Aztec Forgotten Gods, a 3D platformer adventure game from Lienzo, throws you right into the action.
Like much of the game, especially the non-voice acted dialogue and the flight sections, the opening scene is disorienting, rather than immediately impactful.
After the intense action of the opening scene, in which the player is shown how to move and attack, next comes the introduction to the characters. A lot of it.
It seems that the female protagonist, Achtli, actually, is designed as an attempt to subvert the heroine tropes. The player sees that the Achtli has the appearance and temperament of a complete bad-ass from the outset.
However, the narrative reveals her to have vulnerabilities too.
The beginning of the plot, as it was not voice acted, felt like a chore. These first sections of the game will have most players itching to skip the dialogue and get their teeth straight into gameplay proper.
However, generally, the dialogue is well written and mostly necessary for establishing character, plot and introducing you to the world.
World
The world is designed with a fascinating concept in mind; What if the Aztec empire had been a dominant culture and survived today?
However, while people and vehicles move around the city of Tenochtitlán, giving it a sense of life, the appearance is the only thing that is unique about it. It doesn’t feel like such an alien or unique culture compared to any towns or cities of today.
There are many attempts to include the Aztec words within the language of the dialogue. However, this is a drop in the ocean compared to the attempts that could have been made to make this feel like a modern authentic Aztec empire.
Visuals
This is a visually basic game. Aztec Forgotten Gods looks to be designed for a younger audience, with all its basic textures and appealingly bright colours. And the palette is very appropriate to Meso-American culture.
But for 2022, the visual style is undeniably unimpressive. And from the themes of the story, the game does not appear to be for a younger audience, so the visual style does not fit the narrative.
Gameplay
The player will find themselves flying around the city and other locales, fighting giants and smaller enemies and modifying Achtli.
Flying around the world is mostly smooth and controls are responsive. However, some players, such as this reviewer, may find the flying to cause motion sickness. Unless that was having to quickly read the text. Navigating the world via flight is fun, for sure, when getting from A to B. However, it does get a bit more complicated in battles.
The most memorable battles will be with the giants of Aztec Forgotten Gods. These are all uniquely designed and all have their own attacks, though the finishing move for the player to complete is usually the same.
The issue comes when the camera doesn’t do what it should, or objects including the giants themselves or other obstacles get in the way of the target. This happens often and perhaps this is what can cause motion sickness.
All action, outside the boss battles with giants, are forgettable. The player has to engage smaller enemies in the city to gain points to upgrade the Lightbringer, Achtli’s mechanical arm.
These are an absolute chore, as they involve repetitive combat with little to no combos. Two-dimensional button mashing is never fun, and that is certainly the case here.
With that said, Aztec Forgotten Gods appears designed for console players due to the visuals, simple combat and casual gameplay. For these reasons, a console controller is recommended if playing on PC.
Story
The plot and characterisation of this title are the strongest elements of the entire affair. The relationship between Achtli and her mother is a thing of beauty. There is always warmth and love between them and it is a joy to witness their relatable, humorous banter.
A plot about the relationship between a mother and daughter remains, unfortunately for 2022, a subversive topic for a narrative. But Forgotten Gods keeps these two characters front and centre and delights with their arcs throughout the story.
In general, all other characters have their defined roles and elicit the right emotions of love, hate and everything in between from the player.
Although Forgotten Gods may not have such a complex or well-constructed plot as Nier: Automata or the bombastic, self-aware hyperbole of Uncharted, the simple plot and characters here are pleasing and coherent.
Summary
Aztec Forgotten Gods has so much potential. However, this title is not outstanding on any front and therefore can be enjoyed only for what it is: another half-decent but slightly forgettable way to spend 6 hours.
