Aztez

Aztez is a side-scrolling brawler, turn-based strategy video game by Team Colorblind. The player fights through areas within the Aztec empire prior to the Spanish invasion. Team Colorblind, a two-person indie game development team, designed Aztez to play like an arcade game with the action of God of War or Devil May Cry. Aztez was released on August 1, 2017.

Aztez
Developer(s)Team Colorblind
Platform(s)Linux, OS X, Microsoft Windows, Oculus Rift, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, Xbox One
ReleaseAugust 1, 2017
Genre(s)Brawler, hack and slash, turn-based strategy
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

Aztez is a side-scrolling brawler, turn-based strategy game.[1] Set 20 years prior to the Spanish invasion, the player fights in areas based on places in the Aztec empire. Player weapons include a sword, spear, knife, and club.[2] The game uses a grayscale and blood red color palette similar to that of 2010 action game MadWorld.[1]

Development

Aztez is being developed by Team Colorblind, an indie game developer that became a company in 2012. Team Colorblind is a two-person team consisting of Ben Ruiz (artist and designer[2]) and Matthew Wegner.[1] They designed the game to feel like an arcade game, with minimal tutorials, which they felt to be important towards their goal of "empowering people to feel like a badass".[2] They wanted to make the beat 'em up have the action of God of War or Devil May Cry but lack the "super tedious" elements between fights.[2]

The game is expected to be released for Linux, OS X, and Microsoft Windows with Oculus Rift support. A subsequent console release for PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, and Xbox One is planned. Team Colorblind would have preferred to release on all platforms simultaneously, but announced it would be delaying the console release due to issues of manpower. An Xbox One demo was displayed at the 2014 Game Developers Conference.[1] The game was also displayed at PAX East 2014's Indie Megabooth[3] and PAX Prime 2013.[2] When Aztez missed its planned 2014 release window, Team Colorblind announced that their progress was healthy but slow. The game has no set release date.[4]

Team Colorblind was scheduled to present a panel on the game's art production at the March 2015 Game Developers Conference.[5]

Reception

Aztez has received mostly positive reviews. Ian Birnbaum (PC Gamer) praised the game's art style, and noted a potential trend of "historic side-scrollers" with the Greek-themed game Apotheon.[7] GamesRadar wrote that the art style piqued their interest and the combat sustained it.[8] ACG praised the title for its originality but noted that the combat could be confusing at times.[9] Caz called it a stylish, substance-filled spiritual successor to the SNES title Actraiser, giving it an 8/10.[10]

In October 2017, Team Colorblind reported a disappointing launch with only 2,000 copies sold in the first two months.[11]

References
  1. Sarkar, Samit (March 17, 2014). "Bloody brawler Aztez coming to consoles and Vita after PC". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on August 24, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  2. Farokhmanesh, Megan (September 4, 2013). "Aztez aims to empower players to feel 'like a badass'". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on August 24, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  3. Lien, Tracey (March 31, 2014). "Indie Megabooth's PAX East line-up includes Aztez, Hotline Miami 2 and more". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on August 24, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  4. Ruiz, Ben (December 29, 2014). "Where Is Aztez?!". Team Colorblind. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  5. Staff (February 9, 2015). "See how the striking art of Aztez was crafted at GDC 2015". Gamasutra. UBM Tech. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  6. "Aztez for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  7. Birnbaum, Ian (April 23, 2014). "Meet Aztez, the Aztec-themed brawler with impeccable style". PC Gamer. Future Publishing. Archived from the original on June 14, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  8. GamesRadar Staff (June 3, 2015). "The upcoming Xbox One games for 2015 and beyond". GamesRadar. Future Publishing. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  9. "Aztez Review "Buy, Wait for Sale, Rent, Never Touch?"". YouTube.
  10. "Aztez Review (PC) - Caz". YouTube.
  11. "'Aztez': The bloody indie brawler that should've been big". Engadget.
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