From its top-down, pixelated 2D graphics to its straightforward plot set in a medieval fantasy world, Gift of Parthax may appear to be an ode to simpler times. But Foldergeist Studios’ brawler packs quite a potent punch. The game’s fighting system is deceptively multifaceted and allows players to experiment with a wide variety of options, and its levels truly test players’ mettle.
The game begins by giving exposition about the fantasyaaa world its story takes place in. Tensions between the mages and non-magical humans of the Kingdom of Duredyll have reached a boiling point, inducing the mages to attempt to flee the only home they have ever known. However, not all mages were so lucky as to escape.
The mages Arif and Veleus were captured by agents during their desperate dash for freedom. Veleus was forced to fight in a competition hosted by Parthax, a mage whose skills have no equal. Veleus sustains a fatal injury while struggling for his life, and Parthax decided to draw out Veleus’s misery by letting the injury slowly kill him from the inside out. But by not finishing Veleus off, Parthax left room for someone to come and win the only possible item that could save him: the champion’s prize.
And that’s exactly what Arif plans to do. Gift of Parthax commences with Arif embarking on a quest to save his best friend by fighting in Parthax’s contest. Players control the young mage as he initially enters the Grand Coliseum and begins to fight Parthax’s minions.
Parthax’s competition takes place in multiple stages. Arif begins to fight during the spring, but the game spans all four seasons and more when all is said and done. Each season contains five levels that players must progress through and concludes with a boss fight. Depending on the choices that players make during the boss fights, they will get one of four different endings when they complete Gift of Parthax.
The levels themselves prove to be intense, even on the game’s normal mode. Although the spring levels may not be all that challenging for players depending on their experience with brawlers, the summer season ratchets up the difficulty with alacrity. Players will soon be facing off against beasts of mythology like dragons as well as magical creatures.
Originally, Arif is solely able to sling fireballs at his enemies. But Foldergeist Studios crafted a significantly richer fighting system than just that. Players can customize their playstyle by unearthing six magic elements, 29 spells, and 27 spell-enhancing runes. They can unlock these augmentations by purchasing them from a shopkeeper after earning money by winning matches in the coliseum. Before they know it, players will be setting traps while lithely dancing across the battleground and poisoning their enemies.
Despite being so full of depth, the combat isn’t even the best aspect of the game. Foldergeist Studious absolutely nailed it with the in-game music. The music fits the gameplay perfectly and really adds to a player’s level of immersion. The art style also proves to be a boon when it could have been a detriment, elevating the game by being stunning. It’s evident that the character designs, animations, and environments were all created with love and care.
While the fact that Gift of Parthax doesn’t really tie back into the interesting world that it described in its exposition in any meaningful way feels like a missed opportunity, the game still does a lot right. Fans of the brawler and fantasy genres shouldn’t hesitate to pick this game up and give it a try.
Rating: 8.5/10
Check Out The Gift of Parthax Launch Trailer:
Gift of Parthax is developed by Foldergeist Studios and published by 1C Entertainment, and the title is rated T (Teen). The game is now available for PC and Mac via Steam for $8.49, a 15% launch discount off the normal MSRP of $9.99.
Mac Review
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Overall Score - 8.5/108.5/10
I'm a recent graduate of Columbia University. Gaming has been a passion of mine my entire life; I enjoy everything from RPGs and FPSs to stealth and narrative-driven games. I love the deeply immersive quality that good video games inherently possess, and am looking forward to highlighting games worthy of acclaim. When I'm not studying or reading, you can catch me playing games like Uncharted, Dishonored, The Witcher 3, and Far Cry.
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