ArtFormer: Ancient Stories
Frix · 2021 · 2D Platformer, Story Rich, Action-Adventure, Singleplayer, Action
PC
Mixed61% · 33
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About ArtFormer: Ancient Stories
ArtFormer is a story-driven cinematic platformer with RPG elements. This Indie game project consists of four challenging story chapters each with a unique hero, different gameplay, and original art style based on existing fragments of human history: Cave paintings, Egyptian papyrus, Greek pottery, and Roman mosaic.
The characters and stories seen through the eyes of ancient artists from different times will come to life before your eyes. Each chapter brings new gameplay mechanics!
This isn't just a humble tribute to the cinematic platformers (Prince of Persia, Another World, Oddworld, Flashback...), but a proud continuation of their gaming legacies.
- Exciting four-chapter main story campaign, based on human history
- Fight enemies, and hunt wild animals with spears, swords, axes, and bows
- More than 100 Quests, 800 lines of dialogue with NPCs, personal journal system
- Sneak, explore, and survive different perilous environments
- Many classic RPG elements in Greek and Roman chapters
- Various mind-bending puzzles and original mini games
- Possibility to play with one hand (keyboard)
Four chapters of ArtFormer, sorted by artstyle, each with a unique hero and storyline:
In the first chapter, you play as a young boy, soon being to be initiated into manhood. Help your people, learn how to fight, travel through the caves, face many dangers, and fulfill your destiny. Became the leader of your tribe!Inspiration comes from the prehistoric cave paintings in Africa, Australia and Europe ast Tassili, Altamira, and others around the world.
The story of the second chapter is about the Pharaoh's journey to the underworld. Help Pharaoh Ramesses II cross the treacherous river Nile. Get his mummy to the tomb and his soul to the underworld.Inspiration came from papyrus paintings, tomb fresco paintings, funeral equipment and artefacts, as well as the statues in Egypt to reproduce the atmosphere and myth of Egyptian life after death.
The story of the third chapter depicts the legendary king Odysseus, his role in the Trojan War and his journey to the island of Ithaca. Fight to escape from the burning city of Troy, and travel across theAegean Sea. Face many mythological creatures, and find your way back home.Inspiration came from the almost 3,000 year old Greek pottery paintings across the styles of Minoan Crete, Athens, Sparta and others.
In the fourth chapter, we follow the story of a gladiator during the ancient Roman republic. Find the way to the fighter's school, train, choose a combat style and buy different equipment. Fight for glory in the arena, make bitter foes and loyal friends. Be always on the alert, danger is lurking everywhere!Inspiration came from the 2,000 year old Roman mosaics, found in Italy at Rome, Pompeii, Sicily, and many others. The idea behind this chapter is from the ruthless gladiator games. We want to show the contrast between them and the high aesthetic level of Roman culture.
We support people with disabilities, and we want to give them an equal amount of fun. ArtFormer's game-controls are specially designed and adapted to enable gamers with reduced mobility or other impairment to one upper limb. This means that the game can be controlled with just one hand. However, you cannot expect a "standard" control setup, but a slightly different control scheme than that used by other similar games. Please bear that in mind while playing.
What Steam players say
Recent verbatim reviews from Steam — separate from playze.io community reviews below.
ArtFormer is a game made with heart and it shows. It’s an old school platformer that takes me back to my childhood when my grandfather who loved history would read me stories about all the wonderful ancient civilizations. He died in 2014, still a lover of history and midget erotica in his heart. Rest in peace Legend. Just as if you were following the development of mankind, after the first chapter created from prehistoric drawings comes another, more sophisticated and portraying a more advanced civilization. It is not an easy game and can be very punishing. Every time you complete a new chapter though, you will feel so satisfied about your progress. The controls are comfortable, and very intuitive if you’re familiar with platformers. You can feel the love, dedication, and hard work in developing this game. If you like history, platformers and don’t mind some jank, don't doubt in trying this one out.23 found this helpful
One of the worst purchases I have ever made. I thought it would be like Apotheon, but it has nothing to do like it. The real challenge here is to calculate the jump distance and endure its clunky controls. I kept trying to play just a bit more each time in order to finally finish it, but I couldn't stand it any more. I simply unistalled it. It was like I was playing an old game, but without the fun, since there was nothing fun to keep me going, other than repetitive challenges. I can't even name one single advantage that this game has, maybe except its art, which is also kinda repetitive.12 found this helpful
I loved the game concept. However, it has so many bugs and glitches that make playthrough clunky and not fun. Combat is meaningless, and the mechanics are the same you would have on a platform back in the 1990s. All considered, I think this was a missed opportunity to create a game that was fun and historical at the same time.8 found this helpful
Absolutely infuriating controls, half the game is locked for no reason. Love the idea, I am looking to do similar to the roman portion for my dissertation, but I cannot even get to the chapter to see how the devs did mosaics.1 found this helpful
I really want to enjoy this game, but I can't. The game has a unique art style and theme, but the controls are way too difficult. They're clunky, and with 90% of the game relying on jumping, it’s nearly impossible to play when the jump controls are so frustrating.
I swear, I’ve never in my life encountered such outrageously clunky controls! Except for measuring jump distance, I was forced to reload the checkpoint not once because I couldn’t fight. My character just stood with a spear in his hand and did nothing while I hammered B button on my gamepad. And here’s the real kicker: once the battle starts, you cannot leave it. The solution? Just reload the last checkpoint again and again. It’s not just frustrating, unbearable!! I don't know yet if I'll try this game again.
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