Achilles: Unveiling the Legends Review

When compared to popular isometric combat games like Diablo IV and Hades, Achilles: Legends Untold may not appear significantly different, except for its Mediterranean-inspired settings. However, developer Dark Point Games has crafted a blood-soaked combat system that seamlessly ebbs and flows whether facing off against a band of human enemies or solitary monsters. While it may initially seem straightforward, players will likely find themselves enticed by the thrilling dance of death that the game offers after spending some time battling Achilles' foes.

Achilles: Legends Untold boasts many other enticing features, such as its expansive world, diverse weapon options, and an abundance of side quests and hidden treasures. While a few animation choices made by the developers may be met with disapproval, the majority of the game proudly showcases the dedication and effort poured into creating a highly enjoyable action RPG.

A game like Achilles: Legends Untold relies heavily on its combat mechanics, and fortunately, it excels in this area. Each weapon in the game has its own unique combat style, whether it's a one-handed axe, a spear, or a two-handed sword. These weapons inflict death in various ways and at different speeds. While the traditional two-handed swords offer more damage, single-handed weapons allow for quick interrupts and faster attacks. Players will need to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each weapon when facing groups of enemies, a common occurrence in the game's fantastical locations. As players progress through the main storyline, they are provided with new weapons to experiment with, but most players tend to find a favorite type or group and stick with it whenever possible.

Content fraction

Initially, players may find the flow between attacking, blocking, and dodging to be a bit unconventional. The game heavily emphasizes the importance of blocking and parrying for new players. However, many newcomers will quickly realize the advantages of maintaining high stamina and constantly dodging, particularly when facing multiple enemies. Attempting to block numerous consecutive attacks directed at Achilles will rapidly deplete his stamina, whereas dodging away from these attacks allows for a speedy stamina recovery without any loss of health. With an expanded stamina bar, it becomes relatively simple to avoid sustaining any damage, particularly when enemies continuously unleash unblockable assaults. Some larger foes primarily employ these types of attacks, necessitating a constant cycle of attacking, dodging, and attacking again for players to emerge victorious. While this style of gameplay may not suit those lacking patience, it offers a level of satisfaction that can be hard to find in gaming.

Dodging quickly becomes essential for survival in the eyes of most players. Once this realization is reached, the combat flow is likely to become more understandable, and players will gradually grasp and excel at timing their dodges and attacks with their preferred weapons. The initial level of combat is not overly challenging, but figuring out how to effectively approach groups of enemies requires some trial and error. It may initially feel strange to solely rely on dodging and maneuvering around enemies, but since attacks can hit multiple foes simultaneously, it is advantageous for players to position enemies strategically for maximum damage. The developer's statement regarding enemies adapting to a player's play style is not particularly evident throughout the progression of the game.

The game's upgrade system offers a better way to enhance damage, utilizing drops and found items to improve weapon stats. However, the initial cost can be quite high. It can be disheartening to replace a favorite weapon for one that inflicts more damage or has a stronger status effect, but fluid progression often requires switching weapons. Players quickly discover the importance of negative status effects like curse or poison, making weapons without such effects less effective. Unless they provide a significant damage boost, weapons without status effects are likely to be left out of rotation.

The game's skill trees are not shaped like traditional trees, but rather like constellations in the night sky, all interconnected. Allocating skill points to different areas enhances base stats and unlocks various skills and bonuses. For example, players can unlock the ability to resurrect at the place of their death by paying a price. The skill map offers a variety of abilities and boosts, and players will enjoy the fast progression early on. While this might seem overly generous at first, it encourages players to engage in combat and complete missions to level up.

Achilles: Legends Untold offers a wide array of activities and exploration opportunities. The maps are large and filled with encounters and enemies, and there are plenty of side quests to keep players occupied. Fully exploring areas brings various benefits, but the size of the map sometimes feels like it serves mainly to provide more enemies to defeat and the occasional hidden item. While there are a few standout quests that should not be spoiled, most of the side missions follow standard RPG tropes of fetching, finding, and killing. Although not the most exciting in terms of mission design, they fit well with the game's aesthetic and overall story concepts.

Achilles: Legends Untold does not deviate from the norm in terms of its narrative. It employs a typical time skip to alter the world known to the protagonist. With the apparent death and subsequent resurrection of the titular hero, the world has become more violent and chaotic over the span of ten years. The land is now plagued by an increased number of monsters and bandits, who prey on innocent people wherever Achilles turns. The main storyline offers a variety of mission types and quests, ranging from challenging group battles to solitary encounters against mini-boss-like adversaries. Although the overall plot is somewhat intriguing, it struggles to maintain a sense of urgency due to Achilles constantly being sidetracked and receiving quests that divert him from his primary objectives.

The visuals of the game are stunning, with illuminated pathways from glowing torches, scattered debris from destroyed buildings, and various entrances to dark caves and cliff sides. The game's textures are of high quality, particularly evident in the darker areas where shadows are effectively used to create depth. One aspect that may appear unusual to players is Achilles' regular walk speed animation. While some may find it an aesthetic choice that doesn't bother them, others may notice that he appears slightly hunched over when walking, although this is less noticeable when sprinting. The combat animations in the game are diverse, especially when using different weapons. One particularly enjoyable animation is the lunging attack that follows a dodge. It exudes power and seamlessly transitions from the dodge to the strike. However, there are certain weapons that may make players feel like they are gliding on ice slightly during the lunging strike.

The audio and music are excellently executed, effectively bringing gravity and excitement to the game. While the sound of weapons hitting enemies may seem a bit lacking, players will only likely notice it after spending a substantial amount of time playing. The quality of voice acting varies, with some NPCs sounding peculiar in their delivery while others come across as trying too hard to sound intimidating. Even Achilles himself has lines that may cause players to pause and question his intended meaning. However, these occasional moments and characters do not detract significantly from the overall gameplay experience, as the majority of the game remains engaging and the audio overall is not overly distracting.

Amid a crowded market, Achilles: Legends Untold distinguishes itself in various ways. It explores a story setting that is relatively uncharted territory in the isometric combat genre, boasts a fluid fighting system that accommodates player choice in weapons, and offers expansive environments for exploration and battles. Additionally, the inclusion of a vast skill tree adds depth and complexity to the gameplay, while the visual aesthetics leave little room for criticism. Although facing formidable competition from established genre giants, this determined and action-packed RPG fighter packs a bigger punch than most players would anticipate.

Achilles: Legends Untold is an action RPG that immerses players in the captivating world of ancient Greece. With dynamic combat mechanics reminiscent of the souls-like genre, this game allows you to embody the indomitable Achilles, a brave and relentless warrior.

Pros Combat that grows in complexity

Environmental design

Cons Missions are not always engaging

Achilles: Legends Untold is available now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Our website was provided a PC code for this review.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I am always on the lookout for new and exciting games to play. I was immediately drawn to Achilles: Legends Untold because of its unique isometric combat system and Mediterranean-inspired settings. After playing the game for a few hours, I can say that I am thoroughly impressed.

The combat in Achilles: Legends Untold is fast-paced and intense. I love the way that each weapon has its own unique combat style. This allows me to experiment with different playstyles and find the one that best suits my preferences. I also appreciate the fact that the game emphasizes the importance of blocking and parrying. This makes the combat more challenging and rewarding.

Overall, I am very impressed with Achilles: Legends Untold. It is a well-made action RPG with a lot to offer. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a new and exciting game to play.