Aztech Forgotten Gods

Unfortunately, despite some positive elements, the uneven, frustrating gameplay prevents this game from reaching the potential and ambition it sets for itself. Aztech Forgotten Gods is clearly crafted with caring hands: from the unique designs of the gods you battle, to the characterization of the protagonist, to the careful bits of lore and Mesoamerican history sprinkled throughout the game. But the core mechanic of using Lightkeeper, the god-destroying gauntlet, for movement through the skies is severely flawed. You'll find yourself accidentally bouncing off of bosses, walls, and many other objects as you try to get your bearings at any given moment. You can't control exactly how fast you're going, turning in any direction is slow and sluggish, and the action is stiff, leaving you open to incoming attacks.

You also have the option to do races as side missions to upgrade your gauntlet or purchase new hairstyles and outfits. But your erratic movements while flying make races a chore rather than a fun distraction from the primary story. As far as combat is concerned, your gauntlet has one primary punching attack in which you mash a single button to deal with your foes. While there's a timing-based element here, it's unnecessary when frantically pressing one button does the job just as well. The character models have a visible lack of polish and detail, which makes the game's bigger moments less impactful as you'll be too distracted by the rigid animations and facial expressions to take anything too seriously.The game is full of bugs, glitches, and gameplay that borders on exhausting at times. But its saving grace is that the foundation is there for bigger, better games set in the same world. It's a tragically flawed game with the potential to be so much more than it is. With its Mesoamerican focus and intriguing concept, Aztech Forgotten Gods can be an imperfect sample of a fully-realized future franchise.