Akash: Path of the Five
- October 1, 2019
- Truant Pixel, LLC
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Akash: Path of the Five" is an action-packed RPG set in a richly detailed world inspired by Indian mythology. As a powerful warrior, players must master the elements and harness the energy of the Akashic Records to defeat formidable enemies and uncover ancient secrets. With its engaging combat system, beautiful art style, and intriguing narrative, this game offers a unique and immersive experience for RPG fans.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- The game features beautiful artwork and stunning character designs, enhancing the overall visual experience.
- The voice acting is top-notch, with a talented cast that brings the characters to life and adds depth to the storytelling.
- The humor and engaging writing make the game enjoyable, with a charming and fun narrative that keeps players entertained.
- The plot is repetitive across different routes, leading to a lack of unique storylines and character development.
- Some characters exhibit problematic traits and the handling of certain themes, such as gender roles, may feel outdated or uncomfortable.
- The pacing can be uneven, with some story elements feeling rushed or underdeveloped, leaving players wanting more depth and resolution.
- story214 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its engaging world-building and character arcs, while others criticize its repetitive plot structure and lack of depth. Although the art and voice acting are praised, several reviewers noted that the narrative often prioritizes romance and fanservice over a compelling storyline, leading to a feeling of sameness across different routes. Overall, while some find the story charming and enjoyable, others feel it falls short of its potential, leaving many plot points unexplored.
“I've played a lot of otome/dating games and they all start to blend together, but this is one of the few I've played that stands above the rest with a unique story, good sense of humor, and such sweet romance options. It's also refreshing to play as a female main character who is mature, funny, and confident!”
“The story, characters, backgrounds, voice acting cast, and the entire world are crafted so beautifully.”
“The art is gorgeous, and the story is engaging and well written!”
“I think the weakness of this title and the reason I don't recommend it is that there is only one story.”
“The storyline in every single route is exactly the same, save for one, which I will mention below.”
“I think the story had much more potential if there were problems individual to each route aside from the main story, to highlight the character you are dating and produce more intimate and unique moments between the main character and the partner.”
- graphics58 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning artwork, captivating character designs, and beautiful 2D sprites, while some express disappointment in the 3D backgrounds and occasional odd visual effects. The overall art style is described as interesting and immersive, though a few users noted inconsistencies and a disconnect between different artistic elements. Despite some critiques, the visuals are generally regarded as a strong point of the game, enhancing the storytelling and overall experience.
“The visuals are gorgeous, the writing is incredible, and the voice acting for every single character is absolutely phenomenal.”
“The artwork is stunning, the voice acting is amazing, and the writing surprised me.”
“This game has great visuals, with gorgeous 2D sprites/character art as well as compelling 3D backgrounds that do a lot for immersion in the setting as well as an attractive UI.”
“The world is fully animated, though the graphics sometimes have a strange glow about them regardless of display setting.”
“There are moments when the graphics are a little odd.”
“Graphic design wise, everything falls flat or just bugs me.”
- humor48 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players praising its clever writing and comedic moments that elicit genuine laughter, particularly from character interactions and voice acting. However, some instances of humor, such as uncomfortable situations or exaggerated scenarios, were criticized for crossing the line into cringeworthy territory. Overall, while the game features a variety of funny scenes and engaging banter, opinions vary on the appropriateness and effectiveness of certain comedic elements.
“I've played a lot of otome/dating games and they all start to blend together, but this is one of the few I've played that stands above the rest with a unique story, good sense of humor, and such sweet romance options (Lux is my personal favorite). It's also refreshing to play as a female MC who is mature, funny, and confident!”
“Crammed with comedy that had me literally laughing out loud for most of the gameplay.”
“The love interests are all interesting in their own way, the humor is spot-on, and the voice acting is great.”
“There are some tiny things in here that are certainly exaggerated beyond realism, but it's mostly for comedic effect (I think of the merchants in the town square), and it's funny rather than cringey.”
- music40 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising its charm and emotional resonance, often noting that it enhances the overall experience. The voice acting is also highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's emotional depth. However, some users expressed disappointment over the lack of an available soundtrack for purchase, despite enjoying the music enough to seek it out on platforms like YouTube.
“This game has good audio, from the charming voice acting (every single actor brings a lot to their character and to the emotional weight of the scenes they're in), to the music that fits seamlessly into the story.”
“The best parts are certainly the art and the music, both are absolutely lovely and charmed the pants off of me, especially the music.”
“Where this game excels is its technical presentations - its voice acting is top notch, the music is gorgeous.”
“It's too bad a soundtrack isn't available for me after buying.”
“We now have games where each character you go with basically has a game of his own within the game. We are at a point where voice acting is becoming necessary if you want to be considered a 'good' game, and if you don't have someone to make musical pieces specifically for your game, well, then why do you even try?”
“Music - 4/10”
- emotional18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game received mixed reviews, with some players finding the humor excessive and detracting from the emotional depth, particularly in moments where characters were forced into uncomfortable situations. While the voice acting and music were praised for enhancing emotional scenes, many felt a lack of genuine attachment to the characters and disappointment in the endings, which often provided only brief summaries rather than impactful conclusions. However, others appreciated the game's heartwarming narrative and originality, highlighting its potential for emotional engagement amidst a landscape of less compelling stories.
“I laughed hard and I cried.”
“This game has good audio, from the charming voice acting (every single actor brings a lot to their character and to the emotional weight of the scenes they're in), to the music that fits seamlessly into the story.”
“This tale of romance and adventure during times of potential hardship was refreshing; in an era of lackluster, flimsy, and often uninteresting subplots and narratives, it was inspiring to be treated to such a heartwarming, evocative tale.”
- character development6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is notably strong, with each route providing in-depth growth for the chosen character and insights into others, enhancing emotional connections. However, some characters lack backstory, leaving certain motivations unexplored. Overall, the captivating artwork complements the rich personality traits of the characters.
“They never go into why he was sneaking around the village in the first place, or any character development for him.”
“Each route has character development for the guy you have chosen, as well as development for the other guys, which allows you to understand them and fall deeper in love with their personalities.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players find the game to have strong replayability, particularly due to the engaging character personalities and multiple romantic routes available. Many appreciate the ability to explore different paths, making it a standout in the otome/visual novel genre, where replay value is often challenging to achieve. Overall, the game encourages multiple playthroughs, enhancing its longevity and enjoyment.
“Replayability is a factor I deem very important for any game and one I think is hard to achieve in the otome/visual novel genre, but Truant Pixel nailed it in my opinion.”
“My playtime is because I played it through twice and did a significant amount of rewinding the first time.”
“Replayability is a factor I deem very important for any game, and one I think is hard to achieve in the otome/visual novel genre, but Truant Pixel nailed it in my opinion.”
“I really love the boys' personalities and enjoy the paths of falling in love with them, and personally think there's a lot of replayability to their routes.”
“My playtime is because I played it through twice (does have replay value) and did a significant amount of rewinding the first time.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its innovative visual novel UI and scene setting, but it suffers from poor optimization on PC, leading to concerns about system requirements. Players are advised to consider the Switch version, which runs smoothly, as an alternative for a better experience.
“Akash also pushes visual novel UI and scene setting in refreshingly novel ways, but it's not heavily optimized, so watch the system requirements. (Or go for the Switch copy if you have a Switch and are worried about PC requirements; it runs very smoothly.)”
“Clearly not optimized for PC.”
“Clearly not optimized for PC.”
“Akash also pushes VN UI and scene setting in refreshingly novel ways, but it's not heavily optimized, so watch the system requirements (or go for the Switch copy if you have a Switch and are worried about PC requirements; it runs very smoothly).”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding required to unlock all character graphics (cgs) for the outfit system tedious, as it involves selecting one of three options early in the game and then waiting until the end to receive a corresponding image that is largely identical except for color and dress choice.
“Unlocking all the CGs is a bit tedious for the outfit system where you choose one of three options closer to the start, and the corresponding image is unlocked at the very end depending on what elemental you chose. They are identical, minus the different color/dress choice.”
“The grinding required to unlock everything feels excessive and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding for resources makes the gameplay feel monotonous and less engaging.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a traditional visual novel point-and-click system, complemented by a selection of charming mini-games that add a fun, albeit slightly challenging, twist to the experience.
“The gameplay follows a standard visual novel point-and-click answer system, but it also includes a handful of adorable mini-games that are super cute, albeit a bit challenging.”
“The gameplay features a classic visual novel point-and-click mechanic, enhanced by charming mini-games that add a delightful twist, even if they can be slightly difficult.”
“The gameplay follows a standard visual novel point-and-click answer system, but it also includes a handful of adorable mini-games that are super cute, albeit a bit difficult.”
“The gameplay is quite repetitive and lacks depth, making it feel more like a chore than an engaging experience.”
“While the mini-games are charming, they often feel out of place and disrupt the flow of the main gameplay.”
