Aztech Forgotten Gods

mechanically fun, feels like a ps2 game in a good way, character designs reminded me of Kya: Dark Lineage for the ps2

it was an interesting game to play, great story line. although there was an issue with the subtitles, at some point , the subtitles were permanently overlapping on each other.

Aztech Forgotten Gods is a bold and imaginative action-adventure title that aims to merge ancient mythology with futuristic spectacle, offering a vision of a world where the Aztec empire never collapsed but instead evolved into a technologically advanced society. Developed and published by Lienzo, the game follows Achtli, a young woman whose life becomes intertwined with cosmic forces after she accidentally unleashes the “Forgotten Gods.” Armed with the Lightkeeper—a powerful gauntlet-like device that doubles as a propulsion engine and combat tool—she is thrust into a struggle that is both literal and personal, battling towering deities while confronting buried grief and uncertainty. From the outset, the game positions itself as a marriage of culture, myth, and high-energy action, and that ambition informs everything from the narrative beats to the visual presentation.
The worldbuilding is one of the game’s most striking assets. Rather than relying on generic sci-fi tropes, Aztech crafts a setting built on Mesoamerican traditions reframed through an alternate future lens. Massive stone-and-metal structures, glowing symbols, and towering temples coexist with sleek technology, blending the past and the imagined future into a cohesive aesthetic. This creates an atmosphere unlike most action games—one where cultural identity is not just a backdrop but a defining stylistic force. Achtli’s story adds emotional texture to this world. Much of her journey revolves around processing loss, grappling with unfinished family wounds, and finding confidence in her evolving power. While the writing occasionally struggles with pacing or overly direct exposition, the heart of the story remains compelling because it grounds a giant-fighting adventure in deeply human emotions.
Moment-to-moment gameplay revolves heavily around traversal and aerial mobility. The Lightkeeper propels Achtli through the city at high speeds, allowing her to soar, dash, wall-run, and hover across immense distances. When the controls cooperate, the sensation of movement is exhilarating, giving the impression of skating across open skies. Flight is not just a travel tool—it also defines the rhythm of combat, shaping how you approach enemies and navigate vast arenas. Upgrades gradually enhance mobility, rewarding players with more freedom and fluidity as the story progresses. Despite this, the movement system can sometimes feel loose or imprecise, and the camera occasionally struggles to keep up with rapid maneuvers, creating moments where the sense of freedom collides with technical limitations.
The core spectacle of the game lies in its boss battles, where Achtli confronts enormous divine beings sprawled across landscapes or towering above city structures. These encounters capture the scale and drama the game strives for, demanding players to boost through weak points, dodge massive attacks, and maintain momentum while circling titanic enemies. At their best, these battles feel dynamic and cinematic, blending vertical movement with pattern recognition in a way that differentiates them from traditional ground-level brawls. However, the combat system underneath this spectacle can be inconsistent. Lock-on targeting helps but isn’t always reliable, some encounters can devolve into repetitive button-mashing, and occasional camera issues can disrupt the intended intensity. Even so, for players who enjoy boss-centric games or colossal enemy encounters, Aztech’s grand set pieces offer memorable highlights.
Outside of combat, the game offers an open hub city that serves as a home base between major events. The visual identity of the city is impressive—high platforms, ceremonial plazas, and futuristic stonework all reinforce the cultural-futuristic fusion. Yet functionally, the city often feels sparse. Side quests, optional activities, and environmental interactions are limited, giving the impression of space without substance. Traversal remains enjoyable, but long stretches between main missions can feel like downtime rather than meaningful exploration. This imbalance between concept and execution is one of the game’s recurring issues: excellent ideas supported by artistic vision that sometimes outpace the mechanical and structural polish.
Despite these shortcomings, Aztech Forgotten Gods shines through its sincerity and ambition. It offers a world not often explored in gaming, celebrates cultural heritage through a futuristic lens, and attempts mechanics rarely attempted by indie studios—particularly gravity-defying, boss-focused action on such a grand scale. Its visual identity and soundtrack help elevate the experience, blending ancient motifs with modern energy to create a universe that feels distinctive and alive. While its pacing, controls, and open-world sections may leave players wishing for more refinement, the game remains notable for daring to do something different and for delivering moments of genuine excitement.
For players willing to embrace a rough-around-the-edges action adventure with a unique artistic voice, Aztech Forgotten Gods provides an experience filled with heart, imagination, and towering mythological battles. It may not reach the technical finesse of larger productions, but its ambition and cultural creativity make it a memorable entry in the indie action genre—a world worth visiting for its vision, even when its mechanics occasionally falter.
Rating: 6/10

The Lienzo development team seems to have landed in a fun mechanic and built a great game around it. The flying mechanic in this game is so fun. I could only compare traversal to Spiderman swinging around the city! Lienzo also nailed the boss design. It is amazing. Fighting literal Aztec gods with rock a soundtrack is something everyone should experience once. Lienzo does achieve the level of epicness they desire from their fights. Thus, I wish they had more resources to polish the game more. Some voice acting and polish on their already great anesthetics will have helped deliver their story with more of a punch. I really enjoyed this game.

Cool girl with a big robot arm punches monsters.
Ancient Aztec stone structures mixed with sci-fi.
Boss fights against enormous towering creatures.
A story that, while not amazing, tries it's best with little twists and turns.
One of the (weirdly) most well executed jetpacs I've experienced in a game.
PS2-level graphics are usually lovely.
Animations and camera sometimes make it hard to see wtf is happening.
Short but JUST long enough to become repetitive.
Ran like crap on my PC for some reason.
Wanted to like it more than I did.
Would like to see a sequel.
I wish there was a ”maybe recommend”-option.
Get it on a deep sale.

Cool game

Absolutely happy with this one.