You should buy this game just to validate the creators' commitment to theme, art and ambiance. Inventory management is cumbersome and the controls sometimes wonky, but that does not detract at all from the unique experience that Apotheon offers. Instead of generic medieval fantasy or post-apocaliptic, you get a familiar yet fascinating setting mixing Greek mythology and material culture - instead of the gritty or realistic look most games go for these days, Apotheon commits to a design aesthetic 100% in line with its theme. And it's not just a gimmick: the game is consistently gorgeous, each domain of Olympus with its own palette, background music and overall feel. Environments feel alive, as if they existed outside and beyond the protagonist's adventure: visit the forest of Artemis and you will encounter drunk and horny satyrs, as well as hunters and wild animals roaming around; go to Hades instead, and you will be haunted by the desperate pleas of the damned who live there and skeletons who just won't stay down. And the gods themselves hardly behave in a predictable way, each of them presenting a fun twist in the basic narrative. Overall, this must be one of the best matches of design and theme that I have seen since Limbo or Bastion. Even if you are not a fan of 'metroidvania'-style games (and I am not), you cannot help but appreciate the beauty of the environments, which in my case is what motivates me to explore further. Yes, there are treasures and weapons to find, special items to craft, and a whole hub market where you can buy and upgrade your gear. But I would say above all this is a game that keeps you guessing how the designers will make the next level look and feel different when working off such simple premise as 2d side-scrolling. The tutorial level alone is so pretty that it justifies the asking price. But keep going and you might just be enthralled by the wonders of mount Olympus. Seriously, reward these developers now!
