Enclave

This is a wine version! gog needs to warn about this detail. i could only run the game in the windows version with lutris, disabling DXVK.

I was kind of doubtful of getting this one, since there were so many comments against it: the collision and inconsistent hit detection, monster arrows that shoot through walls, and save points, but I figured for $2.99 how bad could it be? Well, after playing the Outland level I just ran into a mind boggling bug that forced me to reload, and thus lose my progress up to that point. I encountered a goblin who told me to follow him, we reached a door and waited for it to open, AND then we got stuck together. Nothing would fix it except lose my progress by exiting. But yeah, there is a lack of fun playing this. I find myself rushing through the levels rather than exploring because up to this point exploring yielded nothing interesting. I thought the load out screen, similar to Thief 1 & 2 were kind of out of place in a game like this, I combed the beginning levels for maximum gold, which didn't seem to make a difference or now, the combat is frustratingly erratic in that monsters that I can insta-kill refused to die for several minutes regardless of the beating I laid on them, only to watch my own health quickly disappear. But my biggest gripe would have to be being attacked by ranged and melee fighters AT THE SAME TIME, which I can't recall ever encountering in a game before. But I'm giving it a 2 because it looked nice, but at this point it really doesn't compel me to finish it now that I've seen first hand its negative points. But, again, for $2.99 it's not that big of a loss.

Enclave's principle is simple: reach the end of each level and kill everything that stands in your path – with sometimes basic puzzle solving and key hunting. The twist is that each level lets you choose between several characters to play as, each with their own stats and fighting style, and equip them as you see fit. Getting the best gears possible is satisfying, as you can see your characters getting more and more badass, but also vital, as enemies themselves are upgraded throughout the game. There are two separate campaigns, depending on whether you choose to play as the bad or the good guys, which is neat. Despite their pixelated textures, the environments look pretty good and have a real sense of detail and architecture. The gloomy atmosphere is reinforced by the ethereal soundtrack, which I thought was surprisingly beautiful: it is a generic fantasy world, but still full of charm. Yet, Enclave seems pretty divisive, and for a good reason: the combat, the core of the game, feels cumbersome. The gameplay mostly consisting in spamming the attack key while doing your best to dodge enemy assaults: you're often swinging a blade at opponents without hitting them, or attacking with an underpowered ranged weapon with slow reloads. It's rarely awful, or even dissatisfying, in fact I had a lot of fun mindlessly hacking enemies off, and the various characters even add some replay value... but it's clunky, and really could have benefited from a deeper gameplay. The difficulty can feel unbalanced and unfair, especially in the dark campaign. It's a shame, since a lot of effort has clearly been invested in everything else – with better combat, Enclave could have been a bit of a cult hit! Thus, I'd say that Enclave is a good game for when you just feel like slaughtering bad (or good) guys in a nice setting, without thinking too much about what you're doing. You'll have forgotten it two weeks after playing it, but there's still fun to be had here if you know what to expect.

I will admit, once I picked this game up, the first few missions were rough. I was going to quit after the third one, but decided to give it a chance, and man am I happy I did. The game is a special kind of jank, and can be downright frustrating sometimes, but the gameplay loop of finding hidden gold in each level to power up your characters in order to tackle future missions is actually satisfying, and each level has some kind of gimmick to keep you interested. Whether that be dangerous terrain, arena battles, or enemies that require positioning and baiting, each level is a challenge. Melee combat feels down right unfair at times, yet once you get used to it and you start to tackle it the way the game wants you to, It makes things more fun. Each class in the game excels in certain levels, and I found myself favoring the Druid and Halfling. The games art style is beautiful, (especially the designs for the characters) and each texture has work and love put into it. If you're on the fence about the game, I'd say pick it up when its on sale and give it a chance. I'm certainly enjoying my experience, and I think if you give it a chance, you will too.

I bought it from gog and it was a surprise hit! I was really impressed witht the graphics engine. Sure it's a little dated but it ran and an incredibly smooth rate. A few instances of clipping and the story was cliche but it was an incredibly awesome time. I played almost non-stop (even at work - thanks to the ole laptop)! Both light and dark campaigns are fun. A great great romp and the best 5.99 I've spent in such a long long time. Don't let this one pass - seriously!