Currently in development by Purple Moon, 'Lethe' is a 2D stylish action platformer that follows the story of 'Nari,' the sole survivor of [Ex Machina], a project designed to produce 'artificial saviors' for the nation's permanence.

The game is intuitive enough for fans of the Metroidvania genre to pick up immediately, while offering fast-paced, sensory-rich action. Basic controls are keyboard and mouse-based: left-click for basic attacks, right-click for special actions, and WASD with spacebar for movement and jumping. In particular, the 'dagger throw-teleport' action triggered by right-clicking does more than just bypass obstacles or gimmicks—it significantly accelerates the game's sense of speed.

Another notable feature is that the game provides a variety of movement actions, such as double jumps and wall clinging, right from the very beginning. Combined with a system where specific gimmicks instantly reset your mid-air jump, you can experience extreme speed as you traverse the map without pause, even in the tutorial section. The pixel art is also quite polished, offering a clean and appealing visual style.

However, the controls might be a matter of personal preference. Personally, based on the recently improved build, I didn't find the impact to be particularly awkward or lacking. That said, it would have been even more enjoyable if gamepad support were available.

Since some features have been removed for now, it is perhaps too early to pass a final judgment. The previously existing 'thought acceleration' feature is temporarily disabled for system maintenance, but once it is reapplied through future development, it is expected to enhance the overall atmosphere of the action and allow for even more strategic gameplay.

While the demo version available at this year's BIC is limited to the prologue and tutorial, leaving one wanting more, it clearly conveys the fast tempo and action-oriented identity the developers are aiming for. A demo version of 'Lethe' is currently available for download and play online.