Ephesus
- February 17, 2023
- The Pack Studios
Get on Steam"Ephesus" is a historical open-world game set in the ancient Roman city of Ephesus in 100 BC. Players can choose to play solo or in a cooperative mode for two players. The game allows you to experience the life of a citizen of Ephesus, including gathering resources, crafting, building, and monitoring vital signs for survival, all while exploring the grandeur of the city.
Reviews
- The game has a beautiful design that reflects the theme of the era, showcasing detailed city structures and architecture.
- There is potential for the game to improve significantly with ongoing updates and responsive developers who are actively addressing feedback.
- The game offers a unique setting in ancient Rome, which is a niche not often explored in open-world games, providing a fresh experience.
- The game is currently plagued by severe performance issues, including crashes, bugs, and unresponsive controls, making it nearly unplayable.
- Many players report that the graphics and gameplay do not match the promotional materials, leading to disappointment and frustration.
- The lack of a tutorial and clunky UI contribute to a confusing experience, leaving players unsure of how to progress or interact with the game world.
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, featuring unique mechanics like underwater walking and solid survival elements, although some mechanics are still in development and may not function as intended. Players have noted initial hardware latency that quickly resolves, leading to a smooth experience. Overall, the game offers a compelling adventure with a strong sandbox feel and impressive worldcrafting, positioning it favorably against its competitors despite being in early access.
“In the gaming world, walking underwater is a new perspective on swimming mechanics.”
“Starting the game in single player, I experienced some hardware latency, most probably due to optimization, but it went away in a matter of seconds and I was left with a smooth gameplay experience.”
“The gameplay is good, the graphics are good, survival mechanics are intact, and it has an amazing city structure.”
“The very first NPC I spoke to had dialogue that just told me directly the game mechanics and still mentions the game being in early access.”
“What little mechanics are in the game currently don't work as they should.”
“Even realized that I played so little when I saw the swimming mechanics.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players finding them underwhelming compared to the capabilities of the Unreal Engine, while others appreciate the unique aesthetic and consider them above average for an early access title. Although the visuals may not match the quality seen in trailers, there is optimism for future improvements. Overall, while the graphics may not be stellar, they contribute positively to the gameplay experience.
“Game has a different aesthetic from the majority of other survival games.”
“Exploring the world is not boring and the graphics are above average, which is important for an early access game to me.”
“The gameplay is good, the graphics are good, survival mechanics are intact, and it has an amazing city structure.”
“At least I think it was a bear, because the graphics are underwhelming for what the Unreal Engine can handle.”
“Graphics are rough and nothing like in the videos, but probably will be way better in the future.”
“Even on the highest graphics setting, graphics are still poor in my opinion.”
- story7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received largely negative feedback, with players criticizing its lack of implementation and coherence, describing it as vague and poorly executed. While some appreciate the attempt to provide a background narrative, many find the quest system frustrating and unfulfilling, leading to an overall impression of a disorganized and disappointing storytelling experience.
“It was like playing King's Quest 1 all over again without needing to type (yes, I'm old).”
“While Ephesus tries to drop a couple of breadcrumbs to you in order to hint at a background story, you might easily find it vague and lacking, but with this genre, I'd say it's quite enough to give you the jumpstart you'd need to start your own adventure.”
“The quests are just awful.”
“Many settings don't work, it is terribly optimized, some controls are not working, the story isn't yet implemented (even though it is supposedly out of early access), and overall it's an absolute dumpster fire. I don't believe this has any potential anymore and wouldn't recommend anyone to buy this.”
“There seems to be a quest system that has been terribly implemented.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is currently subpar, with reports of significant performance issues even on high-end hardware like the 3090, leading to clunky and laggy gameplay. While some users experienced temporary latency at startup, the gameplay improved after a brief period, suggesting potential for future optimization. Overall, many reviewers recommend waiting for further polish before diving in.
“Wait until it's polished and optimized.”
“Starting the game in single player, I've experienced some sort of hardware latency, most probably due to the optimization, yet it went away in a matter of seconds and I was left with a smooth gameplay experience.”
“General performance issues - chugs more than I'd expect even on medium settings on a 3090.”
“Extremely clunky, laggy, and poorly optimized at this stage.”
“As it is now, it's quite hollow; it lacks content, and the entire game engine performance rendering is not well developed at all.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game currently suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, crashes, and frame rate drops, reflecting its early development stage. While some users find the experience entertaining despite these problems, the overall consensus is that it lacks content and reliability.
“Basically, as of now, it's a show of ideas, not a game, and it's buggy as hell.”
“This game is buggy, very early in development, and mostly just void of anything to do and any kind of fun.”
“Purchase if you wish, but don't say you weren't warned when it crashes, freezes in menus, or frame rates drop.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its survival elements, which contribute to a unique experience, while the calming Aegean setting further enriches the overall ambiance.
“The game has survival aspects that create a unique atmosphere.”
“The calming Aegean atmosphere enhances the overall experience.”
“The immersive environment draws you in and makes you feel part of the world.”
“The game lacks a cohesive atmosphere, making it feel disjointed and unengaging.”
“The atmosphere is bland and fails to immerse players in the game world.”
“Despite its potential, the atmosphere feels empty and uninspired.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy is perceived as exploitative, with some users labeling the game as a "cash grab" rather than a legitimate beta or alpha release.
“In the state I see this, I wouldn't call it a beta or an alpha; I'd call it a cash grab.”
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative and prioritizes profit over player experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
