Apotheon

I highly recommend this game because its a great game, being a dude who has beat this game twice once on the PS4 and now on the PC and planning on finishing on Olympian difficulty. The art style of the game is like ancient Greek pottery. The story is excellent, and you also learn about Greek mythology throughout the game. The combat system is relatively simple. The game play itself is good, the battles are fun, each weapon in the game is unique to Greece. Just know that Apotheon is a really good game and I highly recommend this side scrolling adventure RPG.

Apotheon is one of the best games I've played in years and I can confidently say that, as far as first play throughs go, it is one of my favorite games ever.
Rating: 9/10
Pros:
-One of the most unique artstyles I have ever seen in a game
- Complex and unique metroidvania, unlike any others I have played
-Dynamic and fluid combat system which inspires creativity
-A surprisingly large amount of classic rpg elements (i.e. wanted level, lockpicking, etc.) for a metroidvania
-So much lore to digest for Ancient Greek nerds. Excerpts from classic greek writers (with Hesiod and Herodotus' writings be quoted quite often).
Cons:
- Crashed a few times (the Harbor of Tides, the largest and most ambitious zone, seems to be the worst cause of this).
- Little to no decision making and choices don't matter

I played this on Deck, so I can't speak for PC.
This is not a metroidvania. None of the powerups enable new exploration or gameplay, they unlock abilities, but it doesn't really change how you play, so be prepared to use the same weapons the same way. You get powerups by beating the bosses, and the bosses are necessary to progress. It is a brawler platformer, and one where the physics are bad, the auto-aim is bad, the UX is bad, the pacing is bad, and the balance is bad.
Rush the game on the default difficulty so you can play on the new-game difficulty for a decent (but still low) challenge. Even then, most bosses can be beaten by just drinking an invincibility potion and spamming your attack. Only the final assault, and final boss fight present a challenge. The true "final" fight is trash and should never have been left in the game.
Over all it's bad gameplay supported by a nice environment and some casual fun. There is enough variety to keep it interesting. Check it out if you like platformers, and try to keep a mindset where you consider the jankiness part of its charm.
You can 100% it in one playthrough other than the achievement for beating Olympian difficulty
I think the price is justified if you are a completionist - you'll definitely get a good $/hr

So i tried for the 3rd time and this time I didn't drop it and finished the game. I know what was pushing me away from this title: combat. It's pretty bad, feels clunky and I didn't like it at all.
But overall I enjoyed this game. Based on a Greece mythology is a huge plus for me. Graphics look really good, sound and music are fine and for the game like this it has very nice voice acting. Story is simple, linear and not so long, backtracking and finding secrets is not pain in the ass. Also I really like the ideas for boss fights but weak combat kinda kills it unfortunately.
So overall pretty enjoyable experience, would actually be perfect if not for weak combat.
P.S. To 100% the game you need to beat it twice (After 1st playthrough you unlock the highest difficulty on which you need to finish the game again).

Ever wanted to know what it feels like having to live through an odyssey of your own painted on an ancient Greek vase that is yet to be stolen by the British museum? Then you've got the game you've been looking for all along.
Jokes aside, an incredible metroidvania with absolutely gorgeous art style. Gameplay is what you'd expect from a well-polished metroidvania, but there are no real innovations. Apotheon is refined, sleek, not too big, not too small - just right, chiseled out of purest of white marbles. The Greek pantheon might disagree on how good this game is, so don't listen to them they are biased.

Apotheon is one of those rare games that instantly grabs your attention with its bold, striking visual style. From the first moment, it feels like stepping inside a living Greek vase: sharp black silhouettes set against vibrant oranges and reds, each scene carefully crafted and full of mythic energy. It’s beautiful, but Apotheon is much more than just a visual treat.

The gameplay combines classic 2D platforming with a metroidvania twist. Controls are generally solid, though occasionally a bit slippery, which can make precise jumps frustrating. Combat feels weighty and satisfying, requiring careful timing for attacks and blocks instead of just button mashing. Exploring Mount Olympus, fighting mythological creatures and slowly uncovering the story of a mortal challenging the gods is exciting, but be warned, the difficulty can spike suddenly, turning a fun battle into a frustrating grind.

What really makes Apotheon stand out is its story. It dives deep into Greek mythology, exploring the tension between humans and gods in a way that feels both personal and epic. The narrative is compelling and you truly feel like a hero defying destiny. That said, pacing can falter at times, and some of the environments start to blend together during long stretches of exploration.

Despite these flaws, Apotheon is unforgettable. It’s ambitious, daring and unique; it's an artistic experiment that succeeds more often than it stumbles. For anyone who loves mythology, challenging combat, or just games that look unlike anything else, it’s worth playing. Expect some frustration along the way, but the reward is a great experience.

I accidentally saw the game on Steam and decided to take it. The game is about how the gods abandoned us and we need to kill them/defeat their servants. The main feature of the game is that it is made in the form of frescoes and it is very cool. Alas, there was a bug with textures when I passed the Hephaestus level, but this did not affect my overall rating, because the bug disappeared when I simply re-entered his house)
My rating: ✭✭✭✭✭