The Watchlist: Olympia Rising

Title: Olympia Rising
Developer: Paleozoic
Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux
In development, potential 2014 release
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Olympia Rising is a 2D Action Adventure game reminiscent of the best 16-bit classics. Lush pixel graphics and fluid animation bring this ancient Greek-inspired world to life as you jump, climb, slash, and blast your way through various regions of the Underworld. Taking inspiration from beloved titles like Castlevania, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Kid Icarus, Olympia Rising delivers an exciting, action-filled experience

Olympia Rising puts you in control of the young heroine Iola, as you travel through the depths and layers of Hades to reach the surface and find the answer for her awakening. This monumental journey is fraught with danger and powerful enemies, but armed with your weapons, magic, and movement skills, you'll be able to overcome the perils that await. Playing the browser demo, I found that even in this early stage, the game certainly excels in delivering a polished fun experience. The visuals are charming, the animations smooth and fluid. Same can be said for the combat, as you explore the caverns and ruins of the Underworld, striking down its otherworldly denizens. Perhaps the most rewarding aspect is when you build a smooth flow through an area, leaping from one enemy to the next, tripling jumping around platforms to continue your chain. It just feels satisfying and the solid responsive controls means such skill rests in the player's own ability. Olympia Rising is a game that should appeal to the fans of speed-running, platformers, the thrill of moving through an environment with swiftness and precision, as well as fans of exploration and old school challenge.

Olympia Rising is a fun challenging game that promises to mix exploration with a blend of precision platforming and combat. You can follow its progress on the developer's blog, support the game on Kickstarter, and vote for it on Steam Greenlight.

*Now I don't always advocate for specific games, but Olympia Rising is a game with a solid promising foundation and great potential and it desperately needs support for the last leg of its Kickstarter. The campaign only has 3 days left and needs to achieve 30% more funding to reach its goal. Please give the browser demo a try and consider giving the game your support on Kickstarter.