Towards The Pantheon

About

In "Towards the Pantheon," play as Freyja, a warrior tasked with defeating the source of a power-hungry group's strength. This turn-based 2D RPG features unique elements, abandoning traditional RPG tropes in favor of distinctive mechanics like riding hamsters and collecting dead memories. Your journey will take you through various environments, from villages to a survival horror-inspired mansion, as you fight enemies and form friendships.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 87 reviews

story30 positive mentions

atmosphere3 negative mentions

The game features memorable characters and an engaging story, with a charming pixel art style and a good soundtrack that enhances the experience.
Combat is diverse and fun, with each character having unique abilities that contribute to strategic gameplay, making exploration rewarding.
The game successfully balances lighthearted moments with darker themes, creating a unique atmosphere that resonates with players.

The plot is considered basic and underdeveloped, with some players feeling that it lacks depth and fails to fully explore its themes.
The game is relatively short, with some players wishing for more content and character development, leading to an abrupt ending.
There are minor technical issues and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, along with a simplistic combat system that may not satisfy those looking for a deeper RPG experience.

story
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
66%
3%
The game's story, while engaging and featuring memorable characters, is often described as basic and somewhat generic, lacking depth in its main plot and villain development. Players appreciate the character interactions and emotional moments, particularly during campfire scenes, but many feel the overall narrative could benefit from more substantial side quests and character arcs. Despite its brevity, the story is enjoyable and resonates with themes of friendship and overcoming obstacles, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of classic RPGs.
- “To put it simply, 'Towards the Pantheon' contains nearly everything you expect from a good RPG: memorable characters, an engaging story, turn-based battles, plenty of secrets to discover, eye-catching visuals, and an exceptional soundtrack.”
- “This game is a story about friendship and overcoming obstacles - both the literal obstacles that you must combat, and the figurative obstacles in the minds of the characters.”
- “And the story all comes together wonderfully in a masterfully told yarn.”
- “So the plot is barebones and the villains are just there, and there are no side stories or arcs, so is there anything good I can say about the story?”
- “The art seemed too cartoony and simplistic, the battle system felt extremely limited and dull, character growth and development felt minimally interesting, and the story felt generic with too many characters thrown in and a vague end goal set from the get-go.”
- “For most modern games and JRPGs in particular, the characters and story are so generic and disillusion has long set in that I wouldn't bother to try another attempt upon a death, loss, or game crash.”
music
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
36%
6%
The music in the game has received high praise for its diversity and ability to enhance the overall experience, with standout tracks for both exploration and combat. Many players noted the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic RPGs, while some found certain pieces, like the town music, less appealing. Overall, the soundtrack is considered exceptional, contributing significantly to the game's charm and atmosphere.
- “The music was diverse and fit well with all the different settings - each area had its own distinct feel.”
- “The ever-changing scenery and music are two of my favorite things about this game, and good thing too, because you can spend hours wandering around taking in the sights and sounds of this wonderfully strange world.”
- “To put it simply, 'Towards the Pantheon' contains nearly everything you expect from a good RPG: memorable characters, an engaging story, turn-based battles, plenty of secrets to discover, eye-catching visuals, and an exceptional soundtrack.”
- “Before that you have to bear through stupidly happy music while exploring, fat cat people, who are only interested in catnip, and other weird stuff that doesn't even come close to the theme of the prequel.”
- “Biggest complaints so far: the town music.”
- “Music is just there.”
graphics
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
44%
9%
The graphics in "Towards the Pantheon" feature a charming, old-school pixel art style that evokes nostalgia while maintaining a unique aesthetic, reminiscent of classic RPGs like Earthbound. Character portraits and scenes, particularly the campfire moments, are beautifully rendered, with varied facial expressions that bring the silent protagonist to life. While some players noted a lack of feedback during puzzle-solving, the overall visuals and art direction are praised for their beauty and charm, contributing to an engaging RPG experience.
- “The graphics look old school, but obviously not like RPG Maker does. It has its own unique graphics; everything looks beautiful, the scenes are good, and the facial expressions you see while your character is talking are varied. It gives life to the main character, which is the staple of the classic RPG game—a silent hero that doesn't speak a single word, at least in the time I played. However, as I said, the facial expressions the character produces speak for themselves quite well.”
- “The pixel style graphics are beautiful, and the soundtrack is absolutely amazing.”
- “To put it simply, 'Towards the Pantheon' contains nearly everything you expect from a good RPG: memorable characters, an engaging story, turn-based battles, plenty of secrets to discover, eye-catching visuals, and an exceptional soundtrack.”
- “Completing puzzles doesn't have the kind of graphical or sound feedback that would make me feel really good about pushing a block into place or figuring out the correct path to a secret.”
- “The graphics look old school, but obviously not like an RPG Maker game. It has its own unique graphics; everything looks beautiful, the scenes look good, and the facial expressions you see while your character is talking are varied. It gives life to the main character, which is the staple of the classic RPG game, a silent hero that doesn't speak a single word at least in the time I played. However, as I said, the facial expressions you see the character produce speak for themselves quite well.”
- “The overworld art style and some psychological/horror-lite elements present in the game reminded me a little of EarthBound (Mother 2).”
gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
62%
13%
The gameplay is generally described as basic and on the easier side, with players noting that they rarely die, especially early on. While the battle mechanics are straightforward and accessible, the game features a clever campfire mechanic that enhances the experience by allowing players to save and trigger cutscenes. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its charm and solid execution, though some reviewers mention it could benefit from further polishing.
- “One of the greatest things about this game, music and charm aside, is the gameplay itself.”
- “Wonderful music, solid gameplay, enjoyable story.”
- “The campfire mechanic is genius and always gives me a nice break from my dying streaks.”
- “Gameplay is on the easier side; the only time I died was early on in my first playthrough, before gaining any other companions.”
- “- in need of serious polishing gameplay-wise”
- “Basic gameplay.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its unexpectedly heartfelt and cute story, with likable characters, including NPCs, that evoke a range of emotions. While the plot may not be groundbreaking, it effectively elicits laughter and tears, making for an enjoyable emotional experience despite some minor flaws.
- “While this game has flaws, as most do, they're so far and in-between that they're easily overlooked for one of the cutest, unexpectedly heartfelt, sometimes creepy and enjoyable stories I have ever encountered.”
- “I laughed, I cried, I felt feelings!”
- “The characters are likeable (shockingly, this includes NPCs) but the plot is not earth-shattering stuff: don't expect a classic saga, even if the game sometimes succeeds at pressing emotional buttons.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a tense and immersive quality, evoking feelings of fear despite the absence of real threats. The art design, particularly in darker areas, enhances this experience through effective lighting, creating unforgettable zones that contribute to a dark and brutal ambiance.
- “There's a particular zone about 2/3rds of the way through the game that I find unforgettable, with a delectably dark and brutal atmosphere.”
- “The art flourishes when you get to darker areas, and the plays of lighting on the atmosphere work extremely well.”
- “A while back I replayed 'Toward the Pantheon: Escaping Eternity' for my free highlights series (which is still on hiatus) and thought that while it didn’t have any real threats, it had a tense atmosphere that made me scared just being in that place.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that while there is ample opportunity for grinding through sidequests and exploration, it is not a necessity to enjoy the game. The combat is straightforward and rewarding, allowing players to level up without excessive grinding, and the option to avoid battles enhances the overall exploration experience.
- “Plenty of sidequests, plenty of grinding to do, plenty of places to explore and a new game+ mode which I cannot wait to dive into at some point.”
- “Combat is simple but satisfactory; there's no need for grinding, but if you choose to, you will feel rewarded with each level up.”
- “It doesn't require a whole lot of grinding if you choose not to do so, and the option to avoid battles as you progress through the game makes exploration enjoyable.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game features impressive character development, showcasing deep friendships among party members that evolve throughout the journey. Despite its 10-hour length, players feel that the narrative and character arcs are rich and engaging, highlighting the unique traits of characters like the mischievous kitty Bam, the insecure cyborg Mishima, and the enigmatic ex-human Phenez. Overall, the strong bonds formed among the characters leave a lasting impact on players.
- “Along the way, you pick up three other kooky characters (a mischievous kitty called Bam, an insecure cyborg called Mishima, and a mysterious floaty ex-human called Phenez). You travel, learn about each other, and build a strong bond. I could honestly rant and rave about how amazing the character development is all day!”
- “It was 10 hours in length, which I don't think was long enough for all of the story or character development that the game contains, especially with how deep the party member friendships are shown to be after meeting early in-game.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with only a few minor glitches reported, such as sprites getting stuck and incorrect exits. However, a significant issue arises during the final battle, where some players are unable to progress, leading to an unsatisfactory conclusion.
- “I enjoyed the plot and the style, but the only downside is that my game glitches at the final battle and won't let me continue past the fight, so I have no conclusion.”
- “There were a couple of minor glitches (one sprite got stuck on screen, following me onto every new map until I restarted the game. One exit led to the wrong place in one of the forests), but nothing major at all.”

55%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Towards the Pantheon Review - KeenGamer
Keengamer.com
55%

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