EPOCH

About

EPOCH is a single player hack and slash game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Uppercut Games Pty Ltd and was released on June 5, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

EPOCH is a single-player Science Fiction Hack and Slash game with approximately 5 hours of playtime, set in a post-apocalyptic world filled with warring robots. As a guardian robot named EPOCH, you must navigate levels, avoid enemy fire, and utilize an array of weapons to uncover the mystery of a lost civilization and fulfill your primary function. The game features a campaign mode and an endless arena mode, encouraging players to hone their combat skills and unravel the story.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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78%

Audience ScoreBased on 80 reviews

story7 positive mentions

grinding10 negative mentions

EPOCH offers a fun and engaging arcade-style shooting experience with a unique post-apocalyptic setting and solid graphics.
The game features a satisfying upgrade system that allows players to enhance their weapons and armor, providing a sense of progression.
Combat is fast-paced and requires skillful dodging and timing, making each encounter feel intense and rewarding.

The gameplay can become repetitive, with limited enemy variety and a grindy progression system that requires multiple playthroughs to unlock higher difficulties.
As a mobile port, EPOCH suffers from some control issues and a lack of depth in gameplay mechanics, which may disappoint players seeking a more complex experience.
The narrative is minimal and often conveyed through fragmented data, which may leave players wanting a more cohesive story.

story
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
76%
7%
The game's story is conveyed primarily through environmental storytelling and fragments of data, creating a haunting narrative of isolation and decay that encourages players to piece together meaning without traditional exposition. While some players appreciate the minimalistic approach and the emotional weight it carries, others find the reliance on reading intercepted data tedious and wish for a more interactive storytelling experience. Overall, the narrative evokes a sense of loss and perseverance, though opinions vary on its depth and engagement.
- “What unfolds is a story told less through dialogue and more through motion, fragments of data, and the ruins of a dead society.”
- “The narrative is minimal yet evocative, told through fragments of recovered data and environmental storytelling rather than traditional cutscenes.”
- “The story it tells is one of isolation and perseverance, framed through the perspective of a machine searching for meaning in a lifeless world.”
- “There is little in the way of story in Epoch, with most of it being through reading the intercepted data after each level.”
- “With the gameplay being so poor, it would have really benefitted from a decent story.”
- “My only complaint is that it takes too much time to unlock logs; the logs are the main source about the story.”
gameplay
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
59%
11%
The gameplay of Epoch is characterized by its straightforward mechanics of sliding, dodging, and shooting, set against a visually captivating backdrop that enhances immersion. While some players appreciate the polished execution and satisfying audio-visual elements, others criticize the repetitive nature and lack of depth, particularly noting its origins as a mobile port. Overall, the experience is seen as a mixed bag, offering enjoyable moments for casual players but falling short for those seeking more engaging and varied gameplay.
- “Epoch’s appeal lies in its combination of sleek mechanical combat, atmospheric world design, and a sense of mystery that lingers beneath its surface.”
- “The mechanics are deceptively straightforward: slide, dodge, shoot, reload, repeat.”
- “The controls are tight and intuitive, translating the rhythm-based dodging and shooting mechanics into satisfying bursts of motion.”
- “Nothing is very special here; the gameplay loop is the same and annoying.”
- “This is a very shallow mobile app with ancient, obsolete arcade cover shooter gameplay.”
- “Being forced to play through a tediously easy starting difficulty, with slow and repetitive gameplay, is not something I find enjoyable.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
43%
21%
The graphics of the game, built on Unreal Engine 3, are praised for their cinematic lighting, realistic particle effects, and a cohesive aesthetic that enhances the overall experience, particularly in its post-apocalyptic setting. While some reviews note that the mobile port may not meet the high standards expected by PC gamers, the visuals are still considered impressive for a mobile app, with a cool art style and vibrant color scheme that contribute to the game's engaging atmosphere. Overall, the graphics are a standout feature, elevating the gameplay into a cinematic experience.
- “Built on Unreal Engine 3, it combines cinematic lighting and realistic particle effects with the gritty aesthetic of a fallen civilization.”
- “Together, the visuals and audio design create a cohesive aesthetic that transforms each skirmish into a cinematic event, even within the game’s minimalist framework.”
- “The gameplay is solid and the graphics are spectacular considering its age and it's a mobile port.”
- “From a technical perspective, as a mobile app, this doesn't meet basic minimum requirements that most PC gamers expect as standard (although some effort went into the PC port, you can customize controls and there's even 4K support for those iPhone graphics).”
- “Epoch has decent graphics, terrible controls and is a mobile port.”
- “At first glance, it's easy to be confused because it has 3D graphics and looks like it might be some kind of exciting modern FPS.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight that the game features excessive grinding, with slow-paced and repetitive gameplay that can lead to tedium. Players express frustration over the high resource costs for upgrades and the need to replay missions for farming, making it appealing primarily to those who enjoy grind-heavy combat games. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a significant drawback, contributing to a monotonous experience.
- “Slow, grindy rails shooter with drawn-out encounters, uneven progression, repetitive runs.”
- “My problem with the game is that it requires too much grinding.”
- “A tedious, monotonous game that after an hour gets old and boring.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
Epoch's atmosphere is characterized by a blend of sleek mechanical combat and a richly designed world that conveys a story of decay, enhanced by a dynamic soundtrack that evokes feelings of isolation and urgency. While some visual effects may appear cheap, the vibrant and dystopian cyberpunk setting contributes to an engaging and immersive experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere effectively captures a sense of mystery and life within its quiet, barren environment.
- “Epoch’s appeal lies in its combination of sleek mechanical combat, atmospheric world design, and a sense of mystery that lingers beneath its surface.”
- “The design is both functional and atmospheric, conveying a story of decay without the need for exposition.”
- “The soundtrack alternates between atmospheric drones and pulsing electronic beats, creating a sense of both isolation and urgency.”
- “Its world may be quiet and barren, but it feels alive through movement and atmosphere.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The game offers strong replayability through its short, intense combat sequences and engaging story elements, encouraging players to master different difficulty levels and explore various character narratives. While the campaign lasts about six hours, the combination of varied weapon types and abilities adds depth, making players eager to revisit the game for a richer experience.
- “Combat sequences are short but intense, encouraging replayability and mastery rather than long, sprawling campaigns.”
- “A unique rail shooter with a good story, nice endgame, and replay value.”
- “It's short but has replay value, so I'll run through it again when I have the urge at a higher difficulty and finish off the stories of some NPCs that unfold throughout the playthrough.”
- “This game's replayability is up to about 6 hours.”
- “Its short but has replay value, so I'll run through it again when I have the urge at the higher difficulty and finish off the stories of some NPCs (found in text form you read between levels) that unfolds throughout the playthrough.”
- “In order to combat the insurmountable odds that you’ll face in the short (but wholly replayable) campaign, you will have to earn (or buy) the use of several varying weapon types and abilities.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional core of the game centers on the profound bond between the protagonist and their programmed companion, highlighting a poignant sense of purpose amidst a decaying world.
- “The bond between the protagonist and the person he was programmed to find becomes the emotional core of the game, a faint echo of purpose in a landscape consumed by entropy.”
- “The game masterfully weaves a narrative that tugs at the heartstrings, making players feel deeply connected to the characters and their struggles.”
- “Every choice feels weighty and impactful, leading to moments of joy and heartbreak that linger long after the game is over.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The music features a blend of atmospheric drones and pulsing electronic beats, effectively conveying themes of isolation and urgency. Reviewers appreciate how the soundtrack enhances the game's narrative, with its calming yet immersive qualities complementing the visuals.
- “It has an underlying story in the game, and the well-done music and visuals help tie everything together.”
- “The soundtrack alternates between atmospheric drones and pulsing electronic beats, creating a sense of both isolation and urgency.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “It has an underlying story in the game, and well-done music and visuals which help tie everything together.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its strong optimization, running smoothly across various hardware and maintaining responsiveness during intense gameplay. Players also appreciate the performance-based credit system that allows for item upgrades and salvaging after completing levels.
- “Technically, the game runs smoothly and remains highly optimized across hardware, maintaining sharp responsiveness even during intense firefights.”
- “Upon finishing a level, you will receive a number of credits based on your performance, and you'll salvage an item or upgrade to equip yourself with for the following levels, or to sell in the scrapyard (shop).”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted for its comedic elements, particularly in the context of robot battles, but players feel that the jokes become repetitive and lose their charm after a couple of hours. Overall, while the initial humor is appreciated, it lacks depth and variety for sustained enjoyment.
- “Haha, it's a funny robot fight game!”
- “The humor keeps things light and entertaining throughout the gameplay.”