Ludography
65/100
Players7 ratings
90/100
Critics1 review
More scores
Metacritic4 critic reviews
81/100
Metacritic usersuser score
55/100
GameFAQsJust Right-Tough
3.3/5
Player reviews
80% positive175 reviews
Runs on
Windows, Mac, Linux
Price
US$19.99

Where to get it

Aztez cover

2017 · Beat 'em up · Fighting

Aztez

In Aztez, you expand and maintain the Aztec empire through turn-based strategy, while managing violent outbreaks via real-time beat 'em up sequences. Every game is unique; different events will occur, different challenges will emerge, and different spoils will be taken each time you play. Spread, strengthen, subjugate!

Released
1 August 2017
Platforms
LinuxPlayStation 4PlayStation VitaWii UWindowsXbox OnemacOS
Genres
Beat 'em upFightingIndieStrategyTurn-based strategy
Developers
—
Publishers
—
Modes
Single-player
Perspective
Side view
Themes
ActionFantasyHistoricalWarfare4X (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate)
Country
United States
Age ratings
GRAC 15+ESRB T
Languages
English
Time to beat
4hmain story21hcompletionist

About

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. Aztez was released on August 1, 2017, for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Players say

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Aztez is a side-scrolling brawler, turn-based strategy game. 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. The game uses a grayscale and blood red color palette similar to that of 2010 action game MadWorld.

Development

Aztez was developed by Team Colorblind, an indie game developer based in Phoenix, Arizona. The studio consisted of a two-person team: Ben Ruiz (artist and designer) and Matthew Wegner. 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". They wanted to make the title have the action of God of War or Devil May Cry but lack the "super tedious" elements between fights.

The game targeted a release for Linux, OS X, and Microsoft Windows alongside a subsequent console launch for PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, and Xbox One. Colorblind said they would have preferred to release on all platforms simultaneously, but would delay the console releases due to a lack of development staff. An Xbox One demo was displayed at the 2014 Game Developers Conference. The game was also displayed at PAX East 2014's Indie Megabooth and PAX Prime 2013.

Reception

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

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

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

PlatformReleasedRegions
Linux1 August 2017Worldwide
macOS1 August 2017Worldwide
Windows1 August 2017Worldwide
Xbox OneCancelledUnreleased
PlayStation 4CancelledUnreleased
PlayStation VitaCancelledUnreleased
Wii UCancelledUnreleased

Games like this

Collections1 collection

Platform libraries

Description adapted from its source, CC BY-SA 4.0.