Acolyte of the Altar
- March 25, 2024
- Black Kite Games
- 4h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Acolyte of the Altar" , engage in roguelike deck-building combat against colossal, evolving Beasts. Carefully strategize as their rage builds, granting them new abilities and requiring you to counter their attacks or risk being consumed. Strategically "Cut Off their Limbs" by infesting Beasts with parasites to emerge victorious in this unique and thrilling adventure.
Reviews
- The game features stunning art and sound design that immerses players in a unique alien world.
- Gameplay is challenging and engaging, with boss fights that require strategic deck building and planning.
- The developers are actively working on updates and improvements, showing potential for future content and enhancements.
- The game currently feels content-light, with limited card and enemy variety, leading to a lack of replayability.
- Numerous bugs and performance issues detract from the overall experience, including game crashes and slow response times.
- The lack of meta-progression and meaningful choices during runs makes the gameplay feel linear and less rewarding.
- gameplay15 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its engaging mechanics and beautiful design, drawing comparisons to popular titles like Hearthstone and MTG: Arena. However, many users note a lack of content and variety, with some mechanics feeling shallow and unbalanced after initial runs. Despite these shortcomings, the game shows potential for growth, and players are hopeful for future updates and expansions.
“It has a way to go in terms of content, but it has a lot of potential, and the devs have been active in improving gameplay and adding more features.”
“Cool designs, interesting card mechanics, interesting enemy skills.”
“Pros: engrossing gameplay, beautiful art and music.”
“It does need a bit more variety in the number of cards and enemies to battle, but in terms of general design and gameplay, it is a direction I hope more roguelike card games will go in, or maybe that this one gets some updates and a DLC down the road.”
“The perks are offered without a clear pattern and do not impact the gameplay that much, and the 'burden' system as of now is completely useless (I never got past the half-mark for burden).”
“The tone and feel of Diablo + Shadow of the Colossus with the gameplay of a versus card game + roguelike deckbuilder.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their beautiful artwork and unique aesthetic, creating an engaging atmosphere. However, some players feel that the lack of visual feedback on card interactions detracts from the overall experience, limiting strategic choices.
“Beautiful artwork.”
“I am in love with the artwork, atmosphere, and general concept of the game.”
“I absolutely love the game’s aesthetics.”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
“The character models are poorly designed and lack detail, making them feel lifeless.”
“The environments are bland and repetitive, which detracts from the overall immersion.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The music in the game is characterized as haunting and dark, yet also catchy, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the beautiful soundtrack and express a desire for the original soundtrack to be made available.
“Pros: engrossing gameplay, beautiful art and music.”
“Also, devs: please make the OST available at some point! :D”
“The soundtrack is haunting and dark but also full of bops.”
“Also, developers: please make the OST available at some point.”
- stability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for being overly buggy, which significantly impacts its overall enjoyment and value, leading to recommendations against purchasing it at the current price. While it performs well on the Steam Deck, there are suggestions for user experience optimizations.
“Could use some UX optimization for the Steam Deck, but runs great on it already.”
“Fun game, but way too buggy and overpriced.”
“The reason I can't recommend this game to anyone right now is because of how buggy it is.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its beautiful artwork and engaging concept, creating an immersive experience that enhances gameplay. While some users feel the content may be lacking for the price, the overall ambiance and strategic elements contribute to a fun and enjoyable experience.
“I am in love with the artwork, atmosphere, and general concept of the game.”
“A bit too little for the price and in need of a balance patch or two, but overall wonderful art, wonderful atmosphere, fun runs that don't overstay their welcome, and a fun amount of strategy and thinking to do.”
“A good game, love the atmosphere and art.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers express disappointment in the game's lack of branching choices, which contributes to a linear experience and diminishes its replayability. Comparisons to other games highlight a perceived deficiency in replay value, suggesting that it fails to engage players for multiple playthroughs.
“Seriously, it's getting sad how few games even manage to reach the quality and replayability of STS.”
“The replayability factor is off the charts, with so many different strategies to explore.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh and engaging, making you want to dive back in for more.”
“No branching choices during a run makes it feel linear and kills replayability for me.”
“Seriously, it's getting sad how few games even manage to reach the quality and replayability of STS, and Acolyte of the Altar isn't even in the running.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the lack of excessive grinding in the game, noting that there are no tedious unlocks or farming mechanics required to progress. This streamlined approach enhances the overall experience by allowing players to focus on gameplay rather than repetitive tasks.
“The grinding feels endless and tedious, making progress feel more like a chore than a reward.”
“I spent hours grinding for resources, only to realize it was all for a minor upgrade that didn't even make a difference.”
“The game forces you into repetitive tasks that drain the fun out of the experience.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Acolyte of the Altar" is derived from its numerous flaws, which some players find amusing, though it often teeters on the edge of being unplayable.
“The humor in this game is brilliantly absurd, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining.”
“I found myself laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and unexpected scenarios throughout the game.”
“The quirky characters and their ridiculous antics add a delightful layer of comedy to the gameplay.”
- story1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that the story elements may become more accessible or revealed after completing the game, suggesting a potential for deeper narrative engagement post-game.
“The story is incredibly engaging, with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.”
“I was captivated by the depth of the characters and the emotional weight of their journeys.”
“The narrative is beautifully crafted, intertwining various plotlines that come together in a satisfying conclusion.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent flow, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“Character development is minimal, leaving the plot feeling flat and uninteresting.”
“The narrative is predictable and fails to offer any surprising twists or depth.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game performs well on the Steam Deck, though users suggest that some user experience (UX) optimizations could enhance its functionality on the platform.
“Could use some UX optimization for the Steam Deck, but runs great on it already.”
