Recent reviews by pascuals

Massive Chalice is a type of Medieval-Fantasy TBS I was not used to play. In fact, I didn't know that the gameplay was so new to me until I played it.

I have to admit I'm impressed by the learning curve, at the very beginning I was quite lost with the stats or attributes, but the game evolves in a way that you learn in a gently way about hero types or attributes, buildings, etc. 'cause you'll realize as game advances and more complex events happen while the years pass in your empire.

I've spent like 9h in 2 days playing to this day, which is a lot! But this is the type of game that.. completely absorbs my time in a way that I have to use alarms to release my chained soul from here.

As different events take part in the game, heroes die and new ones are born, you start to feel some kind of affection for the heroes you really value, sort of like in a family...
.. and you start playing the real strategy of the game; focusing on leveling heroes with intuition for the Sagewright Guild, or giving a change to a 16 year old hero in the next battle, or just marrying a hero with low strength or vitality, but great personality.

Although the strategy, and gameplay attractive can be improved (still AI plays pretty well its moves), the game gives the appearance to be 'finished', nothing seems to be left apart or uncompleted. Also the stability is great and I haven't faced crashes or real bugs.

I just hope Massive chalice will have a sequel, soon please.


TL;DR:
Massive Chalice has been a grateful discover. It's worth the time, the money and the experience.

I really love AOW 1 & 2, they've been my favorite Fantasy TBS games ever, and I was very skeptical about AOW3, but since a long time playing campaigns and individual maps, I can say it's a way better game.

-- Aspects I like:

Races are way more balanced and cities are harder to defend due to wall-climbing and floating units, and wall-damaging spells. Although I still think human archers are a great advantage at the very first turns.

Leveled joining heroes helps to end with a massive leveled hero to destroy all the opponents, also Resurrect Hero spell is a great help in that way.

EMBARKING! Yes! Definitely! It's an idea taken from Warlords game and I think it's a great thing to include, now the seas play a better rol in AOW.

I REALLY REALLY MISSED open tactical city combats, but after playing a LOT LOT tactical combats I have to say it's better to focus on unit strategy than on tactical combat unit chasing XD.

-- Aspects I think should improve:
Sending items with no cost.. I'm still doubtful about this aspect. Game has become item-oriented when focusing on heroes. I think this is great in an action-rpg diablo-like, but not AOW. It's too easy to have a ton of weapons, there's no tactic in there, just buff all your heroes and that's it! A lot of time is spent sending items to other heroes and choosing which one to sell.

Low hero stats. To prevent a hero being converted into a sack of items, just buff a little hero stats, or make then cheaper.

-- Aspects I DISLIKE:
Mana-oriented heroes. It takes AGES for a hero focused on spells to become strong in combat. In fact it may never become spell-strong enough even in a long game. It's almost always better to focus on hero stats and party support stats than on spell.

Added to the last point... JUST ONE SPELL per FACTION EACH COMBAT ROUND??? COME ON! Yeah definitely, not worth to focus on combat spells.


TL:DR;
Greeeeeeat work guys. Game's worth every single cent!

In love with...

El mejor TBS de rol de todos los tiempos... (con perdón del HOMM)

Bruuutal!