I have lots of fond memories playing my original Game Boy. I mostly stuck to classic or more well-known titles like the Super Mario games and a few licensed tie-ins, but there was still a lot more to offer in this era.
Orpheus: To Hell and Back fits this bill quite nicely as it plays, looks, and sounds just like a game from the early 90s and late 80s. This is both a feature and a bug in this case, as it brings the player back to simpler times. Depending on the person, that may be exactly what you need right now.
Small Adventure, Big Ideas
What began as an ambitious indie game being funded on Kickstarter has become a digital and physical release for retro enthusiasts. While I didn’t get my hands on a boxed or cartridge copy of the game, this is a move by the creators I really appreciate, especially in comparison to some of the recent news from Sony.
As for the game itself, we have a classic “save the girl” adventure taking place in the world of Greek mythology. You play as Orpheus, who has lost his girlfriend Eurydice to the ‘depths of Hades.’ The story is delivered in a short set of text screens,s and then you are off on your adventure.
Orpheus: To Hell and Back has a simple enough premise as you use Orpheus’ lyre to manage puzzle rooms filled with enemies and defeat a few big bosses along the way. But the combat-like mechanics are far from fast-paced and actually take some getting used to.
In true Game Boy fashion, you’re limited in your button prompts; you can only use the d-pad to move around and A and B to switch between skills and execute them. The core mechanics work like this: Orpheus can play three different tunes on his lyre. One will stun enemies, another will draw them towards you, and the last one will repel them.
On the surface, this is simple enough, but in execution it took some time to master. The game is a self-described “musical odyssey,” and it really takes that to heart. Orpheus: To Hell and Back is broken up into a series of small screens with obstacles and creatures like skeletons and bruiting monsters. Your job is to get from door A to door B while avoiding enemies and occasionally pressing a switch to open said door.
Again, it sounds simple, and sometimes it can be, but it is a little cumbersome to use the systems at play here. All enemies (bosses included) walk on a set path, and it’s up to you to get them off that path with your lyre music. Forcing them into fire or off a ledge will eliminate them, but you can never touch them. This will instantly kill you and, after a few hits, force you to respawn. I found the hit detection in the game to be far too sensitive. Orpheus feels huge on these tiny screens and can fall into any of the traps far too easily.
This created a decent amount of frustration for me as I had to stop myself and reset a few times to take a deep breath. I know what to do, but it felt like I was being punished for being too ambitious with my movements even early on when the game is far less complex. This is amplified in boss fights, which become a little too chaotic for what’s required to succeed.
The ideas in Orpheus: To Hell and Back are quite good, but the execution feels a little janky. Intentional or not, the playthrough feels a tad undercooked. To play devil’s (or Hades’) advocate, though, this is how games of this era often felt. On top of that, the game is pretty short, and even though I did die and fail quite a bit, I got through it in a couple of hours.
Like the Moss games I recently played and reviewed, the gameplay strengths are highlighted by the level design and variety of puzzles that emerge from using enemies to your advantage. I enjoyed it even if it wasn’t a perfect experience.
Verdict
There’s quite a bit to enjoy in Orpheus: To Hell and Back. From its original gameplay mechanics to its great retro aesthetic and its low price point, it’s a solid outing.
This short and sweet adventure may not work across the board, but it does do a good job of bringing the player back to simpler times.
[The publisher provided a copy of the game for review purposes.]
Reviewed on: PC/Steam Deck
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