Astoria: The Holders of Power Saga
- August 2, 2017
- Golden Unicorn Gaming
- 35h median play time
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Get on itch.io StoreAstoria: The Holders of Power Saga is a fantasy role-playing game with strategic combat. Players explore a rich world filled with diverse creatures, ancient ruins, and powerful artifacts. They assemble a party of heroes, each with unique abilities and backstories, and engage in tactical battles against enemies and epic bosses. The game features an immersive storyline and various character progression options for a personalized gameplay experience.
PC
Windows
Xbox
Reviews
- Astoria features a captivating story with engaging characters and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic 90s RPGs.
- The combat system is well-balanced and encourages strategic play, with a variety of spells and customization options for characters.
- The game offers a good amount of content, including side quests and optional bosses, providing players with a rewarding experience for the price.
- The game suffers from some design issues, such as the use of default RPG Maker tiles and maps, which can feel lazy and unoriginal.
- Players may encounter frustrating moments due to unbalanced boss fights and the need for grinding, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.
- There are technical issues, including problems with Steam achievements and occasional bugs that can disrupt gameplay.
- story79 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, featuring engaging characters and a classic RPG feel, though some players find it simple and lacking depth. While the main storyline includes interesting twists and side quests that enhance character development, there are criticisms regarding pacing and occasional forced sequences that disrupt immersion. Overall, the narrative is enjoyable and keeps players invested, despite some minor flaws and a few generic elements.
“This is a marvelous game with a great story and many twists and turns.”
“The story and characters were fantastic and the balance felt well executed.”
“Astoria is a wonderful epic RPG with a very interesting storyline and fun combat mechanics.”
“The plot and the world and the characters are very, very simple and generic.”
“The story is probably what holds it back from being much better.”
“While the story could be of much higher standard, it is good enough and logical to keep the player in throughout the game.”
- music14 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players praising its quality and ability to enhance the gaming experience. While some note that the tracks can become repetitive, they are not considered annoying, and the soundtrack effectively complements the game's atmosphere and storytelling. Overall, the music is described as enjoyable, fitting the mood of the game, and contributing positively to the overall experience.
“Great music and story so far.”
“The game also offers a stellar soundtrack to accentuate the scenes even further.”
“The soundtrack was plain great and each track fit the mood and tone of the levels.”
“When I have to turn the music off, there is typically something very wrong with the game.”
“Music in the game gets quite repetitive, but it is not annoying (your mileage may vary).”
“The writing isn't anything special -- standard fantasy adventure fare, really -- and the level designs, sprite work, music, and character designs all range from forgettably average to good.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Astoria is characterized by its engaging combat mechanics and classic old-school RPG elements, offering a mix of exploration, story, and character interaction. While some players find the gameplay to be a bit average, the overall experience is enhanced by the interesting storyline and the need to adapt combat strategies based on team dynamics. With around 48 hours of content for a low price, many players feel it delivers good value despite its typical RPG controls.
“I was looking for typical RPG fare with familiar mechanics and many hours of story for a small price, and Astoria ticked the box.”
“I enjoyed it, and you can't beat the price of $4.99 for so many hours of gameplay.”
“Astoria is a wonderful epic RPG with a very interesting storyline and fun combat mechanics.”
“Is it an average RPG with basic controls, story, and gameplay?”
“The gameplay was a bit of a mixed bag.”
“The gameplay is for the most part typical old-school RPG gameplay you would expect from RPG Maker-based games, including various locations and a world map.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding is a mixed aspect of the game; while some players found it necessary for leveling up and preparing for boss battles, others noted that exploring side areas can reduce the need for grinding. The game offers a balanced difficulty, where grinding can ease combat but isn't essential for progression, allowing players to engage with the story without excessive grinding. Overall, the experience varies, with some players rating the grinding aspect around 6/10, suggesting it can enhance gameplay if desired but isn't mandatory.
“It's very focused on fighting and I had to do quite a bit of grinding (sigh!) to level up and get money.”
“It requires lots of grinding before joining the boss battle, lots of save games too.”
“Although grinding is basically required in the early areas, the difficulty is good; not hard, but there are rough spots where you have to figure out the right strategy and can't just muscle through.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a mix of standard RPG Maker assets and original designs, resulting in a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic SNES RPGs, enhanced by crisper visuals akin to later remakes. While some players noted the use of familiar character portraits, the overall artwork and variety in graphics were generally well-received, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere. However, the blending of different graphical styles received mixed feedback.
“Excellent artwork and design.”
“The design and feel are akin to classic SNES RPGs, with crisper graphics similar to some of the later remakes.”
“Obviously the graphics are what they are, but they are used well, with some good variety.”
“And let's not start on the complete mix and match of the various graphical styles used in the game.”
“Graphics was something I touched on before but will do so again.”
“Now, when I say assets, I do not mean the RTP graphics or sounds.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as somewhat flat, with a generally happy tone but lacking moments of true celebration or deep sadness, only reacting minimally to significant events. However, some heartfelt cutscenes manage to evoke genuine emotion, showcasing the potential for deeper engagement despite the overall tone.
“For a game with 16-bit art and limited capabilities, some of the cutscenes were really heartfelt.”
“The emotional depth of the characters really resonated with me, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
“I was genuinely moved by the story; it tackled themes of loss and hope in a way that felt authentic and relatable.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be effective, with several moments eliciting genuine laughter. Overall, the comedic elements contribute positively to the gaming experience.
“The humor in this game is absolutely spot-on, with clever jokes that had me laughing out loud.”
“I love how the game incorporates witty dialogue and hilarious situations that keep the mood light and fun.”
“The comedic timing of the characters is perfect, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is considered standard and unremarkable, with writing that adheres to typical fantasy adventure tropes. While the overall presentation, including level designs and character aesthetics, is described as average to good, it does not elevate the character development beyond the ordinary.
“The writing isn't anything special -- standard fantasy adventure fare, really -- and the character development feels shallow and uninspired.”
“The characters lack depth and their arcs are predictable, making it hard to feel invested in their journeys.”
“There is little to no growth for the characters throughout the game, leaving them feeling static and unmemorable.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is considered relatively stable with minimal bugs; however, some users have experienced occasional crashes that can be perplexing.
“The game was relatively bug-free, thankfully, providing a smooth experience overall.”
“I experienced very few issues during my playthrough, which made for a stable gaming experience.”
“The stability of the game was impressive, allowing me to enjoy the content without frequent interruptions.”
