Aphelion
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Critic Reviews for Aphelion
Aphelion is a deeply frustrating mix of both brilliant and baffling design: part gorgeous, best-in-class narrative adventure. One boasting cinematic presentation backed by superb lead performances, further enhanced by the year's most compelling, science-grounded sci‑fi story. But also, part dreary third-person action-adventure, undercutting the pace of its narrative with clunky platforming, tedious stealth and puzzle sections, and Thomas' oxygen-management nonsense. In the end, this tight narrative adventure is stretched into an over-long slog. Sure, it's well worth seeing through for the story, but with a sharper gameplay focus, Aphelion could have been essential.
Aphelion is very much a compelling, though mechanically nuts and bolts narrative adventure that embraces linearity and spectacle above all else. Though its embedded dynamic of interpersonal relationships is engaging, the technical flaws, occasional clunkiness and aged-like-milk stealth sections sadly do much to undercut its otherwise impressive qualities.
Apparently, Aphelion fell victim to the financial difficulties that DON'T NOD faced. Despite a fairly solid foundation, the authors failed to polish both the narrative elements and the gameplay.
Review in Russian | Read full review
It's hard to hide our disappointment with Aphelion, which stands as the very definition of an average game. While there's nothing fundamentally bad or failed about Don't Nod's title, there's still plenty of room for improvement on many levels, which inevitably leaves us with a bitter aftertaste once the adventure is over. We're left with the feeling that we've missed out on what could have been a great adventure, one whose good ideas, though present, weren't properly developed by the studio.
Review in French | Read full review
Aphelion is a solid science fiction adventure with a large focus on emotional connection and narrative. Despite some tedious controls and obvious bugs, the journey is worth staying to the very end.
Recently, we've seen the Artemis II mission successfully blast off, have a quick look at the dark side of the Moon, then safely return to Earth. ...
Aphelion isn’t a particularly bad game, but its gameplay and story are a little too safe to create an experience that is memorable.
