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 offers a unique blend of 4X strategy and card-based mechanics, providing a fresh experience for players looking for something different.
- Engaging gameplay with strategic depth keeps players involved, as there is always something to do and think about each turn.
- The art style is appealing and the game supports a charitable cause, making it a feel-good purchase for players.
- The user interface is poorly designed, making navigation and gameplay frustrating, with many players struggling to understand the mechanics.
- There is a lack of tutorials and guidance, leaving players confused about how to progress and utilize game features effectively.
- The game suffers from significant bugs and performance issues, leading to crashes and a generally unpolished experience.
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay features creative mechanics that diverge from traditional approaches, but some users find the interface challenging and the core gameplay loop somewhat dull. Despite this, many appreciate the engaging nature of the gameplay and the abundance of activities available.
“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 usual.”
- story4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is characterized by a moral about perseverance and the unpredictability of life, with some players appreciating the aesthetic and enjoyable narrative snippets. However, others note the absence of a cohesive storyline or campaign, indicating a focus on random events rather than a structured narrative.
“The moral of the story is that you never know what life has in store for you. If I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“The game features some beautifully written paragraphs of story that I truly enjoyed.”
“If you're looking for hundreds of random events along with a compelling story to follow, this game delivers.”
“- no storyline or campaign.”
“If you're looking for hundreds of random events and a story to follow, this game falls short.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of Apollo4x has been criticized as a blatant cash grab by developers known for unethical practices, including the exploitation of others' work and the release of low-quality games on platforms like Steam. Users express frustration over the repetitive pattern of these developers prioritizing profit over quality and originality.
“Apollo4x is yet another cash grab from serial shovelware pushers.”
“Digital entertainment has shown a repeat pattern of unethically dumping other people's work onto Steam as a cheap, nasty cash grab.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The graphics received mixed feedback, with users noting a lack of resolution options and limited graphics customization. However, the unique old-school art style was appreciated by some, adding a distinct charm to the overall visual experience.
“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.”
“The graphics look outdated and lack detail, making the game feel less immersive.”
“Character models are poorly designed and animations are stiff, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is noted for its calming and soothing qualities, providing a relaxing experience that can help players feel at ease.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for significant bugs and performance issues that hinder gameplay, alongside notable UI problems and various typos. These factors have led to frustrating experiences, with some players unable to complete their playthroughs due to game-breaking errors.
“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.”
“The optimization is so poor that it feels like the game is constantly struggling to run smoothly, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.”
“Despite the interesting concept, the game suffers from severe optimization issues that make it nearly unplayable on lower-end systems.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find grinding enjoyable initially, 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.”
“The grinding feels endless and takes away from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
“I find myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which makes the game feel more like a chore than fun.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the high replayability of the game, citing numerous options available before starting that can lead to varied experiences in each playthrough.
“There are many options before starting a game that can potentially provide a lot of replay value!”
“The variety of choices and paths you can take makes each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“With multiple endings and character builds, I find myself coming back to explore every possibility.”
