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 atmosphere inspired by Aztec culture.
- The unique energy-based spellcasting system adds an interesting layer to the gameplay, making it engaging and different from typical platformers.
- Despite its flaws, many players found the game enjoyable and appreciated its nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic Metroidvania titles.
- The combat mechanics are often described as clunky and unsatisfying, leading to frustrating encounters with enemies.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including frequent crashes and bugs that can hinder the overall experience.
- Many players noted that the lack of a map and confusing level design can lead to frustrating backtracking and getting lost.
- gameplay26 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its unique mechanics and engaging combat, while others criticize it for being clunky, rigid, and frustrating, particularly in terms of jumping and puzzle elements. Many feel that the game lacks focus and suffers from glitches, which detracts from the overall experience despite its appealing visuals and setting. Overall, while there are elements of fun and creativity, the execution leaves much to be desired, leading to an average reception.
“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.”
- story20 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some praising its unique setting and integration of Aztec and Mayan themes, while others criticize it for being clichéd and lacking depth. Players noted that while the narrative can be immersive and offers a decent quest system, it often feels traditional and unoriginal, failing to engage emotionally. Overall, the story is seen as a decent backdrop to the gameplay, but not compelling enough to elevate the experience significantly.
“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.”
“A unique story with complementary music, very intuitive controls, and a good amount of leveling skills keep it interesting.”
“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.”
- music19 mentions
- 74 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, featuring a soundtrack inspired by pre-Hispanic themes that includes memorable tunes and soothing melodies. While some players noted occasional issues with music playback and game stability, the overall consensus highlights the soundtrack's ability to enhance the game's setting and mood, making it a standout aspect of the experience.
“The soundtrack also features a few memorable tunes that will get stuck in your head as you wield brute force and magic on your way to the evil warlord you must vanquish who wants the 7 phonograph relics that you seek for his own dastardly desires.”
“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.”
“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.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature stunning hand-drawn artwork that creates an immersive atmosphere, though some users noted dated sprite designs and occasional graphical issues, including crashes and loading errors. While the visuals are generally praised for their charm and style, the execution of mechanics detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the graphics receive mixed feedback, with many appreciating the artistic quality despite technical shortcomings.
“Graphics: 8/10 (very nice hand drawn)”
“Aztaka is an enjoyable game with a solid soundtrack and fantastic artwork.”
“The visuals are stunning and the music is pretty great, and together they give each location a nice atmosphere.”
“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 clumsily 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.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance with minimal glitches, others experience frequent crashes and bugs that significantly detract from the experience. Despite these issues, many still find the game enjoyable, suggesting it may be worth purchasing 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 my 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.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game offers minimal replayability, with many users noting it feels like a one-and-done experience. Despite the lack of a deep storyline and limited reasons to revisit, players still find it enjoyable and worth the time and money.
“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.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % 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 immersive experience of each location.
“Love the atmosphere, the setting, and the music too.”
“The visuals are stunning and the music is pretty great; together, they create a wonderful atmosphere.”
- grinding1 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 also retaliating during attacks. Although new moves can be learned, the overall experience is marred by the repetitive and frustrating nature of combat.
“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.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the game effectively immerses players in its Aztec setting, it falls short in evoking strong emotional connections or deep character relationships typically found in story-driven games. Players may enjoy the environment but may not experience the same level of emotional engagement.
“What's important is that it will keep you immersed in this Aztec world, even if you won't come away with some of the feelings that story-driven games inspire, such as identifying and relating to characters and becoming engrossed in the deep emotional relationships between them.”
“The game masterfully evokes a range of emotions, making you feel joy, sadness, and everything in between as you navigate through its beautifully crafted narrative.”
“I was genuinely moved by the character arcs and the emotional depth of their journeys, which left a lasting impact long after I finished playing.”
