Prophecy I: The Viking Child
- October 25, 2017
- Imagitec
Get on SteamCartoony side-scroller where you take the role of, as the title states, a viking child, in his quest to free his friends and family, held by the evil god Loki inside the Great Halls of Valhalla. Fight your way through 16 levels with diverse scenarios, including medieval castles and mountains. Spread throughout the levels are shops in which you can buy potions and other magical items to help you a…
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Amiga
Atari St
Linux
Ms Dos
Reviews
- Prophecy I - The Viking Child is a nostalgic gem for fans of retro gaming, capturing the charm and creativity of classic platformers from the early '90s.
- The game features straightforward controls and a mix of platforming, exploration, and light RPG elements, making it easy to pick up and play.
- With colorful visuals and a pleasant soundtrack, the game offers a moderate to high difficulty level that can provide a satisfying challenge for players.
- The game suffers from poor modern compatibility, lacking support for widescreen resolutions and requiring complicated setup through DOSBox, which can be frustrating for players.
- Many players report issues with hit detection, clunky gameplay mechanics, and unfair level design, leading to a frustrating experience overall.
- Despite its nostalgic appeal, the game is considered overpriced for its age and quality, with some players deeming it unplayable without extensive troubleshooting.
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Prophecy i - The Viking Child" features straightforward controls and a classic platforming formula across sixteen levels filled with enemies and collectibles. However, it suffers from clunky mechanics and a locked resolution, which detracts from the overall experience, making it hard to recommend despite its nostalgic charm and decent animation. While some players appreciate the challenging gameplay and music, others find the gameplay loop unenjoyable.
“The gameplay revolves around exploring sixteen levels filled with enemies, traps, and collectible items.”
“The controls are straightforward, with the usual jump, attack, and movement mechanics, making it easy to pick up and play.”
“While it might not compete with modern games in terms of polish or complexity, its charm, gameplay variety, and nostalgic appeal make it a solid choice for fans of the genre.”
“Locked resolution, 320x200 by the looks of it, locked controls, clunky gameplay.”
“Prophecy I - The Viking Child is a platformer with some of the worst mechanics I have ever experienced.”
“Hard for me to recommend even for just a dollar or two... the gameplay loop is not really enjoyable due to the shortcomings.”
- music5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as pleasant and well-executed, though it may not be particularly memorable. While the sound effects are minimal, the overall audio experience, including nostalgic elements, enhances the gameplay.
“The music is top notch and gameplay hits the sweet spot for me, difficult.”
“Game fullscreened ran seemingly well and the audio for the music and the art was pleasant.”
“The soundblaster music was as awesome as when I was a kid.”
“There are no sound effects, only music, which makes the experience feel incomplete.”
“The lack of sound effects alongside the music really detracts from the overall immersion.”
“It's disappointing that the game relies solely on music without any accompanying sound effects.”
- story2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story follows Brian, a Viking boy on a heroic quest to rescue his siblings and thwart the evil god Loki, offering an engaging narrative that users find enjoyable.
“You play as Brian, a Viking boy on a quest to rescue his siblings and stop the evil god Loki.”
“The story feels incredibly shallow, lacking depth and meaningful character development.”
“The plot twists are predictable, making it hard to stay engaged with the narrative.”
“The dialogue is often cringeworthy, detracting from the overall experience of the story.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Prophecy I" are praised for their colorful and detailed visuals, particularly on platforms such as the Atari ST and Amiga, showcasing impressive quality for its time.
“Graphics and sound.”
“For its time, Prophecy I delivers colorful and detailed visuals, especially on platforms like the Atari ST and Amiga.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players find high replayability in the game due to its exploration elements and the enjoyment of revisiting its charming world.
“Replayability comes from the exploration aspect and the sheer joy of revisiting the charming world.”
“The game offers a variety of challenges that make each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“Every time I play, I discover something new, which keeps me coming back for more.”
“Challenge and replayability are lacking, making it hard to find motivation to play again.”
“The replayability comes from the exploration aspect, but it quickly loses its charm after the first playthrough.”
“While the world is charming, the lack of new content makes revisiting it feel tedious.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be somewhat grindy, particularly when it comes to collecting coins for items, which can be time-consuming. However, the difficulty level is manageable, despite some frustrations with hitboxing and controls.
“The game is a bit grindy, but not too hard; however, it can be tricky due to the odd hitboxes and slightly constrained controls.”
“Grinding for coins to purchase those items can take a long time.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game suffers from poor optimization, lacking support for modern display resolutions and widescreen monitors, which results in subpar performance on contemporary gaming PCs.
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been criticized as exploitative, with users labeling it a "cash grab" for an unplayable product that requires significant effort to fix. The high price point is seen as unjustifiable given the lack of functionality and support.
“The game is fundamentally unplayable without me digging around and fixing the developers' problems for them. This is not something gamers should put up with, especially considering the eye-watering price on this abandonware cash grab.”
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it seems designed to squeeze every last penny from players rather than provide a fair gaming experience.”
“I was shocked at how much they charge for in-game items that should be accessible through regular gameplay. It feels like a blatant cash grab.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently described as funny, indicating that players find it entertaining and enjoyable.
“The humor in this game is absolutely hilarious, with clever jokes and witty dialogue that kept me laughing throughout.”
“I love how the game incorporates humor into its storytelling; it adds a delightful twist to the gameplay experience.”
“The comedic timing of the characters is spot on, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining and enjoyable.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is negatively impacted by frustrating mechanics, such as poor hitboxing and inconsistent interactions with the environment, which can lead to player annoyance and diminish immersion.
