Apsulov: End of Gods Review

*Contains Spoilers*

Norse Mythology Meets Futuristic Tech
A month or so before Apsulov was released, I had the pleasure of playing the previous game from Angry Demon Studios, Unforgiving: A Northern Hymn, and was excited to learn Apsulov would continue the Norse horror theme. Apsulov: End of Gods, as expected, did not disappoint.

The game begins in a chamber where you wake, frail and still recovering from a procedure conducted by a rather aggressive robot. Who we are and where we’re going isn’t immediately clear, but what we do know is we have been granted a gift which helps us see beyond the average human, and we must use it to survive. As the game progresses, we learn more about who we are, gain new abilities, and move one step closer to fulfilling our destiny.

Apsulov, as a whole, is gorgeous. The textures and environment design are highly detailed and I was particularly fond of the visual marriage between Norse design and futuristic tech. The creatures roaming about were also spooky and I enjoyed seeing an “evolved” form of the little trolls from Unforgiving. It was a fun way to connect the two worlds, and their new ability to see in the dark made them even more challenging to avoid.

Apsulov’s story, like its predecessor, kept me interested and engaged. As someone who is not well versed in Norse mythology, I found the experience as a whole educational and enjoyed learning about the characters and their relationships to one another. However, I felt the developers could have included even more information surrounding the creatures and symbols found throughout the experience for those of us who enjoy a bit of lore. 

Combat, or lack thereof, was one of my favorite aspects of Apsulov. You spend the first half of the game discovering who you are and what role you play in vanquishing evil. Since you have not yet discovered your true potential, you are weak and must sneak around and choose your battles wisely to conserve resources. Save stones are not plentiful, so you must exercise caution or risk being mauled by a creature and sent back from whence you came. This makes each and every interaction with creatures tense and unpredictable. Your bionic eyesight is useful for seeing creatures and codes in extremely dark places, but the player must use it wisely, as it must recharge after extended use. As a result, the player is forced to strategize when and where to use their gift or they might just find themselves running from creatures blindly in the dark.

Apsulov’s soundtrack was also a success, incorporating the deep vocals and sounds of Norse music with a futuristic electronic sound that is both daunting and energizing. As the player’s power grows, the music also grows in intensity, filling you with a sense of strength to take on the mischievous god, Loki.

Overall, Apsulov: End of Gods is an excellent game. The story is interesting, soundtrack intense, and environment a futuristic adaptation of of Norse design that is dark and delightful. Whether you have an interest in Norse mythology or simply love a challenging indie horror experience, I highly recommend you check out Apsulov: End of Gods.

[Lady played Apsulov: End of Gods on PC with a mouse and keyboard]