Rating of
4.5/5
Sing, O Muse, the tale of Nikandreos!
Matt - wrote on 12/31/25
Apotheon, released in 2015, has been on my radar for years. It was highly recommended by a friend of mine who, like me, studied classics at the university. I have spent much of my life in the ancient world, majoring in it as an undergraduate, earning a master’s degree in the field, and teaching Latin for the past eighteen years. Just looking at the game, I was intrigued, given its unique visual style and inspiration. Its title, for those who know Greek, is a significant hint at the plot and apotheosis of its main character. It’s unfortunate that it has taken me so long to play it, but I am finally glad that I did, removing it from my backlog.
Story (5 out of 5)
Apotheon is set in ancient Greece in the village of Dion. You, the protagonist, must save humanity from the wrath of Zeus, who has decided to wipe out your village, revoking the gifts of the gods. Hera, Zeus’ wife, has taken this opportunity to seek revenge for all of Zeus’ philandering ways, and has chosen you, Nikandreos—which interestingly means “victory of mankind”—, to ascend to Mount Olympus and unthrone Zeus. Along the way, you must confront the Olympians, claiming their powers for yourself. Only then will you be able to defeat the Sire of Gods.
The story of Apotheon is outstanding. Alientrap, the game developer, must have employed a number of classicists. It is deeply rooted in the lore of ancient Greece, and it is an educational experience. Along the way, Nikandreos can stop and read various excerpts from classical literature, telling the myths and providing context. These short quotes were a delight to read. Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, Aeschylus, Plato all contributed to the story of the game, and the selections were well chosen and appropriate. After playing the game, you will know more about the Greek world.
I was quite impressed that such depth, pulling from diverse sources, was achieved in so little time. The dialogues between the gods and Nikandreos added to the flair of the story, and the ancient trope of humanity striving in a Promethean way against the tyranny of the gods was novel. I could see the influence of Platonic thought, who argued that myths should be abandoned in the ideal state because they promote vice. In Apotheon, it is the humans who are moral and upright compared to capricious deities who lord their power over mankind.
Presentation (5 out of 5)
Apotheon is a visually stunning game that proves that big budgets aren’t always necessary. I played the entire game on my Steam Deck, and the fans hardly ramped up compared to other AAA titles. Moreover, my battery wasn’t completely depleted after one hour of play! The game is designed in the black-figure pottery style of the ancient Greeks (figures and ornaments as silhouettes painted on the red-fired clay). You move throughout pottery, fighting and platforming in such an original style. The backgrounds are also intricately designed, drawing from the iconography of the classical world. Famous statues such as the Moschophoros and the Artemesian Bronze were used to create the world. Temples and other Greek design aid in the feeling that you are playing on a piece of pottery. The best way to express it is to visit a museum, look at some black-figure pottery, and then imagine that you were that character, fighting across that world.
Different areas of the game have different styles of pottery, and the hues of blue, green, red, and orange are used effectively to create the tone for the level. For example, in the Artemis area, the black-figures are set against greenish hues, and Mount Olympus is set in blues. The game also uses shading and shadows effectively. When you enter the realm of Hades, a source of light is necessary. I greatly enjoyed the play of light and dark, and it enhanced all facets of the game: presentation, story, and gameplay.
Gameplay (4 out of 5)
Apotheon is a 2D platformer that involves attacks, dogging, rolling, jumping, and blocking in various combinations. Throughout the game, Nikandreos gains access to different weapons for melee and ranged combat. Effective combat requires the use of all these skills, and certain levels emphasize different techniques. I found that blocking and rolling became more important as the game went on. The tendency at first is to button-mash attacks; however, that becomes less effective as you move your way up Mount Olympus. One of my only criticisms is that some attacks don’t land as expected. For example, when using a sagaris (an ax), the attack wouldn’t land unless there was a bit of distance between you and the enemy. If the enemy was up close, often the blow wouldn’t hit, even though the animation showed the blade of the sagaris hitting the back of the enemy. The range of melee weapons, all inspired by actual Greek arms, was a unique feature of the game; however, some were frustrating to use for the same reason. My favorite was the doru, a spear that seemed to have the benefits of range and close attacks.
Each world—the realms of Apollo, Poseidon, Ares, etc.—typically consisted of three levels that must be completed prior to confronting the god or goddess. Alientrap did well in providing variety for each world, each designed after the domain of the Olympian. For example, in Athena’s world, Nikandreos must show his platforming skill and tactical abilities, navigating through a realm of three concentric rotating circles. The gameplay of that world was very unique compared to the others. My second critique of the game was related to bugs moving from one level to the next. Three times, the game froze on a loading screen going out of one area. The most frustrating of times was when I had just finished a speed-running section to claim the Aegis of Athena. After doing so, which took a few tries, the game froze, and didn’t save my progress, forcing me to run through the level once again. It was an annoyance in an otherwise perfect game.
Overall (4.5 out of 5, not an average)
Apotheon is such a delight to play and I highly recommend it. Anyone with familiarity of the classical world and a love for 2D platformers will find it excellent. As someone who has spent much time studying and teaching the classics, it was top-notch. I found it hard to put down, and I would think of it when not playing. The game balanced its beautiful presentation with a rich story and unique gameplay to great effect. Game developers could learn from its creativity and focus more on imitating similar elements instead of polygons and textures. Those who haven’t added it to their Steam libraries should definitely do so.
