack of one) and any secrets will be marked on the map through a Snapshot. It seems Constance has a penchant for implementing thoughtfully simple mechanics that add up to brilliance.
Thematic Combat
Thematically, the Paint Abilities and Paint Meter system is the perfect representation of what Constance stands for, with your Paint Brush attempts to make positive changes draining energy and often accompanied by monsters yet always leaving the world a better place after. These enemies are certainly an interesting discussion point for Constance; whether it’s the flying foes who force the fight to their strengths, or the mirror-wielding monsters inciting tactical attacks, they’re all fantastically designed yet lack any incentive to fight them. They do drop a currency known as Glimmer, allowing the player to purchase items from a vendor, yet the limited selection of items and excess of foes leaves a ratio allowing for many combat encounters to be skipped.
The shop is also where you’ll encounter your first of many zany side characters and side quests. A small raccoon creature will task you with finding their many well-hidden cousins, with each one found throughout the map furthering the shop’s limited selection. It’s the perfect representation of the quests Constance has to offer, with them largely being vague goals easily achieved during progression.
Visually, Constance is exceptional, implementing vibrant 2D art akin to Hollow Knight, with each area opting for a distinct look. This quality is taken to new heights through a stellar soundtrack that players will have a hard time not becoming immersed in. Throw in a finishing touch of polish through fantastic menu navigation, smooth 4K 60FPS on Xbox Series X, and quality-of-life mechanics, and Constance is never lacking in its presentation.
A Decorated Canvas of New Ideas
My final aspect of praise, and what may be my favourite aspect of the game, has to be the boss fights. Without giving too much away, they perfectly encapsulate all the positives to Constance, requiring mastery over mechanics and knowledge of the game’s design. Take for example the game’s first boss… a giant animal in a mammoth monster machine (I told you this game was zany). It begins with firing electric orbs you must jump over or sneak under, with another attack to bring lightning strikes down. As you deal more damage, both attacks will combine leaving extreme platforming prowess necessary for defeat.
Constance is certainly a compelling game, through its light vs dark narrative, fantastic implementation of Metroidvania design, and blending of old mechanics and new ideas alike. Whilst it does have minor shortcomings, the star power filled Paint Abilities add a unique layer to Constance that leave it as one of the most decorated and original canvases of platformers in recent memory.
Important Links
Constance Paints A Beautiful, Emotional Journey – https://www.thexboxhub.com/constance-paints-a-beautiful-emotional-journey/
Hand-Drawn Constance Paints A Release Date for PC | Xbox, PlayStation & Switch Launch Confirmed – https://www.thexboxhub.com/hand-drawn-constance-paints-a-november-release-date-for-pc-consoles-to-follow-in-2026/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/constance/9mw6hcg5vqxr
