Ancient Greece is a surprisingly underdone genre in video games nowadays. I have been craving it in general, reading Stephen Fry's retellings of the Mythos reignited a childhood love of this setting. And I have been reading retellings a lot recently, the Song of Achilles, Circe, as well as historical fiction like Latro in the Mist. But I wanted something more hands-on and personal that I can decide myself and participate in. This gave that to me.

I find comfort in looter dungeon crawler ARPGs like Diablo or the PS2 classics Champions of Norrath and BG: Dark Alliance. This is in the same family of those games, while not literally related, it is an adopted child with the exact same ethics and manner of speaking. The setting is what sets it apart, this game is mightily colorful and enjoyable, the enemies have inspiration, taken from Greek Myth itself or created to fit into it. The story interestingly enough is rather vague, I expected a Greek Epic with reoccurring characters and tragedy but it really is as simple as, "You find yourself in the countryside, where ♥♥♥♥ is going down. Kill the monsters and become a hero." and there is a refreshing straightforwardness to that! This is a perfect mindless game. Don't worry about remembering the story or important things, just shut your mind off and kill some monsters.

The combat and levelling is rather simple on the paper but admittedly obtuse in practice. This game is very-much focused around healing, and you will be mashing 9 to down dozens of potion bottles during fights as there is no other way to get through them. This is annoying, but otherwise the combat is very satisfying with a vast array of beasts to kill, skills to use, and builds to make. The equipment, which is at the core of ARPGs such as this, is also brilliantly satisfying.

I have yet to beat it, but I am enjoying my time. For those who want a time-sink, get it. For those who crave the simpler days of dungeon delving and monster slaying, get it. And for those who crave Ancient Greece and being a hero, get it.

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Lowkey just more fun diablo