The gods should learn to leave it in their pants
In the before time, the long, long ago, Jordan Mechner created a game that formed the template for side scrolling platformers. Prince of Persia was a landmark game, featuring clever level design, hard melee combat and beautiful animation thanks to Mechner using his brother for rotoscoping. Apotheon takes a very different visual approach to the original Prince of Persia, but the legacy of the legendary platformer is still evident in the way it plays and feels. This is definitely a good thing.
Players take the role of a humble soldier named Nikandreos, a heroic figure but one who is definitely human. After saving his village from invaders, Nikandreos draws the attention of Hera, Queen of Olympus and mother of gods. She is more than a little angry with her divine brethren. In Greek mythology the gods are flawed creatures, as prone to whims and folly as humans, and it is this flawed nature has angered Hera so much. Zeus can’t keep it in his pants, constantly disguising himself and bedding mortals but this isn’t all that has turned Hera against him. Zeus has grown to hate humanity and has vowed to destroy them, gathering the other gods to his side and cutting all but the most aggressive ties with Earth. As Hera’s champion, Nikandreos travels to Mount Olympus to gather power and do battle with the gods.
Apotheon draws its visual inspiration from Greek pottery. Characters appear and move almost like shadow puppets, hinged at joints but otherwise static. It’s a remarkably pretty effect and one that informs gameplay as well as style. The hinged animation plays into the control scheme, with the keyboard being used for basic movement and the mouse being used for orientation. Nikandreos faces in the direction and angle of the mouse pointer, an ability that is vitally important in combat. A huge variety of weapons ranging from simple wooden clubs through to magical artifacts can be found and used during the adventure. Each of these weapons has different attack ranges, damage and timing. If holding a shield, both the player and enemies can block in the direction they’re facing. Rather than being something like limited immunity to damage, shields are directional, so angling attacks over and under shields is essential for survival. What initially appears to be a rather simple combat system proves to have more than enough depth to remain challenging and entertaining throughout the entire game.
Each level features multiple objectives that must be completed before Nikandreos can move on. No two are entirely alike - one may see you trying to hunt a giant boss creature whilst another may require a stealth approach as any direct combat will prove nigh impossible. This mixing of challenges keeps the action fresh and compelling throughout. Combine this with a crafting system that allows Nikandreos to create potions and special items to heal, summon ghostly wolves, become invisible and more, and you have an old fashioned side scrolling action platformer that has all the hallmarks of being a very modern
game. DANIEL WILKS
VERDICT
A challenging, beautiful and rewarding oldschool action platformer with a very modern twist.