Artifact Adventure
- June 1, 2015
- bluffman
- 1h median play time
Get on Steam"Artifact Adventure" is a modern open-world RPG with classic aesthetics, allowing players to travel and explore a vast world in their own way. Every quest has multiple ways to complete it, and player choices significantly impact the game's outcome. With three starting options and over 70 possible endings, this game offers a high level of replayability and a unique adventure each time.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic RPGs like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, with a charming retro aesthetic.
- Players have a significant amount of agency with choices that affect the game's outcome, leading to multiple endings and moral dilemmas.
- The open world design encourages exploration and experimentation, providing a satisfying sense of discovery and engagement with the game's mechanics.
- The game suffers from a lack of clear explanations for mechanics, particularly regarding the artifact system, which can lead to frustrating mistakes.
- The combat and inventory management can feel clunky and outdated, with limited options for saving and navigating menus.
- Difficulty spikes and player-hostile design choices can result in frustrating experiences, especially for those unfamiliar with classic RPG mechanics.
- story94 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story in "Artifact Adventure" is a nostalgic homage to classic 8-bit RPGs, primarily drawing inspiration from the Dragon Quest series, featuring a simple overarching plot of defeating the evil Swamp King. Players appreciate the game's emphasis on player choice, with quests offering multiple endings and moral dilemmas that impact gameplay, though some find the lack of a clear main narrative and quest guidance frustrating. Overall, while the main story is minimal, the rich variety of side quests and their consequences provide depth and replayability, appealing to fans of retro RPGs.
“The story is intriguing and the graphics are very retro.”
“Excellent old-school RPG with nice stories in the side quests and many decisions with actual consequences.”
“There is no main story at all unless you pick the correct starting gift, which the game doesn't explain, by the way.”
“This is a terrible game; nothing is explained, you just walk around doing random things with no idea where to go. Some NPCs give you quests, but the free-roaming is really abhorrent.”
“The overall story setup is paper thin ('swamp king evil, go kill'), but there are all sorts of smaller stories as you progress through the game and help/hinder people, all of which is reflected in the ending you get.”
- gameplay26 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of classic JRPG mechanics with modern elements, offering deep engagement through exploration and character customization, though it suffers from dated combat and a lack of intuitive mechanics. While some players appreciate the nostalgic feel and the freedom of decision-making, others find the gameplay uninspired and occasionally frustrating due to unclear instructions and minor bugs. Overall, it appeals to those who enjoy old-school RPGs but may not satisfy players seeking contemporary gameplay experiences.
“There's a lot of things to experiment with, and there's deep satisfaction in engaging with this world's mechanics.”
“I love seeing the simple design from classic JRPGs working seamlessly with modern game mechanics such as decision-based progression, morality, immense character customization, and a boatload of secrets to discover.”
“This game is a cool mix of the exploration and adventures from Dragon Quest 3 with the mystery of the original Final Fantasy, with some Game Boy JRPG mechanics thrown in for good measure.”
“The combat is very dated with no new or modern mechanics, although the artifact system is interesting.”
“The mechanics are uninspired, character classes feel unaffordable.”
“But it's gated behind very, very old-school gameplay and graphics.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are predominantly retro, featuring nostalgic 8-bit aesthetics reminiscent of classic NES titles, which some players find charming and fitting for the RPG genre. While the visuals may not appeal to everyone, particularly those who prefer modern graphics and gameplay styles, they effectively complement the old-school gameplay experience. Overall, the graphics evoke a sense of nostalgia, making it a fun choice for fans of retro gaming.
“I like that this game takes a retro aesthetic and applies a lot of modern game design philosophy to it.”
“The story is intriguing and the graphics are very retro.”
“The music reminds me of Dragon Warrior, the graphics feel just right, and piloting an airship from the get-go is just so cool.”
“But it's gated behind very, very old-school gameplay and graphics.”
“But if you don't like 8-bit graphics and interface, mostly nonexistent storyline, classic JRPG turn-based combat, and hints mentioned by townspeople that aren't recorded in-game, I guess you won't like it.”
“Don't buy this game if NES-style graphics and sound bother you.”
- grinding18 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a mixed experience; while some players appreciate the depth and challenge it adds, others find it tedious and excessive, particularly due to difficulty spikes and the need for gear upgrades. The game encourages exploration and quest completion to minimize grinding, but many feel that the time investment required can detract from overall enjoyment. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a double-edged sword, offering both opportunities for character development and potential frustration.
“Unfortunately, the incredible difficulty spikes that would insta-kill my party in a new area after being able to easily/comfortably beat enemies in a previous area made this game extremely grindy.”
“The story's okay, but there's too much grinding between points where it's possible to actually advance.”
“However, hunting around to make sure I talked to all the NPCs so I didn't miss anything crucial, sifting through clunky inventory menus, and grinding for gear upgrades and levels so I can progress are not things I'm nostalgic for.”
- music14 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in "Artifact Adventure" receives mixed reviews, with some praising its nostalgic NES quality and catchy battle themes, while others find it repetitive and lacking depth. While a few players appreciate the retro charm, many feel it becomes tiresome after a few hours of gameplay. Overall, the music is seen as a fitting homage to classic RPGs, though it may not appeal to everyone.
“The art is great, the music is great, the game is clever.”
“The battle music is particularly good; it will get stuck in your head!”
“Music 10/10 (again, NES quality) - really done with taste.”
“Also, the music is trashy.”
“Above all, Artifact Adventure is a retro-styled turn-based RPG, -repetitive music and all-, so if you're not drawn into it, don't waste your time.”
“The music was alright, but got old after a couple of hours.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game offers solid replayability, particularly due to its classic RPG style, with multiple classes, decision-locked events, and moral choices that significantly impact outcomes. Players can experiment with different strategies and story paths, enhancing the overall experience and encouraging multiple playthroughs. Overall, it rewards experimentation and decision-making, making it a compelling choice for those seeking varied gameplay.
“There are several determining variables, such as classes and decision-locked events that, far from discouraging, lend more weight to your choices and lots of replayability to the game.”
“Once out, would you pick up the flower and take it to the NPC who asked for it or will you respect its inner world and forfeit your possible reward? All of your decisions change the game in some way, so there's replay value and I really loved this.”
“Great game where your choices really matter, a lot of replay value right here.”
“The game is not long, but there is some replayability with all the classes you can pick, or even the starter artifact you choose.”
“However, not only does the artifact adventure give you different ways to end quests and receive different rewards for replay value, but it also presents plenty of moral decisions regarding your actions.”
“If you are looking for a simple RPG that rewards experimentation and has a lot of replayability, then give it a try.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by self-aware jokes and amusing AI behaviors, such as the automatic use of learned abilities. While some players appreciate the retro design and comedic elements, others find the humor can become overly obnoxious, detracting from the overall experience.
“This game is admirably designed, a retro feel with open world aspects, but honestly, played to the end, it feels more like a practical joke that considers itself hilarious to a point of being obnoxious.”
“Like a mash-up of Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior/Quest, with lots of self-aware humor.”
“What's funny is the AI always auto-uses your 'Ultima' once learned.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, particularly with its inventory system and user interface, leading to a frustrating experience for players.
“This game is hardly optimized, especially when it comes to inventory slots and the user interface.”
“The optimization is a major issue; it feels like the game is struggling to run smoothly.”
“Performance issues abound, making the overall experience frustrating due to poor optimization.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game exhibits a few minor bugs and glitches, along with some unclear mechanics, but overall, it remains a strong example of the RPG genre.
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I encountered several game-breaking bugs that ruined my experience.”
“The stability issues are frustrating; I lost progress due to unexpected crashes.”
