Apollo4x
- May 5, 2015
- Digital Entertainment
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"Apollo4x" is a single-player Role Playing game with approximately 6 hours of playtime, centered around transporting 5 resources between planets with limited fuel. It features a unique "time pressure" enemy that consumes planets, and offers a difficulty range from zero-challenge to creator-defeating, all while avoiding traditional 4X economic and combat models. Players will interact with the economy every turn, managing resources and solving puzzles within a self-controlled challenge setting.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a unique concept that combines 4X strategy with trading mechanics, offering a fresh take on the genre.
- There is potential for strategic depth in gameplay, as players must manage resources and trade routes effectively.
- The art style is appreciated by some players, providing a nostalgic feel that sets it apart from other titles.
- The user interface is poorly designed, making navigation and gameplay frustrating and unintuitive.
- There is a lack of tutorials and guidance, leaving players confused about game mechanics and objectives.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and performance issues, leading to crashes and a generally unpolished experience.
- gameplay12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Gameplay is characterized by creative mechanics and a unique approach, but the interface can be challenging to navigate, leading to a lack of cohesion in the overall experience. While some players find the gameplay engaging with plenty of activities, others feel that the basic loop is ultimately boring.
“Creative mechanics though.”
“Gameplay is engaging and there's always plenty to do.”
“On top of that, the basic gameplay loop is just kind of boring.”
“The game attempts to use very different mechanics than is usual.”
“It is one of Apollo4X's core mechanics.”
- story8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is characterized by a lack of a cohesive narrative or campaign, instead offering numerous random events and brief, enjoyable paragraphs. While some players appreciate the aesthetic and the moral themes presented, others may find the absence of a structured storyline disappointing.
“That being said, it's fairly pretty and there are some fun little paragraphs of story that I enjoyed.”
“If you're looking for hundreds of random events and a story to follow, this game delivers.”
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“No storyline or campaign.”
“If you're looking for hundreds of random events and a story to follow.”
“No storyline or campaign.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of Apollo4x has been criticized as a blatant cash grab by the developers, who are accused of repeatedly releasing low-quality, unoriginal content on Steam. This pattern of unethical practices has led to negative perceptions of the game's value and integrity.
“Apollo4x is yet another cash grab from serial shovelware pushers, Volens Nolens Games/Enoops.”
“Digital Entertainment/Volens Nolens Games/Enoops have shown a repeat pattern of unethically dumping other people's work onto Steam as a cheap, nasty cash grab, through this account or through closely linked/alt accounts.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics feature a unique, old-school art style that many players appreciate, but the lack of resolution options and meaningful graphics adjustments has drawn criticism.
“I like the artwork too... it's kind of old school and different.”
“There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been heavily criticized, with players reporting game-breaking bugs, significant performance issues, and major UI problems that hinder gameplay. Additionally, there are numerous typos and basic English mistakes that detract from the overall experience.
“In my first two incomplete playthroughs (both stopped due to game-breaking bugs), I found huge UI issues, multiple serious bugs and performance problems, and a smattering of typos and basic English mistakes.”
“In my first two incomplete playthroughs (both stopped due to game-breaking bugs), I found huge UI issues, multiple serious bugs and performance problems, and a smattering of typos and basic English mistakes.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game initially enjoyable, but it tends to become tedious over time, particularly when managing larger empires.
“This is enjoyable for a few turns but quickly becomes tedious, especially with larger empires.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight that the numerous options available before starting a game significantly enhance its replayability, offering varied experiences with each playthrough.
“The many options available before starting a game can potentially provide a lot of replay value!”
“The variety of choices you can make at the beginning really enhances the replayability of the game.”
“With so many different paths to explore, each playthrough feels fresh and exciting!”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is noted for its calming and soothing qualities, providing a relaxing experience that allows players to feel at ease.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
