EPΘCH

About

EPΘCH is a single player and multiplayer role playing game with fantasy and historical themes. It was developed by Team Ryzal and was released on May 17, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"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."

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79%

Audience ScoreBased on 47 reviews

gameplay7 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

EPOCH offers a nostalgic RPG experience with a unique blend of classic dungeon crawling and challenging combat reminiscent of the Souls series.
The game features a rich and mysterious storyline with engaging characters, along with beautiful pixelated graphics and an amazing soundtrack.
Players appreciate the variety of races and abilities, as well as the exploration elements that encourage revisiting areas for hidden secrets.

Many players report frustrating control issues, including unresponsive dodging mechanics and clunky inventory management that detracts from the overall experience.
The game suffers from bugs and glitches, particularly in multiplayer mode, which can lead to a lack of enjoyment and progress.
Some players feel that the game lacks polish and can be overly punishing, with certain fights designed to be frustrating rather than challenging.

gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
54%
14%
The gameplay of the game is a blend of 16-bit graphics and mechanics reminiscent of both "Dark Souls" and classic "Legend of Zelda" titles, offering a challenging yet satisfying experience. Players appreciate the engaging combat mechanics and exploration elements, though some report issues with unresponsive controls, bugs, and limited end-game equipment. Overall, the game delivers a rewarding challenge that appeals to fans of both genres, despite some gameplay flaws.
- “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%
37%
19%
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic, retro quality, reminiscent of classic SNES titles, and is considered one of its strongest assets. Reviewers highlight the engaging soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience, particularly during intense moments, and appreciate its ability to evoke emotions and immerse players in the game's atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is described as beautiful and well-composed, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
- “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.”
- “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 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.”
- “During a fight with the boss, the music made me play out of my mind because I thought I was the main character in an anime.”
- “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 characterized by a charming pixelated art style that appeals to fans of retro aesthetics, though some reviewers note that the environments can feel repetitive and lack distinct landmarks. While the visuals may not be cutting-edge, they are generally well-received for their nostalgic quality and complement the game's overall experience. Despite some criticisms, many players appreciate the artwork and find it fitting for the RPG genre.
- “But that's a shame, because it really is a cool, mysterious, great game with an intriguing story, few but endearing characters, wonderful pixelated graphics, and challenging fights all throughout.”
- “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.”
- “Beautiful music, charming art style, creative story, difficult enough to keep things interesting... this game's got it all.”
- “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 poor.”
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.”
- “The 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.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 high rating may include varied gameplay options, multiple endings, or dynamic content that encourages exploration and experimentation. Overall, players appreciate the game's ability to offer fresh experiences upon replaying.
- “The game offers a wealth of choices that make each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
- “With multiple endings and diverse character paths, I find myself coming back to explore every possibility.”
- “The random events and procedural generation keep the gameplay fresh, ensuring that no two sessions are ever the same.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been criticized for being plagued by bugs and glitches, particularly in multiplayer modes, leading to frustrating restarts. While players acknowledge its potential and overall enjoyment, many feel it remains underdeveloped and incomplete due to these persistent 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.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely criticized for being completely unoptimized and not ready for release, indicating significant performance issues and a lack of polish.
- “Completely unoptimized and unready for release.”
- “The game suffers from severe performance issues, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experienced constant frame drops and long loading times, which ruined the overall experience.”