EPΘCH

About

"EPΘCH is a historical role-playing game that can be played solo or cooperatively by up to two players. The game features challenging dungeons, lost cities, and crumbling catacombs to explore, with a richly detailed world and hidden content to discover. With a customizable character system and tough-but-fair design, EPΘCH also offers an internet co-op feature for additional support."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 46 reviews

gameplay7 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

EPOCH is a labor of love, showcasing amazing attention to detail and a captivating storyline that encourages replayability.
The game features a unique blend of challenging combat mechanics reminiscent of Dark Souls, combined with nostalgic pixel art and an engaging soundtrack.
Players appreciate the variety of races and abilities, as well as the exploration elements that allow for discovering secrets and hidden paths.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, particularly in multiplayer mode, which can hinder the overall experience.
Controls can be unresponsive and unintuitive, leading to frustration during combat and navigation, especially with the inventory management system.
Some players find the difficulty spikes and certain design choices, such as mandatory dialogue during fights, to be unfair and detracting from the enjoyment.

gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
55%
14%
The gameplay in this title is a blend of 16-bit graphics and mechanics reminiscent of both "Dark Souls" and classic "Legend of Zelda" games, offering a challenging yet satisfying experience. Players appreciate the engaging combat mechanics and exploration elements, though some report issues with unresponsive controls and bugs. Overall, the game delivers a rewarding balance of difficulty and creativity, appealing to fans of both genres.
- “Very fun mechanics for combat.”
- “The mechanics are inspired by those found in bloodsouls games, in which the player is encouraged to pay close attention to attack animations, enemy traits, and one's environment while reacting appropriately.”
- “The Zelda-like wonder combined with the challenge of Dark Souls blend together to offer hours of gameplay.”
- “There are so many gameplay issues.”
- “The dodge rolling mechanics can be unresponsive at times, which sometimes hampers combat; there's a lack of diverse end-game equipment; the inability to respec experience can lead to frustrating handicaps that compromise the player between restarting a character 50 levels in or bearing one's past judgments; bugs are quite common.”
- “Like Dark Souls, the game can be very challenging at first but then ultimately can seem quite easy once you master the mechanics.”
story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
53%
18%
The game's story is a complex and mysterious narrative that unfolds through cryptic dialogue and scattered notes, reminiscent of titles like *Dark Souls*. Players appreciate the intriguing plot and endearing characters, though some find it challenging to piece together the full story. Overall, the combination of compelling storytelling, beautiful artwork, and an engaging soundtrack contributes to a rich RPG experience.
- “This game is a labor of love and it shows; the small details that change the storyline drastically are just amazing. I fell in love with this on my first playthrough and have replayed it online a few times just to see if I could figure out if 'hey, did he think of this?'”
- “After completing the tutorial level, you will then be boated across to the main hub where you will meet some unique characters and get a feel for the story, which is rather complex.”
- “The story is very mysterious, and you never really put the whole thing together.”
- “It's super laggy, even on a decent computer, and the story makes no sense.”
- “Similarly to Dark Souls, the story is told through very cryptic dialogue spoken by some NPCs and through notes scattered throughout the areas, making it almost 100% optional.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
38%
19%
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and engaging quality, reminiscent of classic SNES titles, with a well-crafted soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight its ability to evoke strong emotions and immerse players in the game's atmosphere, often comparing it favorably to iconic retro gaming music. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's strongest assets, contributing significantly to its charm and appeal.
- “This is definitely one of my favorite games; I'd enjoy it a lot more if the multiplayer actually worked at the moment, but aside from that, the game has some very fun aspects and an amazing soundtrack that makes you fall in love with the game even more.”
- “Soundwise, it feels 100% like a classic SNES game, from the nostalgic soundtrack to the 16-bit sound effects.”
- “The quality of the soundtrack is one of Epoch's strongest assets, as it manages to engage the player's imagination with Epoch's melancholy reality.”
- “The OST is nostalgic as well, and very well done by the dev himself.”
graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
33%
20%
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, with many praising the charming pixelated art style and retro aesthetics that evoke nostalgia, while others criticize the repetitive environments and lack of distinct landmarks. Overall, the visuals are considered adequate for the gameplay experience, with some reviewers highlighting the impressive artwork given the limitations of the engine used. Despite the graphical shortcomings, the game's engaging soundtrack and intriguing story help to elevate the overall experience.
- “But that's a shame, because it really is a cool, mysterious, great game with intriguing story, few but endearing characters, wonderful pixelated graphics, and challenging fights all throughout.”
- “Been playing this game for about 3 hours, having a lot of fun with it so far. If you like 16-bit graphic styles and Legend of Zelda-type gameplay with an above-average difficulty, this game is for you.”
- “Top everything off with an amazing soundtrack and pretty retro graphics, and you have a winner that I hope the world doesn't miss out on playing.”
- “The 2D art style is polished but repetitive: most of the areas that you explore look the same, and there aren't many landmarks or memorable spots that help you navigate the map, forcing you to constantly look at the map.”
- “Graphics --- I mean, come on, it's old.”
- “Firstly, I wanted to state that this game was created in the BYOND engine and all the artwork was done in Paint, I believe (correct me if I am wrong), which makes this game all the more impressive that it even exists seeing as the BYOND engine is known for being subpar.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor, while not as captivating as its inspiration, features amusing characters and clever dialogue, particularly highlighted in the well-designed fire temple level. Players appreciate the blend of challenging gameplay with charming wit and engaging pixel art, making it appealing for those who enjoy a humorous touch in their gaming experience.
- “It isn't as interesting as its inspiration, but there are some funny characters that deliver some good jokes.”
- “My favorite level is the fire temple, as the main boss offers some humorous lines of dialogue along with the puzzle aspect. It was an amazing level that was really well designed.”
- “Difficulty definitely has a learning curve, but if you like games that challenge you while also charming you with their witty humor and great pixel art, then this game is for you.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, particularly in multiplayer mode, leading to frustrating restarts. While players acknowledge the game's potential and overall enjoyment, many feel it remains underdeveloped and incomplete due to these issues.
- “After a couple of playthroughs, I have been extremely upset with the bugs and glitches in multiplayer and certain aspects of the game that make you restart.”
- “This game has potential, but as of this review, it's still fairly buggy and feels incomplete.”
- “This game, albeit a little buggy at times due to the underdeveloped engine it uses, is an amazing time and worth every penny.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game has received a solid replayability score of 8, indicating that players find it engaging enough to return to multiple times. Factors contributing to this include varied gameplay options, multiple endings, and the potential for different strategies in each playthrough. Overall, it offers a compelling experience that encourages players to explore it beyond their initial run.
- “The game offers a multitude of choices that significantly alter the storyline, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
- “With various character builds and strategies to explore, I find myself coming back to this game time and again.”
- “The dynamic world and random events ensure that no two playthroughs are ever the same, keeping the experience exciting.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely criticized for being completely unoptimized and not ready for release, indicating significant performance issues that detract from the overall experience.
- “Completely unoptimized and unready for release.”