Atlantis Odyssey Review

Island of Energy

When best friends Nicole and Robert crash on an unknown island, their adventure is just beginning. From VIZOR APPS, Atlantis Odyssey is a sim with multiple ways to play. Nicole and Robert hack their way through plants and trees to clear the mysterious fog and advance through the island. Smooth walking animation coupled with detailed plants and structures make for a visual treat across different parts of the island. One-tap gameplay allows Nicole and Robert to move around easily and interact with other adventurers. The more they explore, the more secrets they discover. One of those secrets might just unlock the gateway to Atlantis. Hacking through obstacles costs energy, replenished over time, but there are other ways to get it.

Removal of plants reveals boxes, barrels, and vases containing energy. Others on the island give energy too. Pierre has a matching game called Pierre’s Sea Friends. Players match two similar sea animals to earn energy. Each creature earns different energy units. Octopi, for example, earn four. Another way to earn energy is through tasks. To advance the story or hoard energy, tasks are important. At camp, Amanda wants food items like flax, which must be farmed. Crops cost coins, also earned by completing tasks. Franco requires two or three items like water and grass. These combine to make other products, such as rope. Besides energy, tasks earn XP, increasing player level. When player level increases, the amount of energy to spend also increases. Bushes, trees, and rocks tend to cost well over ten energy units, so increasing player level takes priority. Choose which path Nicole and Robert take carefully.

Wasted Potential

One thing Atlantis Odyssey does right is give life to its characters. Everyone has a unique look and personality that makes them all individually interesting. As the protagonists, Nicole and Robert have a backstory, slowly revealed as the adventure goes on. Nicole is there in lieu of her brother, injured from an accident that’s heavily implied to be her fault. Robert is an old friend of the brother, though it’s revealed he was a target of bullying because of him. And what mystery surrounds Atlantean Mi’ara, found in a crystal time capsule? The more the characters travel through jungles and foothills, the more the story grows. Though the game takes place somewhere in the 1920’s, the only woman in a skirt is Mi’ara. Nicole is an independent, strong-willed woman. A skirt would only hinder and slow her down.

Unfortunately, there’s a glaring issue hindering this otherwise incredible game. Players are forced to spend such high amounts of energy that the energy bar is constantly depleted. Some plants can cost from 16 to over 20 units, while rocks can reach up to 50 and beyond. There are many ways to earn energy, but it’s not enough, and players have to keep leaving and returning to the game. It’s a frustrating cycle that shouldn’t even be needed. Like most mobile games, energy can be bought with real money, but who wants to do that? Atlantis Odyssey could be played longer if players weren’t spending so much time worrying about energy usage.

Lukewarm Discovery

Coupled with beautiful graphics and an engaging story, Atlantis Odyssey has the makings of a great game. Though hindered by unnecessarily excessive energy spending, the game provides quirky tasks and minigames to keep players coming back for more.