Aztaka
- May 7, 2009
- Citeremis Inc.
- 7h median play time
Get on Steam"Aztaka is a single-player platformer-RPG with action-packed gameplay, spectacular visuals, and a masterful soundtrack. As Huitzilo, heir of the Sun God, you must save your people by reuniting the seven phonograms and vanquishing foes through combat and spiritual magic. Experience 21 unique levels, customize your character, and embark on side-quests to enhance skills and acquire items."
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features beautiful hand-drawn graphics and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the immersive Aztec setting.
- Aztaka offers a unique blend of platforming and RPG elements, with interesting mechanics like energy collection and spellcasting.
- The exploration aspect is rewarding, allowing players to backtrack and discover new abilities that enhance gameplay.
- The combat system is clunky and can feel tedious, with many enemies acting as damage sponges and requiring excessive grinding.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including frequent crashes and glitches that can disrupt the experience.
- The control scheme, which relies heavily on keyboard and mouse, is awkward and detracts from the platforming feel.
- gameplay52 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its unique mechanics and engaging combat, while others criticize the clunky execution, rigidity of animations, and frustrating puzzles. Many noted that the game feels slow and lacks focus, leading to an average experience despite its appealing visuals and cultural setting. Overall, while there are elements of fun and exploration, significant improvements are needed to enhance the core gameplay.
“This game has great gameplay and I like the visual style.”
“The art and the music are very lovely, and the gameplay and combat are engaging.”
“Aztaka boldly combines classic side-scrolling mechanics with basic RPG features like questing, loot, and action-oriented combat.”
“There's something off-putting about the combat mechanics and a rigidity of the animations.”
“Sadly its gorgeous graphics are entirely wasted on its clunkily executed mechanics.”
“The gameplay is slow and boring, and the story isn't compelling enough to make it a good adventure game.”
- story40 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its unique setting based on Aztec and Mayan legends, while others find it clichéd and lacking depth. Although it offers a decent narrative and immersive world, many reviewers noted that the dialogue and character development are uninspired, leading to a less engaging experience. Overall, the story is seen as adequate for an indie title, but it may not satisfy those seeking a compelling or emotionally resonant narrative.
“Story: 9/10 (very nice story involving Mayans and Aztecs and all those native tribes)”
“Features a completely original story based on the real-world legends of the Aztec people.”
“Aztaka uses a very in-depth and intertwining quest system to guide you through the game.”
“Sure, the settings look original, but the story, characters, and dialogue are so dry it's really hard to get involved...”
“There is probably a story hidden in the tons of unoriginal dialogue, but it's way too boring and cliché for me to even care.”
“The gameplay is slow and boring, and the story isn't compelling enough to make it a good adventure game.”
- music38 mentions
- 74 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, featuring a soundtrack inspired by early American indigenous cultures, including pan flutes and drums. Many players find the tunes memorable and enjoyable, enhancing the overall experience, although some report occasional issues with music playback and game stability. Overall, the combination of music and visuals creates a captivating ambiance that complements the game's setting and lore.
“The music is phenomenal and some of the soundtrack is truly depressing but extremely good at setting the mood of each area.”
“Accompanying the excellent visuals is a soundtrack that is also inspired by early Americas Indians, think pan flutes, wood flutes, hide drums, and the like.”
“Aztaka is an enjoyable game with a solid soundtrack and fantastic artwork.”
“This game lacks maps so it can get frustrating at times considering at later stages the game becomes a maze. The music stopped playing sometimes, and the game crashed on me several times. In fact, it's easy for it to crash; just minimizing the game will make it crash.”
“The names, music, and art are all taken straight from the era, and you can tell the writers are in love with the lore.”
“Art/music fits well with the overall game.”
- graphics32 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature stunning hand-drawn artwork that immerses players in an Aztec world, earning praise for its charm and atmosphere. However, some users noted dated sprite designs and significant graphical issues, including crashes and loading errors that detract from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, the visuals are generally considered appealing and stylized, contributing positively to the game's aesthetic.
“The visuals are stunning and the music is pretty great, and together they give each location a nice atmosphere.”
“I have a real soft spot for hand-drawn art styles, and this game has some exceptional art.”
“The art style was charming and helped to immerse you in an Aztec world.”
“The game had some graphical issues and crashes; it started to crash so heavily towards the end that the game doesn't even run anymore.”
“Sadly, its gorgeous graphics are entirely wasted on its clunkily executed mechanics.”
“The graphics seem a bit dated, and you can tell that the dev toolkit was low-budget for the sprites, but the background artwork is all hand-drawn and excellent.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting smooth controls and minimal issues, while others have experienced frequent crashes and various bugs. Overall, it is described as enjoyable but notably buggy, leading to a consensus that it may be better to purchase on sale rather than at full price.
“Review update (game completed 100%): great game, crashes way too much and has a couple of bugs and glitches. I stand by this 7/10 rating; it would have been a solid 8.5/10, but the constant crashes and bugs are a letdown.”
“Be advised, however: the game is buggy, regularly crashes to desktop, and can drag on in the latter half.”
“Overall: 7.3/10 (recommended, not an outstanding game but not a bad game at all, very buggy to say the least but enjoyable nonetheless). Get it on sale though; not sure if it's worth full price but totally worth it on sale.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability, with many users noting it feels more like a one-and-done experience rather than one that invites multiple playthroughs. However, its affordability and enjoyable gameplay make it a worthwhile investment for a single play.
“While there's no sweeping epic storyline, and limited replay value, it's still been a delightful surprise to play and well worth the time and money spent.”
“There also isn't really any replayability, but it's not like this is an expensive game and sometimes it's nice to finish a one-and-done kind of game.”
“No replay value.”
“No replay value.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting the stunning visuals and great music that collectively enhance the setting of each location. This combination creates an immersive and captivating experience.
“The visuals are stunning and the music is pretty great, and together they give each location a nice atmosphere.”
“Love the atmosphere, the setting, the music too.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, as enemies often act as damage sponges, taking a long time to defeat while countering attacks. Although players can learn new moves, the overall experience is marred by the repetitive nature of combat and the frustration of being hit while attacking.
“You learn some nice new moves along the way, such as being able to hurt enemies while performing air flips, but overall it's very tedious. Most enemies seem to be damage sponges that take forever to die, not to mention shrugging off your hits while you're attacking them, meaning you'll always be getting hit back while attacking.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively immerses players in its Aztecan world, but it lacks the deep emotional connections and character relatability typically found in story-driven games, leaving players without the profound feelings often associated with such narratives.
“The game immerses you in this Aztec world, allowing you to experience a unique atmosphere, even if it doesn't evoke the same deep emotional connections found in story-driven games.”
“While the game may not inspire the same feelings of identification and relatability with characters, it still offers a captivating experience that keeps you engaged.”
“You may not walk away with the profound emotional relationships typical of narrative-focused games, but the immersive environment is undeniably compelling.”
