Apollyon: River of Life
- October 28, 2023
- ThePlanarDanse
Get on SteamApollyon is a dark fantasy narrative RPG focused on choices, where you summon demons and spiritual entities, deal with them for power, and delve deeper into an occult universe! It is a multiplayer choose-your-own adventure RPG mixed with a roguelike strategy board game and hidden deckbuilder elements. In this 40+ hour game, you will: Use obsidian tokens upon the Apollyic table to control the…
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features beautiful artwork, captivating card designs, and a rich narrative that immerses players in a deep, occult-themed world.
- Apollyon offers a unique gameplay experience with its strategic token mechanics and non-linear storytelling, encouraging exploration and experimentation.
- The game is challenging but rewarding, with a steep learning curve that ultimately leads to a satisfying sense of accomplishment as players unlock new content and master the mechanics.
- The game can be confusing and overwhelming at first, with vague feedback on mechanics that may leave players feeling lost.
- The steep difficulty and punishing mechanics, such as losing progress upon death, can be frustrating, especially for new players.
- There are reports of bugs and control issues, particularly with the need to use both keyboard and mouse, which can detract from the overall experience.
- story26 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's story is presented in a non-linear format, allowing players to uncover narrative elements through card events that range from simple mechanics to complex choices. While some storylines are still unfinished and there are occasional bugs, the overall narrative is described as compelling and rich, drawing players into a fantasy world that evolves with their actions. Many users express a desire for a dedicated story mode, highlighting the engaging nature of the storytelling despite initial challenges in gameplay.
“This is a great game, a hidden gem. It draws you in with what seems on the surface to be a card/table strategy game, but soon reveals a rich fantasy story behind the events in the game.”
“It's so fun to slowly explore this world and uncover how your actions on the table influence the story.”
“There will be bugs and not all the storylines are finished yet; that said, for what is presently available, Apollyon offers an oddly compelling style of narrative that winds between the places between worlds, and some notable locales on it besides.”
“The storytelling is non-linear, so you slowly gather glimpses and pieces.”
“I would love to see a story-only mode option.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Apollyon is characterized by its esoteric and text-based choose-your-own-adventure format, where players navigate multiple events using a unique token system that influences various outcomes. Progression is tied to completing rituals without dying, adding a layer of challenge as players learn the mechanics and effects of the tokens. Overall, the game encourages exploration and experimentation within its intricate mechanics.
“In Cultist Simulator, figuring out the mechanics is a part of the game, and the game's reaction to your actions is clear enough to understand how things work under the hood.”
“The gameplay takes mostly the form of a text-based choose your own adventure, where multiple events need to be tackled in succession.”
“Every turn you can shift a number of these tokens around, to a multitude of varying effects, ranging from making certain skill tests easier (and others harder!), to allowing or preventing certain events from showing up, to applying fundamentally changing effects upon the gameplay.”
“Apollyon is definitely esoteric — not only narrative-wise (that is expected), but also gameplay-wise.”
“The progression mechanic is peculiar, as you only save your progress when you finish a ritual (run) without dying.”
“I like what I see but am still learning the impacts of all the tokens, so I think I will start a new playthrough to better understand the gameplay.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are highly praised for their unique art style, with particular appreciation for the detailed artwork on the cards and the distinct visual representation of each class. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's enjoyment and immersive experience.
“I love the artwork on the cards, and how each class feels different.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, with players expressing a strong affinity for its style and integration into the overall experience, contributing to an enjoyable and immersive atmosphere.
“An absolute blast that I heavily recommend! I might have a soft spot for their art style and the music in-game.”
