Developer: Team Colorblind
Publisher: Team Colorblind
Release Date(s):
-- August 1st, 2017 (PC, Mac, Linux)
-- TBA 2017 (PS4, Switch, Vita, Xbox One)
External Links: Official Website
Price: $19.99 USD; $21.99 CAD (Digital) (Currently 10% on Steam)
Platforms: PC, PS4, Switch, Vita, Xbox One
ESRB Rating: Teen for Cartoon Violence & Suggestive Themes
Genre: Side-Scrolling Action/Strategic Simulation
Aztez is hybrid of beat em' up and turn-based strategic simulation in a similar vein to Actraiser. The goal is the build up your empire before the Conquistadors arrive and kick them out before, well, the Conquistadors do what they're known for to the Aztec. Raise elite warriors known as the Aztez and arm yourself with the unique weapons of the Aztec as you conquer the surrounding land and gather as many resources and items as possible. Be warned that the Conquistadors are not the only threat to your empire, as dissent will arise when times grow dark, drought will ravage your empire and terrifying monsters will arise when darkness befalls the mighty Aztec.
How long is this game?
A: A typical round of Aztez will take between 1 1/2 to 2 hours, depending on how long you choose to venture into the underworld or how many warriors you have and thus actions you can take per turn.
How does weather work?
A: Depending on a number of conditions, the environment will change between normal, drought, rain and darkness. You'll want to get rid of drought and darkness as soon as you can, be it items or missions, as drought will cause your population to decrease (if a city's population decreases to 0, it becomes a ruin) while darkness prevents your empire's population from growing and will see stronger monsters appear in missions. Rain on the other hand is beneficial since it will increase the chances of festivals appearing that will allow you to increase a city's population to the max or earn a large amount of resources that can be used to get items, quell dissent, etc.
About the underworld...
A: Don't bother trying this until you have a firm grasp of the game's mechanics. The underworld can be very rewarding with the items and resources you'll find but it has the toughest non-boss/non-Conquistador enemies in the whole game. In addition, it's recommended that you go in with at least two weapons, one of which should be the spear due to its great range and speed.
What about the Spanish?
A: The conquistadors will arrive late into the game and begin, for lack of a better word, conquering the surrounding territories. If they reach Tenochtitlan, it's game over. You can slow them down with gold that will disrupt their formation or putting a general in a city to slow their movement. Attacking them directly which will have them eventually retreat. You'll want to make sure you're prepared to fight them since they are the toughest enemies in the game and, even if you've gotten a lot of Aztez, you can easily blow through all of them due to their large range and massive damage of their attacks.
Does disease play into the game in any way?
A: Kind of. There are missions where you'll have to quarantine a sick city's population to prevent it from becoming a ruin, but they appear at random, even before the conquistadors appear.
Aztez Launch Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrJLAqRvsCA
Screenshots:
Gifs:
Reviews:
ACG: Buy It
Bleeding Cool: 7.5
Caz (Yes, that's me): 8/10
Destructoid: 9/10
