Aztaka - The Untold Aztec Story

fair
key review info
  • Game: Aztaka
  • Platform: PC
  • Show system requirements
  • Gamepad support: N/a
  • Reviewed on:
Get ready to bring back peace into the world of man and Gods.

Simply judging by the name of the game, you can assume what it is all about. Aztaka is just that, an Aztec-themed game that sets out the impression of a classic platformer and then proves to be a very challenging role playing game. Citeremis has surely made a great impression with this game especially that it's their first ever release.

Story

As the story starts, you will find yourself somewhere in the year 1328, where now Mexico is, and take the role of a young man by the name of Huitzilo. As you finish training to be a fearless warrior, you will be given the task of finding seven lost keys that will help you bring back order among the gods and your people. Without realizing, you will undertake a quest that will lead not only to the salvation of your people but also to gain the gratitude of the gods. Just like any other epic tale of courage and valor, the hero will not stare into the face or danger alone: he will be accompanied by loyal and trusted companions.

The hummingbird is the closest thing you have to getting help when facing monsters and peril. Although not very frightening and powerful, this fragile sidekick will prove to be more than helpful. Its task is to provide you with the spiritual assistance that you need in order to cast spells and increase your power. It will follow you in any battle, being completely passive and leaving the entire offensive part to your skills. Its role is to give you access to spells and other magical attributes so that you will have something else to upgrade besides your health and damage.

Gameplay

After completing each quest, you will find yourself closer to your destiny and as you progress throughout the map, you will not only gain strength but you will also find new allies that will aid you in your fight against the evil forces. From poisoned bushes to possessed monkeys and huge flying bats, your enemies will stop at nothing to keep you from reaching you destiny.

At a first look, Aztaka might look like a classic platformer; you control the character with W, A, S, D keys and the mouse is only there to collect the energy left behind by your vanquished enemies. The role playing aspect of the game lies in the skill tree, the inventory, quest log and the experience bar. All of these features are more than common knowledge to anyone that has ever played a RPG game. Aztaka tries to keep these under a very simple wrap and instead of having endless choices when trying to learn a new skill, you are given only a couple of skills and spells that you can later upgrade as you gain more experience points. Also, forget about the classic stats menu because Aztaka places it right in the upper part of the screen so that you can add skill points to strength and vitality at any given time with a single mouse click.

Just like any other role playing game, you will have to complete quite an abundance of quests. Each will give XP points and sometimes you will even receive magical items. Getting these extra tasks done will not be so difficult, because most of them will be solved naturally along the way, as there are not that many roads to choose from. In Aztaka, you can either go forward or backwards, thus you don't have a lot of secret areas to discover or that many side quests.

In the same spirit of keeping things simple, every item that you will find will not be by searching the bodies of your enemies, but by exploring some secret areas or hard to get places. From rings to armor and weapons, you can find an entire arsenal of items that will surely make your life easier as you progress throughout the game. Your inventory will soon be equipped with all the right stuff that you need to undertake any quest. Remember, after you grab the newly found items, don't forget to equip your character with them. Personally, I got carried away by the platformer style of the game and forgot all about its RPG elements.

Graphics and Audio

The graphics of the game, as straightforward as it is, will surely leave you a pleasant feeling when exploring each new location. The high quality of the design combined with some good environmental animations will make Huitzilo's quest a lot more fun than anticipated. The soundtrack that accompanies you throughout the game has been adequately selected so that you can get the ancient Aztec vibe as you stroll through a thick jungle or explore an ancient temple. There is nothing like having a great soundtrack to make the experience even more pleasurable.


The Good

  • Interesting concept
  • Fun gameplay
  • Great graphics

The Bad

  • Poor soundtrack
  • Poor RPG elements

Conclusion

On an overall note, Aztaka is a stripped down version of a RPG game and an advanced version of a classic platformer. If you ask me, the combination couldn't be more perfect, mostly because role playing games tend to explore too much the skills and abilities tree and platfomers are a great way to have good old fashion fun, without worrying about skill points and damage. It seems that these two genders have symbiotically merged to create a unique and captivating gameplay experience. Aztaka will surely leave an impression on you, even after only a couple of gameplay minutes.

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story 7
gameplay 9
concept 8
graphics 8
audio 7
multiplayer 0
final rating 6.5
Editor's review
fair
 
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