Rise of the Argonauts

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In "Rise of the Argonauts," players assume the role of Jason, King of Iolcus, seeking the Golden Fleece to restore his murdered fiancé's life. This action-RPG features epic voyages, brutal combat against mythical beasts and heroes, and transformation into an exalted hero. Experience a grand scale adventure in the vibrant world of Ancient Greece.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 159 reviews

story43 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

The game features a unique leveling system that allows players to earn skill points through actions and dialogue choices, enhancing the RPG experience.
The writing and character interactions are engaging, with a strong emphasis on Greek mythology that adds depth to the story.
Combat, while initially clunky, becomes enjoyable as players adapt, and the game offers a variety of weapons and abilities tied to different gods.

The game suffers from frequent crashes and bugs, particularly with saving and loading, which can disrupt the gameplay experience.
Graphics and animations feel dated, and the overall presentation lacks polish, making it hard to overlook its age.
The pacing is uneven, with long stretches of dialogue and exploration that can detract from the action and make the game feel tedious at times.

story
148 mentions
29 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story of "Rise of the Argonauts" offers a fresh take on the classic Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts, featuring a quest for the Golden Fleece intertwined with themes of love and resurrection. While the narrative is engaging and rich in dialogue, it diverges significantly from traditional mythology, which may frustrate purists; however, players who appreciate character-driven storytelling and mythological elements will find it enjoyable. Despite some criticisms regarding pacing and voice acting, many reviewers highlight the story as a strong aspect of the game, making it a worthwhile experience for those who prioritize narrative over gameplay mechanics.
- “The story, despite the acting, is really good.”
- “Despite its deviations from the original myth, it maintains its sense of scale as a story about mythical ancient Greece, a great adventure, gods, demons, and otherworldly beasts of legend.”
- “Rise of the Argonauts is a very story-driven game with many dialogues you would expect in a Bioware RPG.”
- “The main story is mediocre and predictable, while the side quests are most of the time quite boring and can be easily missed if you forget to speak with certain characters.”
- “I'm bothered a lot about gameplay getting in the way of the story; that does not happen here.”
- “The story was okay, but the whole plot of the myth has been completely changed (instead of collecting the fleece to restore his father's kingdom, Jason only wants it to resurrect his dead wife) and all the characters are there, but they are completely different from their mythic counterparts, especially Medea, who instead of being a key part of the story, is just another Argonaut.”
graphics
54 mentions
24 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they appear dated, especially when compared to modern titles. While some appreciate the unique art style and atmospheric visuals, others criticize the low-resolution textures and stiff animations, suggesting that the graphics reflect the game's 2008 release date. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not meet contemporary standards, they still possess a certain charm and can be enjoyable within the context of the game's design.
- “I like the steampunk aesthetic with stylized visuals and instantly recognizable characters.”
- “One thing the game gets right is its artistically beautiful visuals, the really immersive sound direction, and soundtrack.”
- “Beautiful graphics, soundtrack, and great voice acting.”
- “The graphics don't hold up.”
- “This game is definitely a product of its time and I mean it in the worst possible way - terrible graphics (even for 2008), stiff voice acting, uninteresting story, bland side quests, surface level RPG system, gimmicky boss fights and small areas, that are still somehow split into smaller areas.”
- “Constant crashes, outdated graphics, plenty of NPCs that look exactly the same... I'm having a hard time trying to finish this game, even when I love Greek mythology and games like this one.”
gameplay
35 mentions
20 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mixed bag, combining elements of hack-and-slash combat reminiscent of God of War with dialogue and exploration akin to Mass Effect. While some players appreciate the intuitive controls and engaging story, many criticize the combat's lack of depth, linear level design, and repetitive tasks, leading to an overall feeling of disappointment. The game ultimately struggles to balance its various gameplay components, resulting in a "jack of all trades, master of none" experience.
- “The gameplay is good, with the combat (which stresses making an opening and striking, rather than hacking away at an HP bar), and skill systems (dedicating deeds to various gods, to gain their powers and favor) being of particular note.”
- “The gameplay consists of combat sections, exploration sections, and dialogue/role-playing sections.”
- “The gameplay is quick to pick up and fairly intuitive.”
- “From the gameplay side of things, it tries to be both Greek God of War and Mass Effect but falls short on both regards.”
- “The combat system isn't as mechanically deep as God of War and honestly feels more like a chore than it is challenging; not that you'll really have that much time to delve into the combat system as this game is definitely more skewed towards the walking and talking aspect.”
- “The gameplay really disappoints in a lot of aspects, and it's hard to keep you interested until the end.”
music
21 mentions
57 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a generally positive reception, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the Greek mythology theme. Composed by Tyler Bates, the soundtrack features distinct musical themes for different locations, contributing to an immersive experience, although some players noted that certain tracks may fade into the background. Overall, the combination of excellent music and voice acting significantly elevates the game's storytelling.
- “Each location has its own musical theme, and most of them are good.”
- “The music is just fascinating; they tried to keep that 'epic ancient Greek atmosphere,' but sometimes they add variations of other kinds of music, like a tribal sound when they arrive in a jungle or dramatic chants when you reach ruins or dramatic parts of the story.”
- “While there is much to be desired - not least of all varied facial animations - the story is stellar, the soundtrack is brilliant, and the voice acting is wonderfully delivered.”
- “In most games, I don’t notice the background music; it just blends in.”
- “The music is not memorable; you'll just hear it as a background sound that you mostly ignore.”
- “The music is just okay.”
atmosphere
8 mentions
75 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its cozy yet somewhat dated visuals, effectively capturing the essence of Argonaut mythology. Players appreciate the engaging music, which blends epic ancient Greek themes with varied styles, enhancing the overall experience. While the atmosphere remains strong throughout, some players noted a dip in interest in the middle, with a resurgence of engagement and ambiance in the final chapters.
- “Loved the atmosphere and all the Argonaut mythology around the game!”
- “The music is just fascinating; they tried to keep that 'epic ancient Greek atmosphere,' but sometimes they add variations of other kinds of music, like a tribal sound when they arrive in a jungle or dramatic chants when you reach ruins or dramatic parts of the story.”
- “I was really impressed with the aesthetics and atmosphere that the game created.”
emotional
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game effectively evokes strong emotions, with players reporting a deep connection to its touching narrative about death and the afterlife, complemented by a fitting soundtrack. While some environments are visually stunning, others fall flat, yet the overall emotional engagement keeps players invested in the story.
- “Nice and touching story about death and the afterlife with good soundtracks.”
- “It succeeded in emotionally involving me in the story and caused me to want to continue playing to see where it takes me.”
stability
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with many users reporting it as unfinished and riddled with bugs, leading to a frustrating experience. While some appreciate its charm as a budget title, the overall consensus is that the numerous glitches and incomplete content detract from its enjoyment, making it nearly unplayable for some.
- “Overall, this is an excellent older budget game and not buggy.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or major glitches.”
- “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it allows me to fully immerse myself in the experience.”
- “It was released unfinished, therefore it is buggy and you can see where content was cut here and there. Half of the characters that were meant to be party members are stuck as dialogue-only NPCs on the ship; beautifully crafted memorials to what might have been.”
- “Overall, Rise of the Argonauts is a really great hidden gem RPG, but it’s very buggy to the point of being unplayable.”
- “In the end, though, it is just too buggy and poorly done to be enjoyable.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while combat can become tedious towards the end, the overall ease of defeating enemies makes it somewhat enjoyable. However, much of the gameplay involves excessive walking and dialogue, which can lead to a sense of monotony and frustration. Overall, the game features minimal grinding in terms of combat, but the repetitive nature of exploration and interactions detracts from the experience.
- “The combat is basic but serviceable; near the end it begins to get tedious, although you are so strong it's rather enjoyable wrecking all the villains fool enough to think they can stop you.”
- “Yes, it's quite easy and not very long, the plot is kind of stupid in places, the loading times disguised as cutscenes (I'm talking to you, gates to the Acropolis of Mycenae) become tedious because there's much running back and forth, and it's not the best looking game out there.”
- “Seriously, only like 1/3 of the game was actual combat, while the rest was just walking around and talking to people, which gets tedious really quickly.”
optimization
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, particularly due to its poor port from the console version, leading to significant performance issues such as lags, crashes, and stuttering. Additionally, the lack of graphics settings and resolution options exacerbates the experience for players with less powerful computers. Overall, it is considered a badly optimized game that fails to deliver a smooth experience.
- “The game performs exceptionally well across a wide range of systems, showcasing a variety of different voice actors.”
- “The optimization allows for smooth gameplay, even on lower-end hardware, making it accessible to a broader audience.”
- “The developers have done a commendable job in optimizing the game, ensuring that it runs efficiently without compromising on quality.”
- “However, the port of the game from the console version makes it a really badly optimized game, and if you don't have a good computer, you're going to endure lags and slowdowns because there's no menu for the graphics settings, resolution, and such.”
- “It suffers from being a really poor port and was never optimized for PC.”
- “When coupled with a terrible port that caused constant game crashes, frequent and significant stuttering, and nearly broken audio, I find myself left with a bad taste.”
humor
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is primarily delivered through the characters, particularly the witty remarks from Achilles and the engaging lore shared by Pan, which adds a lighthearted touch to the experience. Players appreciate the comedic elements amidst the game's dated graphics and epic battles, making the humor a standout aspect.
- “The only good thing about the game is the Argonauts - Atlanta is hot, Achilles is funny, and Pan can share interesting lore about Greek mythology.”
- “When entering Krytha, Pan was a fixed member, and I chose Achilles as the second one, hoping for some funny remarks, which he delivered.”
- “There are final monster and epic fights in any case, and despite the dated engine, graphics, and textures, the result is funny.”
replayability
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game lacks significant replayability, with no new game plus mode or compelling reasons to replay it, resulting in minimal value for players seeking to revisit the experience.
- “There is no replayability or new game plus.”
- “There isn't much worth in replay value.”
- “The replay value is quite low.”
character development
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development in the game, highlighting it as a standout feature alongside its visually appealing ancient Greek theme and character designs. The story is noted as a significant strength, enhancing the overall experience.
- “Of all its positive traits, the highlight was by far the story and character development.”
- “I think the character designs and the environments are pretty.”
- “Mostly the ancient Greek theme and character designs save this game.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that impact character growth throughout the game.”
- “The characters seem one-dimensional, and their arcs don't evolve in a satisfying way.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is generally viewed positively, especially considering its low budget and minimal advertising; players appreciate the effort put into the game despite its limitations and issues.