Numen: Contest of Heroes

47%
Game Brain Score Based on 98 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Numen: Contest of Heroes Game Cover
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"Numen: Contest of Heroes" is a 3D action RPG set in mythical Greece, where players control one of nine heroes competing in a grand test of capabilities for their patron god. The game emphasizes tactical decision making, weapon choice, and adaptability in combat, with the player's hero receiving unique powers from their god based on their favor. It's more than just hack-and-slash, offering a varied and challenging experience in a mythical Greek setting.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

47%
Audience ScoreBased on 98 reviews
story13 positive mentions
grinding11 negative mentions
  • Engaging mythological Greek setting with a charming atmosphere and decent graphics for its time.
  • Offers a nostalgic experience for fans of old-school RPGs and MMOs, with a focus on exploration and character development.
  • Beautiful music and well-designed monsters contribute to the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • The game is plagued by numerous bugs, including crashes and glitches that can disrupt gameplay.
  • Combat mechanics are poorly executed, leading to frustrating encounters and a lack of engaging gameplay.
  • Main and side quests are barebones and uninteresting, often resulting in a tedious grind without meaningful rewards.
  • story61 mentions

    The story in the game is generally criticized for being generic and poorly executed, with a lack of engaging quests and minimal character development. Players noted that the main quest and side quests are often repetitive and uninteresting, leading to a grind-heavy experience that detracts from the narrative. While some appreciated the initial setup and potential of the story, many found it ultimately lacking in depth and coherence, with numerous gameplay mechanics overshadowing the narrative experience.

    • “The story progression for the first 3 hours of the game is slow but nice.”
    • “The story is actually quite nice, and the quests are decent.”
    • “When I bought this game it was on sale for 50p; money well spent honestly. If you're looking for a decent RPG with an MMO feel, this is always worth a shout. The story so far is interesting enough to make me want to push forward.”
    • “Numen's story is generic.”
    • “The main plot was okay, but the quests that guided you along through the main story were uninteresting and felt grindy.”
    • “The writing is bad: I spotted several typos and even apparent missing words, but the bland story itself is poorly written with many mistakes about Greek mythology (for example: Neptune is not a Greek god), and you never actually feel like you're playing in Greece.”
  • graphics16 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players noting that they are on par with typical MMO visuals and others criticizing them as outdated and lacking detail. While certain textures and character equipment designs are appreciated, many users express disappointment in the overall graphical quality, especially in comparison to modern standards. Additionally, issues such as poor interface and lack of customization options further detract from the visual experience.

    • “Numen: Contest of Heroes is a surprisingly robust RPG, with attractive 3D graphics, well-animated if not particularly innovative enemies, and minimalist but adequate sound design.”
    • “Great graphics, but the gameplay isn't very innovative.”
    • “The graphics are on par with most MMO graphics and the sound is adequate, but there is not a lot of music.”
    • “Graphically, the game has aged very poorly.”
    • “This game is a joke; bad graphics, bad story, bad fights.”
    • “The graphics are on par with most MMO graphics, and the sound is adequate, but there is not a lot of music.”
  • gameplay16 mentions

    "Numen: Contest of Heroes" features an old-school RPG gameplay style set in a mythological Greek world, offering class-based mechanics influenced by different gods. However, many players criticize the gameplay for being unfairly difficult, lacking meaningful character interactions, and relying on tedious fetch quests and grinding, leading to a generally uninspired experience. While some appreciate the nostalgic elements and graphics, the overall consensus is that the gameplay fails to deliver engaging or innovative moments, making it feel stale and disappointing.

    • “Numen: Contest of Heroes offers an engaging experience with its mythological Greek setting and RPG mechanics.”
    • “Each class comes with 3 different gods you can choose from, who further refine the gameplay and skills you can get, as well as the thematic motif of your character.”
    • “The system is well implemented here and the result is a game that comes across as a nice hybrid of the setting from Titan Quest and the gameplay mechanics of Dungeon Siege.”
    • “I have no issue with difficulty; in fact, I enjoy hard games when they're fair and exciting or at least thoroughly entertaining, but this game's difficulty simply comes down to its RPG mechanics being downright unfair.”
    • “Pretty unforgivable faults, especially since it's so expensive (relative to the quality, that is): bland textures and animations, dull, boring gameplay, and a silly, confusing storyline.”
    • “I'm talkin' fetch quests, more or less forced grinding, and unintuitive mechanics.”
  • grinding11 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is heavily criticized for being tedious and unbalanced, with players facing exorbitant vendor prices and enemies that are disproportionately strong, making combat feel like a slog. Many reviewers noted that the grinding for experience and loot is not only time-consuming but also often feels forced, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game. While some players appreciate the atmosphere and the challenge, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grind is excessive and detracts from the gameplay experience.

    • “The insane price of any item at the vendor means that even with grinding, you will not be able to buy almost anything.”
    • “Eventually, I thought maybe it's equipment-based, but you get so much gear that your class cannot use. Gear that requires more grinding to use, and even shop items are so expensive. Making money is so slow and boring, and my god, do you feel the tedium yet?”
    • “The game itself would be over quickly if you didn't spend that much time grinding for levels. The first few hours of which are so tedious that I almost stopped playing, although the grinding got less annoying a few hours in.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its unique and immersive qualities, particularly in its mythical Greek setting, while others criticize it for lacking depth and excitement. While the graphics and soundtrack have received some negative feedback, RPG fans who enjoy exploration and a challenging experience may still find value in the overall ambiance. However, the repetitive gameplay and absence of engaging story elements detract from the atmosphere for many players.

    • “Despite some rough edges, the unique atmosphere and challenging gameplay make it a worthwhile adventure for RPG fans.”
    • “This is the game for people who enjoy atmosphere, delayed gratification, and don't mind realistic lengths of exploration and grinding for experience.”
    • “Despite the mixed to negative reviews, the mythical Greek atmosphere attracted me enough to take the small risk.”
    • “Oh, and as far as atmosphere goes: graphics and textures are okay - with no facial or physical customization option for your character, and the soundtrack decides to take long pauses of silence as you play for no apparent reason.”
    • “Lacks story, atmosphere, some kind of suspense and it's repetitive.”
    • “Dead atmosphere, boring gameplay, even a few hours of gameplay is enough to get it uninstalled unless you had anything better to do.”
  • music6 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising the beautiful soundtrack and its contribution to the atmosphere. However, some users noted that the music can be sparse, with long pauses of silence during gameplay, which detracts from the overall experience. While the visuals and sound design are considered adequate, the lack of variety in the music is a common point of criticism.

    • “Beautiful music.”
    • “The soundtrack is pretty good.”
    • “Visuals, music, and menu all work great.”
    • “Oh, and as far as atmosphere goes: graphics and textures are okay - with no facial or physical customization option for your character, and the soundtrack decides to take long pauses of silence as you play for no apparent reason.”
    • “The graphics are on par with most MMO graphics and the sound is adequate, but there is not a lot of music.”
  • stability5 mentions

    Overall, user experiences with stability vary significantly; while some players report no glitches or crashes after extensive playtime, others encounter frequent bugs, including getting stuck in walls. Despite these issues, many still find the game enjoyable.

    • “I had no glitches; the game did crash once, but I had recently saved, so it didn't matter.”
    • “Edit: After 26 hours of gameplay, I ran into no glitches or bugs myself.”
    • “The game was so buggy I got stuck in walls multiple times early into the game.”
    • “Buggy and highly flawed.”
    • “A little buggy but a good game nonetheless.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The game effectively integrates exploration, combat, and character development, creating an engaging experience that captivates players.

    • “The game combines exploration, combat, and character development in a way that keeps you hooked.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game features enjoyable gameplay and an impressive world, but it suffers from poor optimization and clunky mechanics, leading to an unforgiving difficulty curve. Overall, players express disappointment in its performance, suggesting a rating of around 6/10.

    • “I wanted to give this a positive review, but I can't. The gameplay is fun and the world is amazing, but it's poorly optimized and clunky. There's an unforgiving difficulty curve. I'd give it a 6/10 if Steam had a proper rating system.”
    • “The game has great potential, but the optimization issues make it frustrating to play. Frequent frame drops and long loading times really detract from the experience.”
    • “While the graphics are impressive, the optimization is lacking. I often encounter lag and stuttering, which ruins the immersion and enjoyment of the game.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Reviewers generally find that *Numen: Contest of Heroes* lacks replayability due to its uninteresting gameplay and absence of surprises or excitement, making it unlikely for players to return after their initial experience.

    • “I've seen worse, but it doesn't excuse 'Numen: Contest of Heroes' from being an uninteresting game that offers no surprise, no excitement, and no replay value.”
    • “The game lacks any meaningful choices or variations in gameplay, making it feel repetitive after just a few hours.”
    • “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to return, as the side quests are uninspired and the world feels empty.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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