Recent reviews by ShinsFortress

So near, yet so far, to greatness.

I had so expected so much improvement over Pathfinder Kingmaker, but despite slightly better visuals, core mechanics, etc. there's still so much wrong. In no particular order, a few of the things which irk me:-

* Crusade Management that does not make me feel nostalgic over Heroes of Might and Magic. Here, it's just an awkward primitive minigame that even if I kill it in game options, it still took dev resources better spent elsewhere. Edit: ugh. It gets worse. Awful, awful. Auto mode? Yay? No, lose out on goodies and side-quests. It's actually worse than the Kingdom Management in the previous game.

* Clammy, tight maps. 'World' map even worse than Kingmaker....

* Janky AI. Half the party engaged and super tanky companions/pets just sit there unless manually directed.

* Plot that bogs down into tedium. Started well, now a chore....

* Oh, and puzzles.... I am sorry, but whoever is in charge of those should really be 'encouraged' to move their 'skills' somewhere else.

This game was a good ride and a better ARPG then I've played in a long time, closing on top three material.

However, let down by the poor ending. I *hate* cliffhangers and little sense of accomplishment. Worst ending since D3 and it's expansion. But, the bulk of the game is as Ronseal(tm) an ARPG as you get.

I can see why many people love this game. I used to love this type of game. But I'm done with games that rely on random luck so much.

It's a beautiful game, with albeit a depressing 'campaign', but it's just not for me. I'm too old to spend hours and hours picking at lumps of rock just hoping for two specks of the right mineral.

Looks good, sounds good, okay enough story... so what's the problem?

Awful action. Worst combat I've experienced in a game since 2012. And unfortunately action is quite the part of this game. Nice try, just not for me.

I so wanted to rave over this. Hadn't had a fun base-builder (as I understand the term) since Planetbase, after LiF:FR or Banished.

It looks feels and sounds just fine. It's, well, difficult. I don't mean dark souls difficult, but too many "Do this or base is doomed" feels. I love to sandbox games like this and this was even worse. Maps generated so poorly and resource management crippling so much of what *could* be fun.

I can see why there are so many positive reviews for this game, I am just sorry mine is not one of them.

It just didn't grab me. I played for a few hours and suddenly realised it felt like a chore, waiting for things to happen in game that really interested and excited me. The combat was better than in its predecessor with that godawful Endurance/Health thing, but the overall game unfortunately never built up steam for me. Maybe I had waited too long and expected too much.

Looks, plays and sounds well enough.

Don't like all the bells and whistles *off* table though. All those challenges etc. I don't like feeling I'm in an action game being pushed to get 'achievements' I don't need or want. I would rather have two simple modes, Classic and Enhanced (or whatever). Dev time better spent elsewhere.

Not my cup of tea.

Put off by a horrible front end spammed with plugs for DLC etc. And yes, I would like a spoon-feedy tutorial available from in-game menu. I do not want to have to go rummaging in the Discussions and feretting off-site material.

I can see why other people would like this and I was hoping for something I would enjoy like Banished, Planetbase, Life is Feudal: Forest Village, or hell, even Tropico. But this isn't it.

It just isn't that good. It *looks* good, but the gameplay is just not that fun and the layouts, e.g. the "hub" (base town in most games of the type) has pointlessly tedious pathing.

I'm sorry, I really tried to get into this game. I normally really enjoy this type of CRPG. But although better than Pillars of Eternity, for example, it's just not fun enough. Turgid combat, awful encounters balancing, and a chapter two so muddled and lacking direction I just got bored. I could forgive the combat because it looks and sounds good, but I can't accept the rest.

Just got the the core game on sale, no extra DLC. For that money, I don't begrudge the few hours I got out of it. But glad I didn't pay up for the full monty. I would STRONGLY advise not buying any of this at full price.

Edit: Having retried the game accepting that Normal difficulty is for me and just forgiving occasional poor level or scripted fight design I still wouldn't recommend the game unless you are a firm devotee of this *type* of game. The game tells you it is important to have a Treasurer for your barony but then makes it frustratingly easy to *not* have one and miss the few opportunities there are to recruit one at a reasonably early point in the game.

Edit2: despite liking most of the gameplay the final chapter(s) design and ending are.... not satisfying.