Alientrap has struck a great balance between their core 2-D Platforming and RPG-lite mechanics, and a varied world that challenges players in different ways throughout the course of this tightly paced adventure.
Apotheon is a Historical Hack and Slash game set in Ancient Greek Mythology with a masterful story, compelling mechanics, and stunning graphics. As Nikandreos, the last hero of humanity, players can battle mythical beings, climb Mount Olympus, and take the Gods' powers to ensure mankind's survival. The game features local multiplayer, brutal combat, and a rich single-player experience with a colorful cast of characters, but can be quite grinding and has some bugs .
Stunning art style inspired by ancient Greek pottery, creating a unique visual experience.
Engaging story that incorporates elements of Greek mythology, with well-developed characters and memorable boss fights.
Variety of weapons and combat mechanics that encourage experimentation and strategic play.
Clunky and imprecise combat controls that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Frequent crashes and bugs that disrupt the gaming experience, particularly during transitions between areas.
Limited replayability and a lack of depth in the crafting and inventory management systems.
graphics
2,204 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
40%
1%
The graphics of "Apotheon" are widely praised for their stunning and unique art style, heavily inspired by ancient Greek pottery and murals. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a visually captivating experience that immerses players in its mythological setting, with many noting that the art style is a significant draw for the game. While some mention minor issues with gameplay mechanics, the overall aesthetic and attention to detail in the visuals are consistently regarded as exceptional.
“The art style is beautiful and the game play is engaging.”
“Apotheon is a game that will please those who like good gameplay and who has the attention turned to an artistic graphic.”
“The art style is strikingly beautiful, the sound design was much richer than expected, particularly the voice acting.”
“Visuals are kinda ok for a couple of screenshots, but in the actual playing it gets old pretty fast, repetitive, indistinguishable and, again, just boring.”
“The fighting mechanics are overly simplified, the gameplay gets repetitive easily as the art style and assets keep repeating themselves the whole game (except for a few levels which were unique with superior quality than some other levels).”
“Although the concept of its story is not directly 'original', its great storytelling and simply breathtaking audio-visuals ensure you will be amazed - after all, it is like living a story from an ancient Greek amphora.”
story
1,894 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
51%
4%
The story of "Apotheon" is a straightforward yet engaging narrative centered around the protagonist, Nikandreos, who embarks on a quest to confront the gods of Olympus after they abandon humanity. While the plot is often described as simple and reminiscent of classic tales like "God of War," it is enriched by its unique art style and the integration of Greek mythology, making it appealing to fans of the genre. Players appreciate the environmental storytelling and side quests, although some find the overall narrative predictable and lacking depth.
“A truly enjoyable game with an interesting story, good game design, and a vibrant world which makes you immerse yourself in the great adventures of Nikandrios (the game's protagonist).”
“The story was refreshing after so many other retellings of ancient Greek mythology and the combat was simple to learn and a little difficult to master.”
“The story is engaging and has some surprising moments too.”
“The story is very basic, but that's fine for the kind of game it is.”
“The story in itself is pretty simple and boring.”
“The story is a bit lacking but is still good, the music and art style are my two favorite parts about this game.”
gameplay
1,422 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
54%
5%
The gameplay of "Apotheon" is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its unique art style and engaging mechanics, while others criticize its clunky controls and repetitive elements. Combat is often described as fun yet floaty, requiring strategic planning, but can feel imprecise at times. Overall, the game offers a variety of gameplay experiences tied to Greek mythology, though some players find it lacks depth and can become tedious.
“Apotheon is an all around great platformer, with enjoyable non-linear gameplay, a unique art theme and atmosphere, and a varied game world that is always fun to explore.”
“The gameplay is fun, the story is intense, and the multiplayer isn't that bad.”
“The gameplay is engaging and does not get old even to the very end of Nikandreos's arduous quest to become one with the gods.”
“The gameplay is kinda too loose, too floaty.”
“I'd like to like this game, but I can't; the gameplay is simply boring.”
“Probably the most boring, stretched out game with repetitive mechanics and annoying 'bosses' you'll ever waste your time on.”
music
952 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
33%
1%
The music in "Apotheon" has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the game's atmosphere and complement its ancient Greek theme. Reviewers praised the soundtrack for its epic orchestral pieces, ambient tracks, and fitting musical scores that elevate both combat and exploration experiences. Overall, the music is described as beautiful, immersive, and a standout feature of the game, contributing significantly to its artistic and emotional impact.
“The soundtrack of the game was also well implemented.”
“Apotheon starts on a high note, dazzling the player with a unique vision of ancient Greece and drawing them in with its ominous but beautiful musical score.”
“The music is by far one of the best aspects (especially the final fight against Zeus which the game blares the not so subtle title 'the king of the gods' track).”
“The music, however, is lackluster.”
“I just wish the music was able to keep pace with the graphics, but unfortunately, to me it falls a bit short.”
“Only problem for me is the music becomes too repetitive.”
atmosphere
262 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
33%
1%
The atmosphere in "Apotheon" is widely praised for its immersive representation of ancient Greek mythology, enhanced by a stunning art style that mimics Greek pottery and a compelling soundtrack. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create distinct atmospheres across various environments, making exploration enjoyable and engaging. Overall, the combination of visual aesthetics, music, and thematic depth contributes to a captivating experience that resonates well with fans of mythology and atmospheric gaming.
“The game's use of lighting and color gives each location in it a distinct and striking atmosphere.”
“Apotheon is a beautiful and atmospheric game; I still have some of the music on my playlist.”
“The atmosphere, art design, and music for this game is phenomenal and it's one of the few side-scrolling games I actually like.”
“No amount of sophistry in art and atmosphere can hide the weak combat and controls, shallow progression, and glaring technical problems.”
“Most indoor atmospheres feel very samey.”
“Judged solely on the gameplay, and ignoring the style and atmosphere, could I recommend this game?”
stability
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The game is frequently described as very buggy, with numerous glitches and crashes reported, particularly when switching areas or during combat. While some players found these issues frustrating, many noted that the game's autosave feature mitigated the impact of crashes, allowing for continued enjoyment despite the bugs. Overall, while stability is a significant concern, the game's aesthetic and gameplay elements often compensate for these technical shortcomings.
“Runs great on Linux and is a must-have for any ancient Greek buff!”
“Not bad for a new game; so far, no glitches, and the art is spectacular, beautiful, and quite colorful.”
“Runs great on my aging system.”
“This game is too buggy, for me at least; on both PS4 and PC my saves were corrupted and I cannot progress through the game.”
“Very buggy game with frustrating combat.”
“A warning though: this game was very buggy (IIRC it would often crash when switching areas, or something like that).”
replayability
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
68%
9%
Overall, the game exhibits limited replayability, with many players noting that once completed, there is little incentive to replay it. While some aspects, such as multiplayer modes and achievement hunting, can enhance replay value, the consensus leans towards a lack of substantial content to encourage multiple playthroughs. A few players found enjoyment in revisiting the game, particularly for its aesthetic and gameplay, but many recommend purchasing it on sale due to its short length and limited replay potential.
“The game also has a multiplayer mode, which can add to the game's replay value and extend its lifespan.”
“I'm pretty sure I missed quite a bit after playing through it the first time, so there is definitely replayability.”
“Beautiful game, good gameplay, solid game idea, and very replayable.”
“The game offers zero incentive for replayability.”
“Replayability: 1/10.”
“One downside to the game is that it's not very replayable and there isn't any 'New Game +' mode either.”
grinding
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
7%
90%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the combat and exploration tedious, particularly as they progress. While some appreciate the opportunity for exploration and the engaging story, others feel that the repetitive nature of combat and level design detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game is described as grindy, with some players suggesting that it lacks the depth to make the grinding enjoyable.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Times when I couldn't defeat a boss, I decided to go and collect gold to improve my abilities. I wasn't really grinding; it actually allowed me to explore areas and find things that I had missed.”
“Due to all of this, the combat tends to be slow and tedious at times, with me just switching to a bow to kill enemies quickly or at least more efficiently.”
“By the time I reached the maelstrom of tedious traversal and bland level structuring that is the Poseidon portion of the game, enough was enough.”
“The game tends to take more than it gives, which made me resort to farming on more than a few occasions.”
optimization
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
65%
14%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting occasional performance drops, bugs, and crashes, particularly on lower-end systems and macOS. While some users experienced smooth gameplay and solid performance, others noted issues like stuttering, black screens, and unoptimized controls, especially for mouse and keyboard setups. Overall, the game may require further optimization to enhance the experience across various platforms, particularly on Linux.
“Haven't encountered any bugs or had optimization issues.”
“I have encountered no performance issues and the game does seem to be locked to 60fps, which is very playable.”
“Optimized so some fps lag may happen, but animations are quite smooth, weapon diversity from melee to ranged, the epic quest your character embarks on is definitely one to enjoy.”
“The overall performance was slightly lacking with the game crashing 3 times within 90 minutes.”
“The developer comes across as if they don't have a clue about how the game's internal audio/performance systems work; as if a third-party created the game engine for them.”
“The only gripe I have with it is the fact that the controls aren't as finely tuned as they could be and the game, at least on my machine, suffers from performance issues on higher settings, while it really shouldn't.”
humor
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a delightful mix of awkward combat mechanics, funny dialogues, and amusing scenarios, such as characters defying gravity and hilarious interactions with the environment. Players appreciate the lighthearted moments that contrast with the game's tragic narrative, making for a unique experience that keeps them entertained throughout. Overall, the humor enhances the gameplay, contributing to a fun and engaging atmosphere.
“The gameplay is quite similar to the igavania-style; the combat system is hilariously awkward, but I think it works overall.”
“So I got stuck inside the ground, but I just loaded the save I had from 1 minute before that and continued on my way, so that didn't make much of an impact on my gaming experience; it was more funny than problematic.”
“11/10 that ending was hilarious and also very, very bittersweet.”
emotional
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
8%
The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the touching story, excellent music, and the ability to evoke feelings of heroism and tension, particularly in combat scenarios. However, others criticize the narrative as boring and feel that design flaws detract from the overall emotional experience, leading to a disconnect between the game's artistic elements and gameplay mechanics. Overall, while the game succeeds in creating emotional moments, inconsistencies in execution leave some players feeling unsatisfied.
“Overall nice music, excellent puzzles and a touching story.”
“They definitely hit a good emotional level seeing the attackers torment the frightened townsfolk.”
“The music and lighting down in Hades sometimes made me feel legitimately uneasy, and crossing the River Lethe was slow and tense without being frustrated.”
character development
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
50%
29%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of depth and personality in the protagonist. While some appreciate the intentional minimalism and the integration of ancient Greek literature to enhance the storyline, others feel that the overall character development is insufficient, overshadowed by the game's strong art style and engaging gameplay mechanics.
“The art style is phenomenal, the physics & combat are endlessly entertaining, and the character development & story progression were definitely well-attended during development & testing.”
“Then I started coming across the quotes from ancient Greek literature (used to support the storyline and character development, of course), and I was moved.”
“+ Great attention to detail is also displayed in level and character design, with each in-game location having a different feel and plenty of variation in the appearances of both NPCs and enemies.”
“The only element that is particularly lacking is character development.”
“It has very little character development and the protagonist has no personality, which is such a shame!”
“Some may find the lack of character development underwhelming.”