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…
Reviews
- The game features beautiful artwork and captivating storytelling, immersing players in a rich and imaginative world.
- Apollyon offers deep and complex gameplay mechanics that encourage exploration and strategic thinking, making each playthrough unique.
- The cooperative multiplayer mode adds a fun social element, allowing players to tackle challenges together and share the experience.
- The steep learning curve and vague feedback can make it frustrating for new players to grasp the mechanics and progress in the game.
- Controls can be cumbersome, requiring mouse clicks for certain actions while other functions are keyboard-based, leading to a less fluid experience.
- Bugs and incomplete storylines are present due to the game's early access status, which may detract from the overall experience for some players.
- story13 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as a non-linear narrative that unfolds through card events, offering players a unique and engaging experience as they explore how their actions influence the plot. While some users noted that the storytelling can be rough around the edges and that not all storylines are fully developed, many found the narrative compelling and reminiscent of other storytelling games. Overall, players appreciate the depth and richness of the story, which adds an intriguing layer to the 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.”
“However, the story seems to lie within the cards themselves, and I am looking forward to discovering the story through all those beautiful cards, so maybe I'll stick to this playthrough so I can get into the story.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Apollyon is esoteric and revolves around a text-based choose-your-own-adventure format, where players manipulate tokens to influence various events and outcomes. The mechanics require players to learn and adapt, as progress is only saved upon completing a ritual without dying, adding a layer of challenge and strategy. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of narrative and gameplay that encourages exploration and experimentation.
“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 gameplay takes mostly the form of a text-based choose your own adventure, where multiple events need to be tackled in succession.”
“The progression mechanic is peculiar, as you only save your progress when you finish a ritual (run) without dying.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are highly praised for their unique art style, with users expressing a strong appreciation for the detailed artwork on the cards and the distinct visual representation of each class, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.
“I love the artwork on the cards, and how each class feels different.”
“An absolute blast that I heavily recommend; I might have a soft spot for their art style and the music in-game.”
- music1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, with players expressing a strong affinity for its style and overall contribution to the experience, making it a standout feature that enhances enjoyment.
“An absolute blast that I heavily recommend. I might have a soft spot for their art style and the music in-game.”
