GB Feature: Aztaka Review

Our own Brother None shares his thoughts on Citérémis’ independently developed action RPG/platformer crossbreed, Aztaka. The intro:

Aztaka is an action RPG only in the most hack ‘n slash sense of the word. It offers talents you can learn, skills you can gain and upgrade and stats you can upgrade on level-up or with items. Each of these is fairly basic in approach, there being six stats, 14 skills and 7 talents. There are no skill trees, no skills related to anything but combat, and the items are generally of a simple bonus nature, with no diversity in the sense of drawbacks or curses. Other than equipment, you will find quest items and potions, the latter giving either permanent bonuses or temporary boosts to certain skills.

There is no class system, nor does leveling up offer a lot of variation (you can increase one stat and one skill with one point per level). Instead, the game has two PCs: the main character, Huitzilo, who is a spear-wielding warrior by trade, and his companion, Ayopha, a hummingbird that provides advice and wields magic. Skills and stats are spread equally between the two, and they level up independently, both gaining experience for every kill you make.