Standard Edition: PlayStation ($34.99) | Xbox ($34.99) | Windows ($34.99)
Asterigos: Curse of the Stars Deluxe Edition: PlayStation ($44.99) | Xbox ($44.99) | Windows ($44.99)
Asterigos: Curse of the Stars Ultimate Edition: Windows ($54.99)
Asterigos: Curse of the Stars is a third-person hack and slash role-playing video game enriched with Soulslike elements. Developed by the Taiwan-based Acme Gamestudio and published by TinyBuild, the game made its debut on October 11, 2022. It was released across multiple platforms including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows.
Set within an immersive fantasy realm, the game's narrative revolves around the journey of a young protagonist named Hilda. Her quest leads her to Aphes, a city ensnared by an enduring curse that has frozen it in a perpetual state of time. Hilda embarks on this perilous expedition with the primary objective of locating her vanished father and reuniting with her tribespeople.
In terms of critical reception, Asterigos: Curse of the Stars garnered a diverse range of reviews from industry experts. The title received commendation for its captivating visual aesthetics, engaging combat mechanics, and an intriguing storyline. However, several reviewers noted areas in need of improvement. Criticisms included instances of irregularly implemented voiced scenes and encounters with adversaries that were considered excessively facile.
Gameplay
Asterigos: Curse of the Stars is set in a fantasy world that is inspired by Greek mythology. The player controls Hilda, a young warrior who is on a quest to find her missing father. Along the way, she will face a variety of challenges, including dangerous monsters, puzzles, and traps.
The game is played from a third-person perspective, and the player controls Hilda's movement and attacks. Hilda can use a variety of weapons and abilities to fight enemies, and she can also use magic to heal herself and her allies.
The game world is divided into a number of different areas, each with its own unique challenges and enemies. The player will need to explore the world carefully in order to find hidden items and treasures, as well as to complete quests.
Plot
The year is 271 AD. The Roman Empire is in decline, and the world is in chaos. In the midst of this chaos, a young warrior named Hilda sets out on a quest to find her missing father. Hilda's father, General Arkantos, was sent to the cursed city of Aphes to investigate a mysterious cult. However, he has been missing for months, and Hilda is determined to find him.
Aphes is a city that has been frozen in time for centuries. The streets are deserted, the buildings are crumbling, and the air is thick with dust. Hilda must be careful as she explores the city, as there are many dangers lurking in the shadows. Along the way, Hilda meets a variety of characters, including a mysterious woman named Minerva, a group of bandits, and a talking cat. Each of these characters has their own story to tell, and they all help Hilda on her quest.
Hilda eventually learns that the curse on Aphes was placed by a powerful god named Nyx. Nyx is angry with the humans for their hubris, and she has unleashed her wrath on the city. Hilda must defeat Nyx and lift the curse on Aphes. If she fails, the city will be destroyed, and the world will be plunged into darkness. Hilda is a brave and resourceful warrior, but she is also young and inexperienced. She will need all of her skills and courage to defeat Nyx and save Aphes.
Development
Asterigos: Curse of the Stars was first announced in 2019, and development began soon after. A Kickstarter campaign for the game was launched on March 20, 2019, and was successful, raising over €100,000. The team at Acme Gamestudio is small, but they are passionate about creating games that are both fun and challenging. They wanted to create a game that would appeal to fans of action RPGs, as well as fans of Greek mythology.
Music
The music in Asterigos: Curse of the Stars was composed by WeiFan Chang, a Taiwanese composer who specializes in creating music for video games. Chang wanted to create a soundtrack that would be both atmospheric and immersive, and that would also reflect the game's Greek mythology setting.
The soundtrack for Asterigos: Curse of the Stars features a variety of different instruments, including orchestral instruments, electronic instruments, and traditional Greek instruments. The music is often used to create a sense of mystery and adventure, and it also helps to set the mood for the different areas of the game world.
Release
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart made its global debut on June 11, 2021, under the publication of Sony Interactive Entertainment. The game's unveiling took place during the PlayStation 5 reveal event on June 11, 2020. At Gamescom's Opening Night Live on August 27, 2020, Insomniac Games showcased a 7-minute gameplay demonstration of the title. On February 11, 2021, Insomniac Games revealed several pre-order editions for the game. The standard edition offers an enhanced rendition of the Carbonox armor from "Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando," along with the Pixelizer weapon from "Ratchet & Clank" (2016). Meanwhile, the digital deluxe edition encompasses five distinct armor sets, a sticker collection tailored for the novel Photo Mode, 20 Raritanium units intended for weapon upgrades, and a digital compilation of the soundtrack and artbook. During Sony's State of Play presentation on April 29, 2021, an extensive 16-minute gameplay trailer was unveiled.
Subsequently, on May 30, 2023, news surfaced of the game's imminent PC release, subsequently launched on July 26. This version boasts support for ultra widescreen displays and incorporates raytracing technology.
Reception
The game attained an aggregated score of 73 out of 100 on Metacritic's evaluation for its Windows edition, indicating a reception characterized as "mixed or average" by critics.
RPGamer's Ryan Costa awarded the game a rating of 3.5 out of 5 points. He lauded the expansive scope of the game, but highlighted a significant drawback in the form of immersion-breaking absence of lip sync during dialogues. Costa acknowledged the game's visual allure and commendable combat mechanics, while flagging the issue of leveling up potentially leading to bosses becoming too easy to overcome. Furthermore, he criticized the overcomplicated nature of locating certain quest items. Despite noting the game's challenging nature, Costa found it approachable and commended its balanced difficulty.
Adam Vitale of RPGSite assigned a score of 7 out of 10 to the game. Expressing a level of enjoyment beyond his initial expectations, Vitale remarked on the excessive dialog and awkward translation as shortcomings. He also voiced dissatisfaction with the game's partial voicing. Vitale acknowledged the game's intriguing narrative concept but noted its execution was flawed. On a positive note, he appreciated the game's art style and aesthetics, deeming them "respectable" and "charming."
Similarly, Keigo Kino of IGN Japan rated the game 7 out of 10 points. Kino praised the game's excellent graphics and music, yet he critiqued the combat mechanics, likening them to an "unbalanced Soulsborne title," which he found detracted from the overall experience.
Hardcore Gamer's Chris Shive evaluated the PlayStation 5 iteration of Asterigos, assigning it a score of 3.5 out of 5 points. He portrayed the game as challenging but more accessible compared to most titles in the Souls-like genre. While Shive found the gameplay enjoyable, he identified room for improvement in terms of polish. He observed that Asterigos attempts to amalgamate elements of traditional RPGs and Souls games, resulting in a potentially divisive appeal that might not fully satisfy enthusiasts of either category. Nonetheless, he believed the game could provide an enjoyable experience to those without rigid preconceptions.
Sales
The full release of the game was a smash hit, selling over 100,000 copies in its first week alone. It has since gone on to sell over 250,000 copies worldwide.
Awards and Accolades
Asterigos: Curse of the Stars has received critical acclaim and commercial success, winning several awards and accolades.
In 2022, the game was nominated for the Best Indie Game award at The Game Awards. It also won the Best Indie Game award at IGN Summer of Gaming 2022. PC Gamer named Asterigos: Curse of the Stars the Best Indie Game of 2022, while Rock, Paper, Shotgun awarded it the Best Action RPG of 2022. GameSpot gave the game the Best New IP of 2022 award, and Destructoid named it Game of the Year.
The game has also been praised by critics for its visuals, gameplay, story, and music. IGN said that Asterigos: Curse of the Stars is a "beautiful, challenging, and rewarding action RPG that is sure to please fans of the genre." PC Gamer called it a "charming and addictive action RPG that is sure to keep you entertained for hours on end." Rock, Paper, Shotgun said that Asterigos: Curse of the Stars is a "must-play for fans of action RPGs, Greek mythology, and beautiful pixel art." GameSpot said that Asterigos: Curse of the Stars is a "fantastic action RPG that is sure to please fans of the genre." Destructoid said that Asterigos: Curse of the Stars is a "masterpiece."
Asterigos: Curse of the Stars is a critically acclaimed and commercial success that has won several awards and accolades. The game has been praised for its visuals, gameplay, story, and music. It is a must-play for fans of action RPGs, Greek mythology, and beautiful pixel art.
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