Banner Saga 3

in library

4/5

( 37 Reviews )

37 Reviews

English & 9 more

Overall most helpful review

Posted on: August 6, 2018

Forthem

Games: Reviews: 8

Mediocre.

Someone needs to say it: Banner Saga 3 is a mediocre game that doesn't live up to it's title. I love Banner Saga 1, and the sequel, while not as good, was definitely good enough and kept the tradition up sufficiently. For me, the best thing about Banner Saga is it scratched that itch I've had ever since I played Bungie's Myth. The aesthetic and lore and limited use of magic and great enemies with even greater legends built up around them, it's all so beautiful and perfect. I can't recommend the first game enough, and then please go play Myth. You'll see what I'm talking about. But this one feels like just another throw-away game about vikings. It's ok, but all of the feeling of the series has been sapped out. Most of the beautiful backgrounds are gone because of the direction they took the story, and both the character interactions and political intrigue feel very modern. The previous two were much more foreign and felt at home in another time and another place. Now this game is like, "How about them populist movements, eh?" I came in assuming I would love this game, but by about half way through I realized it just wasn't a Banner Saga game. It's funny how even though there is way more on the line here at the conclusion, the previous two are much better at giving you a feeling of dread and the possibility of horrible failure. Playing this you just feel like you're going through the motions to the inevitable finish line. (And then it just ends without any satisfying epilogue). The combat is fine, not as good as 2, maybe on par with 1. Some boring fights but it's passable for this series. There are far better tactics/SRPGs you can be playing out there if that's what you're here for though. I wish it was easier to explain what went wrong with this one, but suffice to say the magic of the series is just absent. I'm sure you'll probably play it anyway if you've played the other two, but if you come away disappointed know that you're not alone.

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Posted on: July 27, 2018

byronator

Verified owner

Games: 69 Reviews: 2

A fantastic end to a brilliant journey

Gameplay is satisfying, fights are challenging and true to the series decisions for the caravan, for the city and for the Ravens are all dubious, moral grey areas where few outcomes make you a winner. Something seperate from the previous two games, Banner Saga 3 has an underlying theme of hope and triumph. Every fight you win feels like a step closer to victory, each new rank, title and item feels well-earned not hard won. The story writing was done medium-rare; there's enough to chew into that you really enjoy the meat of the narrative, but not too much that you get bored. Conversations with characters can be far and few between, but the familliarity you gain with them is rewarding by the end. Many of their stories, anecdotes or observations are fun to read. You really begin to feel, like in any crisis, that it's the people around you that can make or break it. Most importantly, the choices you make through Sagas 1 & 2 are accounted for; everything comes full circle, which is incredibly exciting. The new 'waves' system of combat is fun and well-balanced. I played through on Normal, eager to finish the saga, though I've finished both Sagas 1 & 2 on Hard before. Normal is well balanced, though there are a few fights where it can feel the odds are stacked against you. Persevere, reload a couple times, and you'll finish this beautiful saga. My first playhtrough took about 18 hours, including gratuitous examining of the scenes inbetween fights (tip: click and drag). There are definitely other playthroughs to enjoy, with all the different choices you make from Skogr through to Arberrang. As always, music from Austin Wintory is spellbinding and chillinh at the same time. Phenominal work from himself, and all the talented musicians too.

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Posted on: August 3, 2018

carlosfxv

Verified owner

Games: 61 Reviews: 1

Don't play it in Spanish please.

Spanish translation is... somehow a mix between what a person who study spanish think it is and a mix of google translate. Sometimes is ok, but other times is just impossible to know what is happening. For a game based in a compelling storytelling that is quite a big hole. Ii feeld sloppy and really cheap. The game is ok, maybe a bit disbalanced sometimes but still is ok. I felt lost when I tried the 3rd instalment before any other title as there is no tutorial, even an optional tutorial to find the way to play the game. Luckily I bought the first title "The banner saga" that by the way is more solid at least in the spanish version, except maybe in the case of female charachter (for example "cansado", instead of "cansada" and many other words that relate the character to a male version of her. --------- Vale ahora en español que escribo un poquito mejor en mi lengua. El juego no esta mal, pero su localizacion en español es muy mala. Osea si buscas un juego en español bien traducido pues este no es tu titulo, ni el mio la verdad, lo compré porque me dijeron que la saga estaba chula y tal, pero si llego a saber que la traducción es tan desastrosa no lo habria comprado.

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Posted on: May 31, 2019

dlder

Verified owner

Games: Reviews: 9

Not as good (fights/technical)

Let's get one thing out of the way: Banner Saga never was a very deep turn-based strategy title, but the story and dread kept you playing nonetheless and I loved 1 and 2 for that. Story is still strong in this one, but it keeps crashing every now and then (the other games NEVER had that problem!) and the fights feel more boring the Banner Saga 2. If you played 1 and 2 this is a logical buy, just for the sake of finishing the story, but wait for a sale.

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Posted on: July 29, 2018

Minchandre

Verified owner

Games: 274 Reviews: 14

Great but short

Let's get this out of the way: this was an amazing game. The story was fraught, the choices extra ambiguous, the graphics were amazing. The combat was easily my favorite of the three games, probably in part because the higher level characters give you more options, but I also enjoyed the new characters and foes. The art remains gorgeous, and the world inside of the Darkness is just breathtaking. Also, we finally start to get a few answers out of Juno, so that's fun. The only thing that prevents this from being one of the best games in recent memory is how short it is. I finished the game in well under 10 hours, and as far as I'm aware I didn't skip any battles or take any shortcuts. I get that this is a $25 game and not a $60 one, but this is still much shorter than the first two games, and I found it quite disappointing.

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