Hellenica

63%
Game Brain Score Based on 44 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

63%
Audience ScoreBased on 44 reviews
story17 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique steampunk ancient Greece setting that creatively reimagines myths and characters, providing a fresh narrative experience.
  • Combat mechanics are engaging and encourage strategic thinking, with a focus on environmental interactions and positioning rather than traditional RPG elements.
  • The branching storylines allow for replayability, enabling players to explore different paths and character interactions, which adds depth to the overall experience.
  • The lack of a traditional leveling system and character customization options can make the gameplay feel simplistic and repetitive over time.
  • The dialogue and story can be convoluted and difficult to follow due to the branching paths, leading to a disjointed narrative experience.
  • There are technical shortcomings, such as a lack of a tutorial, limited character abilities, and a repetitive soundtrack that detracts from the overall immersion.
  • story93 mentions

    The game's story features a branching narrative that allows players to explore multiple paths and revisit unlocked story points, providing flexibility in gameplay. While the setting of steampunk mythological Greece is praised for its charm, the execution of the story is often criticized for being convoluted and repetitive, with some players feeling that a more linear approach would have enhanced character development and overall engagement. Despite its flaws, the story is considered enjoyable by some, with a mix of comedic and serious elements, though it may not resonate with everyone due to its generic characters and dialogue.

    • “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 offers multiple branching paths with a goal to recruit a team of heroes to fight at your side for a final battle; it is impossible to accomplish this task in a single playthrough, so you will need to loop time and make new choices.”
    • “The characters seem well developed and the story keeps me involved.”
    • “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.”
    • “The story is written poorly and has tacky animation, coming off as an amateur flash game in the end.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay28 mentions

    The gameplay in Hellenica features turn-based tactical battles on small 3D maps, reminiscent of classic titles like Final Fantasy Tactics, but it has been criticized for its lack of depth and RPG mechanics, such as limited character progression and repetitive combat. While the game offers fun mechanics like terrain manipulation and straightforward gameplay, many players feel that it lacks polish and complexity, making it less engaging for those seeking a deeper RPG experience. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable but flawed, with a need for more robust mechanics and a longer story to enhance the experience.

    • “The familiar gameplay is backed by some interesting twists, and the combat feels dynamic.”
    • “Hellenica is a fundamentally strong turn-based tactical RPG with great combat mechanics and well-designed combat maps.”
    • “Hellenica is an excellent new indie RPG with a creative game world, interesting game mechanics, tactical turn-based battles, and pixel graphics that have personality and charm.”
    • “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 1 SP per character, one skill point to give one character.”
    • “I went in hoping for a game like that, or like Final Fantasy Tactics, but the gameplay is really dumbed down in my opinion.”
  • graphics21 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by colorful, pixelated visuals reminiscent of the PSX era, drawing comparisons to classic titles like Final Fantasy Tactics and Disgaea. While the art style is generally appreciated for its charm and personality, some players find the character designs and town visuals off-putting, feeling they detract from the overall experience. Overall, the graphics evoke a nostalgic aesthetic but may not fully align with the game's thematic elements, leading to mixed feelings among players.

    • “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.”
    • “Hellenica is an excellent new indie RPG with a creative game world, interesting game mechanics, tactical turn-based battles, and pixel graphics that have personality and charm.”
    • “Graphics - the game features chunky pixel graphics rendered in 3D.”
    • “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.”
  • music9 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as pleasant and fitting for its style, with some standout victory themes in darker contexts. However, many players find the soundtrack repetitive and lacking in variety, leading to a somewhat lackluster experience, especially during prolonged gameplay. Overall, while the music is deemed acceptable, it does not significantly enhance the game's appeal.

    • “Especially the victory music in some of the darker maps and story points.”
    • “In all seriousness, this is a well-made game with good art and music.”
    • “The art is well done and the music is okay for this kind of game.”
    • “However, the music?”
    • “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.”
    • “One complaint I have is the soundtrack.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, as experience points are earned through completing specific objectives rather than traditional grinding. This system encourages strategic planning for battles but can lead to repetitive gameplay during multiple runs, especially due to the inability to skip dialogue. Overall, while it adds a layer of challenge, it may frustrate those who prefer a more straightforward leveling approach.

    • “This will make your second and third run through the game a bit tedious, depending on the route you take, and you have to make multiple runs because...”
    • “You get experience by completing specified achievements in each mission, not by grinding or completing missions.”
    • “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, which is somewhat tedious, though still fun gameplay.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is criticized for being shallow and disjointed due to its non-linear storytelling, which leads to missed opportunities for meaningful interactions and growth. Players often encounter repetitive dialogue and abrupt character relationships that lack proper setup, resulting in a lack of depth and emotional engagement. Despite appealing character designs, the overall execution leaves much to be desired, hindering the potential for a richer narrative experience.

    • “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).”
    • “The limitations of this small indie team are represented in a lackluster soundtrack, a minimal amount of combat effects, and simple but effective sprite animations. However, I found the character designs to be fantastic and would have loved to see a selection of expressive portraits used during dialogue sequences.”
    • “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 see character development that apparently happened offscreen, as some characters become best friends despite having met just a battle ago.”
    • “If you're looking for in-depth character development, forget it.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by endearing characters and witty dialogue, particularly the amusing banter between party members, which has elicited genuine laughter from players. Notable interactions, especially between Nephele and Brasidas, contribute significantly to the comedic experience.

    • “Endearing characters with funny dialogue.”
    • “Banter between party members made me laugh out loud multiple times.”
    • “Nephele and Brasidas made me laugh a number of times.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is perceived as lacking depth, with a clunky and unengaging story that detracts from the overall experience. While players may enjoy the isometric grid combat and the steampunk aesthetic, the short playtime and uninspiring narrative make it difficult to recommend 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.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Players appreciate the game's replayability due to its multiple story paths and choices, which encourage exploration of different outcomes. However, some find the replayability aspect somewhat unconventional, suggesting that while there are various routes to take, the experience may feel unique each time.

    • “Multiple story paths provide significant replayability.”
    • “I would say replayability is a key feature, with various 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 in the story.”
    • “There are multiple story paths, which provide some replayability.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

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