Hellenica

54%
Game Brain Score Based on 76 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Hellenica Game Cover
An entertaining tactical RPG reminiscent of genre defining games like Tactics Ogre with a strategic twist of levels and combat designed around dynamically shifting environments. Though it lacks refinement in ground textures and an abrupt and unfocused end to the main story, Hellenica is carried by its unique combat and memorable characters.
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"Hellenica" is a turn-based tactics RPG set in a steampunk ancient Greece, where an industrial revolution has transformed the cultures and landscapes. Customize your party's skills and navigate a complex storyline where choices impact battles, paths, and alliances. Experience a reimagined history with characters like Plato, Socrates, and Cyrus the Persian, and engage in strategic combat with environmental manipulation.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

54%
Audience ScoreBased on 76 reviews
story25 positive mentions
grinding10 negative mentions
  • The combat system is engaging and focuses on environmental interactions, allowing for creative strategies like pushing enemies off cliffs.
  • The game features a charming setting that blends steampunk with Greek mythology, and the characters are unique and likable.
  • The branching narrative allows for multiple playthroughs, providing flexibility in how players experience the story.
  • The lack of a traditional leveling system and character customization options makes the gameplay feel limited and repetitive.
  • The story can be confusing due to its non-linear structure, with many plot threads that are hard to follow and often feel unresolved.
  • The game suffers from unpolished elements, such as awkward animations, a lack of a tutorial, and repetitive dialogue that can detract from the overall experience.
  • story137 mentions

    The game's story features a branching narrative set in a charming steampunk mythological Greece, allowing players to explore various paths and characters. However, many reviewers found the execution lacking, citing repetitive story beats, poorly developed characters, and a convoluted plot that can be difficult to follow. While some appreciated the flexibility of the branching system, others felt it detracted from character development and overall coherence, leading to a mixed reception of the story's quality.

    • “The setting (steampunk mythological Greece) is very charming, the characters are simple but likeable, the story can take unexpected turns and even in my 4th run through the 'branching storyline' I was finding places I imagined only existed 'in lore'.”
    • “The story is decent, the setting is unique, and the game mechanics are straightforward, which makes it well worth its price tag.”
    • “I think the branching storylines are also very interesting; they keep the story moving along and allow you to explore the world, assuring that you are always somewhere interesting.”
    • “The story is an absolute nightmare to follow even at the best of times.”
    • “Also, the story is awful; the dialogue just goes on and on and on and rarely says something truly interesting, and the characters are painfully generic, which is a shame considering how cool the setting is.”
    • “I wish it wasn't a branching narrative, because the story has to be able to go in a million directions; threads get picked up and dropped immediately, and nothing in the story ends up meaning anything.”
  • gameplay44 mentions

    The gameplay of Hellenica draws inspiration from classic tactical RPGs, featuring enjoyable mechanics like pushing and tossing, but suffers from a lack of depth and polish. Players note that the game simplifies many traditional elements, resulting in repetitive combat and minimal character progression, which detracts from the overall experience. While the art style and unique setting are appreciated, the gameplay's shortcomings, such as limited skills and a need for better tutorials, hinder its potential.

    • “The familiar gameplay is backed by some interesting twists, and the combat feels dynamic.”
    • “I really enjoyed the gameplay, art style, and story.”
    • “This is a very simple game, but the pushing/tossing mechanics are very fun!”
    • “But I have to put some warnings before recommending it, because for some reason the devs decided to reinvent the wheel on many staple strategy RPG mechanics, and this led to some very unpolished aspects.”
    • “The deterministic nature of puzzles makes the combat lack in mechanic depth and character progression (very few skills per character, most characters restricted to certain maps), to the point the game even gives you one skill point at most per battle, not one skill point per character, but one skill point to give one character.”
    • “Further, there is hardly an RPG element to Hellenica, as the game offers little in the way of rewards to improve the characters and gameplay.”
  • graphics28 mentions

    The graphics of the game evoke nostalgia for the PSX era, reminiscent of titles like Final Fantasy Tactics and Disgaea, but they are criticized for being overly simplistic and mismatched with the game's setting of Greek steampunk. While the sprites and combat visuals are generally acceptable, the town and conversation art styles are described as off-putting and generic, detracting from the overall experience. Despite some appreciation for the art style, many reviewers feel it fails to fully realize the potential of its unique aesthetic combination.

    • “The combination of ancient Greece and Rome, steampunk, and anime art style, while all potentially wonderful on their own, creates a feast for the senses.”
    • “I really enjoyed the gameplay, art style, and story.”
    • “Graphically speaking, it feels like this came right out of the PSX era of games, drawing up memories of Final Fantasy Tactics and Tactics Ogre.”
    • “You'd think that it might have something suited to the aesthetic of the world, or matched well to the areas and so on, but no, it's really basic stuff that feels more suited to a game about cavemen than it does to Greek/steampunk tactical scheming.”
    • “The sprites and combat graphics are fine, but the in-town/conversation art style is just incredibly off-putting to me.”
  • music14 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the victory themes in darker maps while others find the repetitive tracks and slow tempo frustrating. Although the soundtrack is generally considered acceptable for the game's style, it often fails to match the intensity of battles, leading to a lack of engagement during gameplay. Overall, while the music has its moments, it suffers from limited variation and pacing issues.

    • “Especially the victory music in some of the darker maps and story points.”
    • “The art is well done and the music is a-ok for this kind of game.”
    • “The music is okay but it is a little slow.”
    • “The music is fine, but if you take your time in one place, it becomes annoying to hear the same track over and over with few variations.”
    • “The water isn't animated, the music doesn't fit with the battles, the writing is mediocre, and the story jumps around everywhere.”
    • “One complaint I have is the soundtrack.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    The game's grinding system is unconventional, as players do not gain experience through traditional grinding but rather by completing specific objectives in missions. This design encourages strategic thinking about battle approaches and skill selection, but it can lead to tedious replaying of levels to earn experience, especially since dialogue cannot be skipped. Overall, while the gameplay remains enjoyable, the requirement to replay missions for experience can become frustrating.

    • “This kind of ticks me off because it forces you to replay the level to get the experience (experience is gained through objectives) and there is no way to skip all the same dialogue and etc. somewhat tedious, though still fun gameplay.”
    • “You get experience by doing specified achievements in each mission, not by grinding or completing missions.”
    • “It's a different system that discourages farming for XP and really makes you think about how you will approach each battle and which skills you will choose.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Character development in the game is criticized for being shallow and poorly executed, largely due to its non-linear storytelling approach. Reviewers note that this structure leads to disjointed character interactions and a lack of meaningful growth, with important developments often occurring offscreen or without proper context. Overall, players seeking in-depth character arcs may find the experience lacking.

    • “Because of the 'different timelines' storytelling, the dialogue in the game suffers a lot, and you will sometimes have to listen to long introductions you've already heard and will skip. You may also be introduced to characters and plotlines that didn't really have any setup because to meet those characters you'd have had to go through a different path, and sometimes even have to see character development that apparently happened offscreen, as some characters become best friends despite having met just a battle ago.”
    • “The second biggest issue in my opinion is that the story could have easily been a solid 20-hour linear adventure with proper character development and tension building, if it was structured linearly (like Final Fantasy Tactics or Fire Emblem).”
    • “Because of the 'different timelines' storytelling, the dialogue in the game suffers a lot. You will sometimes have to listen to long introductions you've already heard and will skip, be introduced to characters and plotlines that didn't really have any setup because to meet those characters you'd have had to go through a different path, and sometimes even have to see character development that apparently happened offscreen because some characters become best friends despite having met a battle ago.”
    • “If you're looking for in-depth character development, forget it.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is perceived as lacking depth, with many players finding the story clunky and boring, which detracts from the overall experience. While some enjoy the gameplay and aesthetic, the short length and uninspiring narrative lead to mixed feelings about its value at full price.

    • “Overall, I had fun with the game, but I cannot recommend such a short game (4-15 hours depending on how many paths you complete) for its full price. It might be worth it in a sale if you like the aesthetic of steampunk Greece and don't mind its boring story.”
    • “And if you are into isometric grid combat systems, and don't mind a clunky, kind of boring story, then you will like this game.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game offers notable replayability due to its multiple paths and choices that allow players to experience different aspects of the story. However, some users find this replayability to be somewhat unconventional.

    • “The game offers incredible replayability with multiple paths and various ways to progress through the story.”
    • “There are so many different choices to make that each playthrough feels unique and engaging.”
    • “Replayability is a strong point, as the game allows for different outcomes based on the decisions you make.”
    • “I would say replayability is there, but it's kind of weird with multiple paths and ways to progress through the story.”
    • “I would say replayability is there, but it's kind of weird with multiple paths and ways to progress through the story.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by the interactions between characters Nephele and Brasidas, which consistently elicit laughter from players.

    • “Nephele and Brasidas made me laugh a number of times.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

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