Mai: Child of Ages is an action-adventure game that blends platforming with hack-and-slash combat across multiple eras. It follows Mai and her Grandfather as they journey through a shattered world, uncovering mysteries tied to ancient civilizations and dystopian futures after the Last Great War, offering more than 20 hours of gameplay.

Mai: Child of Ages focuses on Mai's ability to manipulate time using the Uroboro Stone, a powerful relic that lets her switch between her childhood and teenage forms. This ability is key to solving complex, multi-stage puzzles in Metroidvania-style dungeons. The game features charming character designs, relaxing music, and appealing graphics.

Travel through her childhood and adulthood

Mai: Child of Ages’ gameplay evolution is a major highlight, adapting seamlessly to the era being explored. The childhood form excels at precision platforming and uses unique tools like exploding flowers and boomerangs for combat. As an adolescent, Mai shifts to technical hack-and-slash combat with melee and ranged weapons. This constant change-up in mechanics ensures that exploration and fighting remain engaging throughout the adventure.

Further enhancing the experience is the dedicated crafting system, which allows Mai to gather resources and forge new tools to refine her playstyle. Uniquely, the game includes a Co-op Mode, where a second player can assist Mai by controlling an ancient spirit and even taking control of enemies to challenge the primary player in battles. This unexpected cooperative feature adds replay value and fun.

However, the game has notable issues: navigation is frustrating due to a severe lack of an adequate dungeon map, making it easy to get lost or confused when returning after a break. Furthermore, the game's production value feels inconsistent, showing rough textures and clunky controls in specific platforming sections. The end-game combat also becomes a tedious barrage of long, frustrating arena fights.

A labor of love

In conclusion, Mai: Child of Ages is a dedicated labor of love that fills a much-missed niche for 3D adventure fans. Its clever time-switching puzzle mechanics and charming world are strong enough to carry the experience. Players who can tolerate the low production value and potential frustration from the lack of direction will find a captivating adventure that rewards analytical thinking and skill progression.