Apocryph

Apocryph is a first-person shooter game that pays homage to classic dark fantasy shooters from the 1990s. Set in a medieval fantasy world, players navigate through a 2D scrolling environment, battling enemies with direct controls using a keyboard and mouse. The game features a 5-hour campaign and is designed to evoke nostalgia for fans of old-school shooters, offering a stylish and distinctive experience despite its flaws.

Apocryph: An Unflinching Homage to Dark Fantasy’s Bloody Roots — And Its Uneven Execution

Introduction

In an era defined by photorealism and open-world sprawl, Apocryph (2018) dares to resurrect the jagged edges and arcane brutality of ’90s first-person shooters. Developed by Bigzur Games, this indie title wears its inspirations — Hexen, Heretic, Painkiller — like a badge of honor, plunging players into a grimdark universe of skeletal hordes, demonic corruption, and apocalyptic theology. But beneath its fervent devotion to retro design lies a game at war with itself: a love letter to classic FPS traditions that struggles to transcend its technical limitations and half-realized ambitions. This review dissects Apocryph’s triumphs and tribulations, exploring how it both captivates and frustrates in equal measure.

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Development History & Context

Bigzur Games, a small studio with a clear affinity for gothic aesthetics, positioned Apocryph as a spiritual successor to the cult-classic dark fantasy shooters of the ’90s. Built in Unity, the game emerged during a resurgence of retro FPS titles like Dusk and Amid Evil, yet its development faced challenges. Early iterations, including a free alpha on itch.io, drew praise for its gore system and moody visuals but were criticized for clunky controls and performance hiccups.

Released on Steam in April 2018 (and later on Nintendo Switch in 2019), Apocryph arrived at a time when players craved both nostalgia and innovation. However, its reliance on crowdfunded Greenlight support and a modest budget meant compromises. Critics noted its unfinished feel, with promises of 30 levels whittled down to a sparse campaign. Yet, Bigzur’s dedication to crafting a cohesive, hand-drawn hellscape — one dripping with necromantic lore — hinted at unfulfilled potential.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

You are the Arbiter, an exiled Templar of the Xilai, a religious order that worships Death itself. Returning to the forsaken realm of Apocryph, you find your brethren slaughtered and castles overrun by demonic forces. The narrative, delivered through environmental cues and cryptic journal fragments, grapples with themes of fanaticism, betrayal, and cosmic nihilism.

The Xilai’s devotion to the “Pale Mistress” mirrors Warhammer 40,000’s zealous fervor, while the Arbiter’s quest for redemption evokes Dark Souls’ cyclical tragedy. Yet, the story remains undercooked. Key plot points — the reason for your exile, the Mistress’s true motives — drown in opaque worldbuilding. Dialogue is minimal, relying instead on atmosphere to convey dread. While this aligns with its ’90s inspirations, the lack of narrative payoff leaves the journey feeling hollow.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Combat & Progression

Apocryph’s arsenal blends melee brutality and arcane artillery:
– Gauntlets: Spiked fists for up-close dismemberment.
– Cobalt Staff: A magic wand firing energy bolts (with a spreadshot alt-fire).
– Ice Sword: Freezes enemies, allowing follow-up shattering kicks.
– Obliterator Mask: A late-game relic granting near-invincibility and shockwave attacks.

Combat alternates between frenetic and frustrating. The gore system shines — landing a killing blow with the staff vaporizes foes into pixelated viscera — but weapon balance falters. Early melee combat feels sluggish, while projectile enemies swarm with pinpoint accuracy, exacerbating clunky movement.

Level Design & Exploration

Handcrafted levels like the “Creepy Cemetery” and “Fire and Brimstone Hell” channel Hexen’s labyrinthine corridors, packed with hidden switches and ambush traps. However, progression often stalls due to unclear objectives. Keys blend into environments, and backtracking through identical stone halls tests patience.

Flaws & Innovations

• Idiosyncratic Difficulty: Modes like “Only Death Can Slow Me Down” cater to masochists.
• Performance Issues: Even powerful PCs chug during particle-heavy fights.
• Lack of Polish: No auto-sprint or invert-mouse options at launch alienated accessibility-focused players.

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World-Building, Art & Sound

Visual Direction

Apocryph’s grim aesthetic merges Diablo’s chiaroscuro with Doom’s hyperviolence. Castles crumble under blood-red skies, while skeletons clad in rusted armor shamble through torchlit crypts. A standout feature is the optional “pixelate” filter, simulating ’90s-era resolution, though its flickering effect divided players.

Sound Design

Dynamic music shifts from haunting choral ambience to thrashing metal during combat — a jarring but intentional contrast. Unfortunately, repetitive enemy groans and underwhelming spell-cast SFX undermine immersion.

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Reception & Legacy

Critical Response

Apocryph earned a mixed 60% average from critics (via MobyGames):
– Praise: “A real homage to dark fantasy classics” — E1M1 Magazine.
– Criticism: “Clunky beyond belief… feels like a generic Unity title” — itch.io user vealck.

Players echoed this dichotomy. Steam reviews laud its “old-school charm” but lament its “unfinished state.” The Switch port, criticized for poor optimization, further dented its reputation.

Industry Impact

While Apocryph didn’t revolutionize the genre, it joined Amid Evil and Dusk in validating retro FPS revivalism. Its bold art style and unapologetic gore influenced indie devs, even as its flaws cautioned against prioritizing nostalgia over polish.

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Conclusion

Apocryph is a game of stark contradictions: a bloody, passionate ode to dark fantasy’s golden age that falters under the weight of its ambitions. Its strengths — visceral combat, atmospheric world-building — are undermined by technical shortcomings and a lack of narrative depth. For diehard fans of Hexen and Heretic, it offers a fleeting, flawed catharsis. For others, it’s a cautionary tale of retro revivalism’s pitfalls.

In the pantheon of retro shooters, Apocryph sits not among the gods but as a flawed acolyte — one whose fervor commands respect, even as its execution invites critique. Worth experiencing on sale, but temper your expectations.