Asterigos Curse of the Stars
- October 11, 2022
- Acme Gamestudio
- 8h median play time
Asterigos: Curse of the Stars is an excellent adventure game. It has a likeable protagonist, an interesting world, and satisfying combat.
In "Asterigos: Curse of the Stars," players explore the mysterious city of Apheiros, battling mythical creatures and uncovering secrets to help the protagonist's missing father. With a mix of hack-and-slash combat and RPG elements, players can customize their character's abilities and weapons to suit their playstyle. The game features rich, story-driven gameplay with multiple endings based on player choices.
Reviews
- The game features a charming art style and visually stunning environments that enhance the overall experience.
- Combat is fluid and engaging, with a variety of weapons and skills that allow for different playstyles.
- The story is interesting and well-developed, with a rich lore that encourages exploration and discovery.
- The lack of a map and quest tracking can lead to confusion and aimless wandering, making navigation frustrating.
- Some dialogue and character interactions feel overly verbose and can detract from the pacing of the game.
- Enemy AI can be inconsistent, leading to moments where they fail to engage properly, making combat feel less challenging.
- story708 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its depth and character development, particularly in the context of Greek mythology, while others criticize it for being overly verbose and convoluted. The narrative is rich with lore and side quests that can enhance the experience, but the lack of clear quest tracking and excessive dialogue can lead to confusion and frustration. Overall, while the story has engaging elements, its execution may not resonate with everyone, making it a polarizing aspect of the game.
“The story is surprisingly mature, despite all the cartoonish visuals and child-looking main character, and it's well told for the most part.”
“The world is interesting, and I liked the direction the story was moving in as a whole.”
“The story was entertaining from beginning to end, and if you like a ton of background lore in the world, there is a massive amount, and I found myself reading everything I came across.”
“The story is both simplistic nonsense and too convoluted for anyone's good, throwing new proper nouns at you without any context every few story beats, and the dialogue and voice acting are at best Saturday morning cartoon levels.”
“The story fell flat very quickly to the point I just simply skipped dialogue so I could get back to the game itself, thinking I could rely on a journal or being able to talk to the character again when I missed information.”
“The story is a highlight, but it can also be a turnoff.”
- gameplay194 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is characterized as a more accessible and forgiving take on the souls-like genre, featuring enjoyable combat mechanics and a variety of weapon combinations. While some players appreciate the interconnected world and engaging boss fights, others criticize the overall simplicity and occasional mechanical inconsistencies, leading to a mixed reception regarding its depth and challenge. Overall, it offers a fun experience with a focus on exploration and character customization, though it may not satisfy those seeking the punishing difficulty typical of traditional souls games.
“The combat mechanics are flawlessly executed, offering a diverse range of skills that keep the gameplay engaging and thrilling.”
“The gameplay is enjoyable but not spectacular.”
“Every new mechanic I come across makes the game so much more fun; everything is so intentional, boss fights are fun, exploration is fun, everything about the game is just fun!”
“Gameplay felt stiff and just didn't engage me at all.”
“The gameplay is a bit stiff and slow.”
“But there is so much pointless bloat and inconsistency in the gameplay.”
- graphics168 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many players praising its colorful, cartoonish art style and charming character designs that evoke a Pixar-like aesthetic. While the visuals are described as stunning and well-executed, some reviewers noted a disconnect between the lighthearted graphics and the darker themes of the story, leading to mixed feelings about their overall effectiveness. Despite some technical shortcomings, such as occasional bugs and bland animations, the game's artistic direction and vibrant environments contribute significantly to its appeal.
“It delivers an enchanting world with stunning visuals that transport you into a mesmerizing universe.”
“The art style and visuals are wonderfully varied and colorful with lots of dynamic, impactful animations.”
“Beautiful world, combat is very deep and rewarding, and every bit of the presentation (visuals, music, atmosphere, enemy design) is made to inspire a whimsical awe, quiet curiosity, and sadness and despair; all while carrying a more lighthearted feel.”
“Graphics feel like they don't match the dark serious tone, but otherwise it's a very solid game.”
“The cutesy art style really isn't doing it any favors either as it is too bland to be charming.”
“I wasn't a fan of the choice in art style, which reminded me of Pixar films, and while you heard the characters speaking, their mouths didn't move unless it was part of a short animation that looped to convey an emotion.”
- music80 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its beauty and fittingness to the environment, with many reviewers highlighting the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. While some noted occasional issues with sound mixing and a lack of variety, the majority found the compositions to be well-produced and evocative, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and storytelling. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a major strength, with many players recommending it highly.
“The music is spectacular, the world they've created is amazing (the Greco-Roman world with a touch of Norse inspiration was a fantastic choice), the combat is very fun and extremely satisfying, and there are options to suit most play styles and skill levels.”
“The music is gorgeous and was by far the best part of this otherwise very dull experience.”
“The soundtrack is great and so is the voice acting.”
“The music is boring.”
“Music is also bargain bin and sounds like they paid $5 for it.”
“But the mixing is bugged and it always sounds like distant enemies are right next to me and the music will drown out conversations.”
- optimization35 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing smooth performance and no issues on high-end systems, while others report significant stuttering, screen tearing, and inconsistent frame rates, particularly on lower-end hardware. While certain users praise the game's stability and graphics, others highlight persistent performance problems that detract from the overall experience. Overall, optimization appears to vary widely depending on individual setups and specific gameplay scenarios.
“I don't get unexpected crashes and the performance has been admirable.”
“Performance-wise, I can run Assassin's Creed - Valhalla with 30% more frames at a similar resolution, but AC Valhalla is doing a lot more in a much larger world with high-res textures.”
“Yeah, I enjoyed this immensely, and it ran flawlessly too, no performance issues at maximum settings and 1440p.”
“Game had tons of screen tearing and stuttering for me, which doesn't happen in much more demanding titles, so something's up with this game in particular.”
“I wanted to like this, but the stuttering and general sluggishness of the controls made this one a big question mark for me.”
“While the idea of choosing two weapons to use that complement each other—maybe one slow, heavy weapon and one quick weapon—sounds cool, the controls are poorly optimized for this, and the game is bloated with so many other systems during combat that I mostly find myself cursing whoever made this decision.”
- atmosphere25 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its engaging art style, immersive sound design, and well-crafted environments that evoke a range of emotions from whimsy to horror. While it shares similarities with souls-like titles, it offers a more relaxed experience with a rich narrative and diverse settings that enhance the overall ambiance. Players appreciate the combination of atmospheric storytelling, quality voice acting, and a soundtrack that complements the game's emotional depth.
“What starts as a light-hearted adventure turns toward atmospheric horror as you get deeper into the game.”
“The atmosphere, art style, story, and voice acting are top-notch.”
“Beautiful world, combat is very deep and rewarding, and every bit of the presentation (visuals, music, atmosphere, enemy design) is made to inspire a whimsical awe, quiet curiosity, and sadness and despair; all while carrying a more lighthearted feel.”
“The dialogues and the atmosphere were lacking.”
“The overall atmosphere is very different as well.”
“The story itself suffers a little from exposition dumps and a tell-don't-show philosophy, but most of it is skippable and the game's atmosphere is potent enough to make up for any missed exposition.”
- grinding24 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game can be tedious and repetitive, particularly due to the lack of fast travel and the need to backtrack through maze-like levels. While some players find the combat engaging and rewarding, many express frustration with the overall pacing and the excessive repetition required to progress, leading to a sense of boredom by mid-game. The DLC is also criticized for being imbalanced and lacking depth, further contributing to the grindy experience.
“I find it grindy and replaying the same levels over and over again to memorize enemies and boss movements is rewarding, but it does not hold my attention.”
“What I didn't know when I started playing it was how boring it would become by mid-game and what a tedious chore it would end up being by the grand finale.”
“The story is boring and the gameplay is tedious and unrewarding.”
- character development18 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking, with many reviewers noting that while character designs are appealing, the protagonists do not experience significant growth or change throughout the story. The development system is described as simple and intuitive, focusing more on stat increases and skill learning rather than deep narrative progression. Overall, while the game features interesting lore and a charming art style, it falls short in delivering a satisfying character development experience.
“The story and character development are quite good, and the game is longer than I initially expected.”
“Part of the leveling up and character development involves learning skills and passive bonuses to our weapons of choice.”
“So we can openly say the character development is simple but extremely intuitive; without any guide, you will decide what kind of weapons and style suit you best.”
“Character development: the protagonist's growth feels lacking.”
“It would have been a much more interesting game if there was some form of character development beyond her stat numbers increasing.”
“Character development system is unremarkable.”
- stability13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 62 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while it runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck and is largely bug-free, players report various glitches, including audio issues, freezing during new encounters, and occasional combat-related bugs. These issues can disrupt gameplay, particularly with repeated encounters and visual glitches, but many players still find the experience enjoyable despite these drawbacks.
“Runs great on Steam Deck.”
“My PC is not that fast, but the game runs great.”
“Great game and amazing combat! This was my first game I purchased on Steam Deck; I played the demo and loved it, and it actually runs great on Steam Deck.”
“The glitches and clipping make it funny, but playing through the same section every 10 minutes is annoying as hell.”
“I'll rate this game a 7/10 because it does have some invisible walls and weird falling glitches.”
“So the game freezes every time you encounter something new, including enemy attacks.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the variety in weapon styles, skill trees, and engaging combat that encourages multiple playthroughs, others feel that the lack of customization and limited quest lines diminish its long-term appeal. Many highlight the enjoyable mechanics and memorable characters, suggesting that while there is potential for replayability, it may not be substantial for everyone.
“Cool bosses, fluid combat, good level design, replayability in terms of quest lines, an interesting world with memorable characters.”
“With all of the different weapon/build combos, there's plenty of replayability for gameplay alone, and this is one of the few games where I enjoyed combat as much on the last boss as I did at any other point in the game.”
“There's a large amount of content, replayability to try different loadouts and get a different ending, and a truly fantastic set of characters to follow to the end.”
“Despite the depth of the skill tree and the variety of 6 different weapon styles, I found that the game does not have too much replayability.”
“The game simply has no replay value.”
“Replayability: 6/10”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is inconsistent, with some players finding it childish and amusing, while others criticize it for being dry and lacking subtlety. Glitches and awkward dialogue contribute to unintentional comedy, but repetitive gameplay can detract from the experience. Overall, reactions to the humor vary widely, with some moments eliciting genuine laughter and others falling flat.
“Sometimes childish and funny, and other times trying to be meaningful and serious.”
“Sometimes it is hard to take the game seriously because I'm laughing at all the awful drawing.”
“Also, it's kind of funny that first Minerva tells Hilda to grow up and not beat everything into submission, and in the next dialogue she's like 'hush, the adults are speaking.'”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of depth and heartwarming moments, with side content enriching the experience and fostering a desire for real-life connections with the characters. However, some players feel that the emotional impact is inconsistent, with certain elements failing to leave a lasting impression or facilitate genuine emotional connections. Overall, the voice acting is praised for its believability, particularly in key emotional scenes.
“There's quite a bit of depth to it, with lots of additional information earned through completing side content that enhances the overall experience, adding some surprisingly hefty emotional weight.”
“The characters made me feel like I wanted to be with them in real life.”
“The voice acting comes across believably and convincingly, especially in emotional and important scenes.”
- monetization5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for being exploitative, with DLC described as a cash grab reminiscent of EA's practices. Players express disappointment over the presence of in-game purchases, which detracts from the overall experience, especially given the game's initial marketing as a soulslike.
“There are no microtransactions!”
“The monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure players to spend money.”
“I appreciate that the game offers plenty of content without requiring additional purchases.”
“The DLC is EA-level cash grab, maybe even worse.”
“I really want to like this game, but since it was advertising itself as a soulslike (prior to release at least), I was expecting the combat to not feel so stiff.”
“After playing a lot of games, an easy-to-use gaming mouse can derive many convenient methods for reference only (non-advertising).”
Critic Reviews
Asterigos: Curse of the Stars review
Asterigos: Curse of the Stars is an excellent adventure game. It has a likeable protagonist, an interesting world, and satisfying combat.
80%Asterigos: Curse of the Stars PS5 Review @Asterigos
A stellar debut with intriguing story, beautiful visual style and satisfying action RPG combat systems.
80%Asterigos: Curse of the Stars Review
The deep, rich world of Aphes is undermined by the illusion of choice and ultimately frustrating combat, deflating all of the potential Asterigos: Curse of the Stars could have lived up to.
65%