Review: Epyka
It’s wild to remember that I first experienced Epyka back in 2018 during a brief demo at EGX Rezzed. At that time, it was set to launch on PCVR and showcased on the HTC Vive Pro. I was genuinely thrilled to follow the game’s progress, but soon after, there was a long period of silence regarding its development. Then, out of the blue, it was announced that Epyka would be coming to Quest in 2024. While the change in platform was unexpected, I couldn’t be more excited to finally play the complete version of the game.
Release Date: January 9th 2025
Developer: Singular Perception
Publisher: Singular Perception
Price: £7.99
Reviewed On: Meta Quest 3
* Access Provided For Review *
Earth’s First Civilization
In Epyka, you take on the role of archaeologist Scott Hudson, accompanied by his loyal dog, Jack. As you embark on a quest to uncover the remnants of Earth’s earliest civilization, your hopes begin to dwindle until you unexpectedly discover an uncharted island. However, this enigmatic island holds far more than you anticipated, revealing a sinister force that endangers the future of humanity. The real challenge is: can you put a stop to it?
A Charming Adventure
Epyka can be described as an adventure game at its heart. As you journey through the mysterious island, you’ll encounter various challenges and puzzles that you need to solve to continue your exploration, and there will be moments when you’ll need to defend yourself as well.
The challenges and puzzles strike a balance, being somewhat easy for adults while still providing a decent challenge for younger players, which clearly targets a younger audience. However, I genuinely enjoyed playing the game, as some puzzles offered just the right amount of difficulty. Each puzzle is thoughtfully crafted to enhance the adventure’s atmosphere, and I particularly enjoyed one where you assist Jack in navigating a maze (but that’s all I’ll reveal).
Many of the obstacles and puzzles you encounter are triggered by the gemstone your father discovered. This gemstone proves useful as you advance, helping you move large objects and protect yourself as you near the game’s conclusion. Fortunately, defending yourself isn’t too challenging; when needed, the gemstone will automatically switch to shield mode, and all you have to do is activate it with the trigger. Again this design choice seems to cater to a younger audience.
Having just finished a game with one of the most frustrating companions imaginable, it was such a relief to have Jack with me. He’s not only adorable, but he’s also a loyal companion who assists you with various challenges and puzzles. I lost count of how many times I paused just to give him a little pet; his animations and the expressions he makes while you do this only make you adore him even more.
Bright, Bold And Mysterious
Embracing a child-friendly gameplay style, the visual design follows suit with a vibrant and bold cartoon aesthetic that is sure to appeal to younger audiences. This approach not only ensures a visually appealing experience on the standalone device but also maintains high texture quality and lighting without any compromises. Most importantly, it enhances Jack’s exaggerated expressions, making him even more lovable.
I really enjoyed discovering more about the history of Epyka, especially with the history being told in 360-degree paintings that let you look around. It feels like they might have used a VR painting app like Tilt Brush to create them. I’m not entirely sure if that’s true, but if it is, what a wonderful detail!
This audio is blended with the surrounding sounds to enhance the places you explore, keeping you fully engaged in this animated universe. It also includes background music that perfectly matches the setting and circumstances you find yourself in. The finishing touch is the fantastic and expressive voice acting that truly brings the story and conversations to life.
Comfort
The Verdict
The anticipation to finally play Epyka since trying the demo back in 2018 has truly paid off. The team at Singular Perception has crafted a delightful story that guides you as you navigate the beautifully designed mysterious island, tackling its challenges and puzzles. While the game seems to target a younger audience with its visual appeal and puzzle difficulty, I still found it enjoyable as an adult. Having your faithful companion Jack by your side throughout the adventure is a real treat, and you’ll find yourself stopping to give him some love, especially when you see his cute expressions. Since it’s designed for younger players, you can expect to complete it in about an hour and a half, but at a price of £7.99, I think it offers great value for the experience.