ARKOS
- November 3, 2021
- RetroSouls
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"ARKOS is a single-player Fantasy Shooter game with stunning visuals and stellar music. Players step into the role of the white wizard Arkos, exploring destructible responsibility dungeons in search of a powerful weapon. Inspired by 90s classics like Heretic and Hexen, it offers 7 episodes, 7 weapons, boss battles, and 3 difficulty modes."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The voxel art style is unique and visually appealing, adding character to the game.
- The soundtrack is exceptional, featuring catchy tunes that enhance the gameplay experience.
- The gameplay is simple yet fun, with enjoyable combat mechanics and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic FPS games.
- Level design can be repetitive and lacks verticality, making navigation feel tedious at times.
- Progression often relies on finding hidden secrets, which can lead to frustrating moments of being stuck.
- Weapon variety is limited, as all weapons share the same ammo pool, leading to less incentive to switch between them.
- music51 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its nostalgic, retro-inspired soundtrack that evokes classic titles like Doom and Heretic. While the soundtrack is described as fantastic and immersive, some players noted issues with sound mixing, where the music occasionally overpowered sound effects. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, enhancing the gameplay experience and contributing to the game's charming atmosphere.
“The music is pitch-perfect, sounding like something straight out of Ultima Underworld, Heretic, or indeed Hexen, as though someone reinstalled an Adlib sound card in your PC.”
“To be honest, my favorite part of the game was the soundtrack which absolutely slaps; I will recommend this to anyone who wants a quick fun retro-style FPS.”
“Even if you somehow don't enjoy the awesome weapons or the excellent enemies, the soundtrack is so amazing that any of your complaints you may have wash away.”
“The audio besides the music is very basic and quite weak.”
“Sometimes the music really got to be too much.”
“The sound mixing is a bit off with the sound effects being very quiet and the music being too loud compared to it, and you can't increase the volume of the FX further either.”
- gameplay42 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Arkos is characterized by its nostalgic, old-school FPS mechanics, offering a fun yet somewhat repetitive experience, especially as it lacks significant variety in enemy types and level design. While the vibrant voxel graphics and engaging combat provide charm, many players feel the game could benefit from deeper mechanics and more innovative challenges. Overall, it delivers a satisfying, if basic, run-and-gun experience that appeals to fans of retro shooters, despite its shortcomings in gameplay depth and variety.
“Gameplay reminiscent of old-school FPS of the 90s, stunning visuals, slapping soundtrack.”
“The voxel graphics are entrancing and it works excellently with the simple FPS gameplay to create a nice nostalgic gestalt.”
“Regardless, I would still recommend this title to some degree, since it is a fairly good experience for those looking for an FPS game that isn't afraid of showing what honed its vision through the classics that came before it while adding in some new ingredients and spices to the mix that ultimately makes it its own unique title.”
“Unfortunately, the gameplay has not evolved much from its predecessors, so it gets a little samey by the end.”
“Unfortunately, although I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt, Arkos revealed itself to be a mediocre FPS: too basic mechanics, little to no variety of enemies to fight, and map design leaves much to be desired.”
“However, it feels somewhat generic and unsurprising in its mechanics; ultimately it's a 'run of the mill' old-school shooter, with few elements that set it apart from the countless other ones on the market.”
- graphics39 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique and charming voxel art style that stands out in the boomer shooter genre, evoking nostalgia for early FPS games. While many players appreciate the colorful and dynamic visuals, including destructible environments and engaging particle effects, some note that the simplicity of the graphics can lead to visual noise and a lack of depth in gameplay. Overall, the voxel graphics are well-received for their creativity and aesthetic appeal, contributing significantly to the game's character.
“I really love the voxel art style; it's pretty unique in the boomer shooter genre and gives the game a bunch of character.”
“No doubt one of the most eye-catching details right off the bat about this game is its lovely voxel pixelized graphics, making the most of it through means of allowing not just individual pixels to express themselves but also having an environment that is destructible and leaves behind the impact of any and all spells that you fling at your foes.”
“The voxel graphics are entrancing and work excellently with the simple FPS gameplay to create a nice nostalgic experience.”
“In general when I see a game which uses voxels (graphics made only with 3D cubes to be as simple as possible), I don't pay attention and pass these games without a second thought.”
“I am disappointed to say that it's just not very fun beyond the visuals, which get old very fast.”
“Everything is voxel-based, but much of the time it has a more 2.5D pixel art sprites with 3D environments type vibe, which I have always found one of the more endearing and underrepresented aesthetics in gaming.”
- story9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The story in Arkos is described as minimal and lacking depth, with players taking on the role of a wizard apprentice on a quest for his master's powerful staff. While some find the overarching narrative breathtaking, many reviewers note that the lore is sparse, with only a few vague letters providing context, making it clear that the game prioritizes gameplay over storytelling. Overall, the narrative is considered underwhelming and not a significant draw for players.
“Arkos is a Quake-style game where you play as a wizard on a quest to discover his master's long-lost powerful staff.”
“Players are put in the shoes of a wizard apprentice, Arkos, that sets on a quest to follow his master's steps, in order to acquire full mastery of multiple magical powers.”
“Now that you know the story (which is breathtaking), let's talk about the graphics: they're nice.”
“In terms of story and lore, we're at almost nonexistent levels here, with only a handful of vague letters that introduce the next world and little else to find out.”
“It's not uncommon to have minimal plot in a FPS, however some at least basic info on the background and setting, or additional text lore files, wouldn't have hurt to give some more variety.”
“It's a good thing you don't play these games for the story because there isn't much of one here.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding in Arkos is described as a tedious experience, characterized by repetitive tasks such as back-and-forth navigation across levels to collect keys, often requiring excessive and skill-less actions like hitting walls. While the game features visually appealing elements, the overall gameplay is marred by its monotonous and laborious nature.
“God, I hate that I'm putting a thumbs down, but Arkos is a tedious, and I do mean in the best, most purest form, a tedious experience.”
“Bland, tedious slugfest.”
“But the levels are usually a pretty tedious experience, going to one side of the map to get a key, then going to the opposite side and using that key.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is hindered by its linear content and lack of a level editor, resulting in minimal variation between playthroughs. While there are several difficulties and achievements to pursue, the overall replay value remains low due to the repetitive nature of the gameplay.
“The game offers several difficulties and achievements that enhance its replayability.”
“The content and replay value are significant, providing players with various ways to experience the game.”
“Despite the lack of a level editor, the game still manages to maintain a decent level of replayability.”
“There's unfortunately no level editor available, which hampers the game's replayability.”
“The content is linear, without any difference from one run to another; therefore, replay value is low.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in Arkos is highly praised for its unique and immersive qualities, bolstered by a non-intrusive and thematic soundtrack that enhances the overall fantasy experience.
“The music is non-intrusive and suitably thematic and atmospheric.”
“Arkos is a wonderful game with a unique atmosphere.”
“The nice soundtrack further enhances the fantasy atmosphere.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players feel that the humor in the game is lacking, particularly noting that the teleport gun, which had potential for comedic use, fails to deliver as it doesn't allow for amusing interactions like telefragging.
“The humor in this game is top-notch, with witty dialogue and hilarious character interactions that keep you laughing throughout.”
“I love how the game incorporates absurd situations that catch you off guard and make you chuckle.”
“The quirky animations and silly sound effects add a delightful layer of humor that makes every encounter entertaining.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the game offers good value for its price, many users report that its performance does not meet expectations, indicating issues with optimization.
