Epyka is unfortunately a mixed journey through ancient mysteries
After spending some time with Epyka on Quest 3, I've come away with mixed feelings about this archaeology-themed VR puzzle adventure. While it shows promise in certain areas, several issues prevent it from reaching its full potential.
In Epyka, you play as Scott, an archaeologist following his father's research into Earth's first civilization. The game opens with you and your canine companion Jack stranded at sea on a makeshift raft. A mysterious crystal – an artifact from the lost civilization – guides you to an uncharted island where the bulk of the adventure takes place. The narrative premise is intriguing, dealing with themes of ancient civilizations, mystical powers, and humanity's relationship with knowledge. The story unfolds through environmental storytelling and interactions with a spiritual guide who reveals the history of this forgotten culture.
The core gameplay revolves around exploration and puzzle-solving, with some light combat elements introduced later. Early puzzles show genuine creativity – using a special tablet to reveal hidden symbols in the environment feels satisfying, and there's a particularly clever sequence involving a miniature maze that you must manipulate to navigate the full-scale version.
The crystal you discover grants you various abilities as you progress, like levitating objects and creating protective shields. These powers are integrated into both puzzles and combat scenarios, though their implementation feels somewhat basic. Your constant companion Jack, the dog, adds a welcome touch of companionship to the adventure. Being able to pet him and watch his animated reactions provides some genuinely heartwarming moments. He occasionally assists with puzzles, though his gameplay utility is limited.
Unfortunately, my experience was significantly hampered by technical problems. A particularly frustrating portal-based puzzle repeatedly glitched out, forcing multiple restarts and ultimately dampening my enthusiasm to continue. While not everyone may encounter these issues, they notably impacted my playthrough.
Apart from this, Epyka suffers from some structural problems. The difficulty curve feels inconsistent, with some puzzles being overly simplistic while others can be frustrating due to unclear objectives or finicky mechanics. The combat elements, introduced later in the game, feel somewhat tacked on and underdeveloped.
The game's systems never quite reach their full potential. While the crystal's powers are an interesting concept, their implementation remains basic throughout the adventure. Similarly, Jack's presence, while charming, feels underutilized from a gameplay perspective. Another thing you need to keep in mind is that the whole game is short, roughly three hours. While the affordable price point (around $10) somewhat justifies the short length, the game feels like it ends just as it's finding its stride.
Visually, Epyka adopts a colorful, cartoon-style aesthetic that works well within the Quest 3's capabilities. The art direction creates a vibrant, welcoming world that fits the game's generally lighter tone. Environmental design is pleasant if not particularly revolutionary, with varied locations from sunny beaches to mysterious ruins. I also really loved the "cutscenes" that are very similar to the ones in Vader Immortal that give you a bit more context about the story. Sound design is serviceable, with ambient audio helping to establish atmosphere. Voice acting for Scott and other characters is adequate, though not particularly memorable.
Epyka is a game of unrealized potential. Its core ideas – archaeological exploration, mystical powers, and companionship with a loyal dog – are solid foundations for a VR adventure. Some puzzles show genuine creativity, and the affordable price point is a plus. But in the end, the technical issues, inconsistent puzzle design, and underdeveloped gameplay systems hold it back to recommend. Thanks for reading!
The game was reviewed on a Quest 3 via a code provided by the publisher. Epyka is available on Meta Quest.
