Rise of the Argonauts Preview

UGO Gamesblog brings us the latest preview of Rise of the Argonauts, after checking out Liquid Entertainment’s action RPG firsthand during last week’s press event.

The gods are actually at the core of Argonauts’ decidedly different RPG mechanics. Complex stat sheets and number-crunching are non-existent in this game. Jason’s progress is instead determined by the favor he has earned with each of the four Gods Hermes, Ares, Apollo and Athena who watch over him. Using Aspect Points earned from this favor, players are able to unlock increasingly powerful skills on god-specific trees.

Earning favor is a multi-layered process which works its way into every aspect of the game. At the most basic level, Jason has a list of tasks kill X number of enemy type Y, find item Z, etc. which, once completed, can be dedicated to a particular god by visiting one of the shrines scattered across the land. The more acts dedicated to a particular god, the more favor Jason curries with him or her.

The presence of the gods is also felt in Argonauts’ dialogue exchanges. In conversation, players select one of several dialogue options from a radial menu at the bottom of the screen. Most responses are tied directly to a particular god, with Jason earning additional favor for talking the talk of his chosen deity.