Banner Saga

Elegant setting that capture the essence of the norse mitology and legends. Its a must have!

The Banner Saga is a mix of text-based adventure, forcing you to make sometimes harsh choices, turn-based combat with interesting mechanics which are nonetheless pretty simple to master (everything revolving around the idea of having to both break the opponents armor and his HP-count) and a little bit of caravan managment (food supplies and morale). The last element is extremely minor , so you're left with the two biggest gameplay milestones : story and turn-based combat. I enjoyed both immensely. The story is rich in lore, inpredictability and atmosphere (you're in a dying world and everything basically gets more and more desperate until you feel total empathy with the protagonists fighting like machines just to push through another day). The choices sometimes lead to drastic outcomes, and you have to live with it. No save scumming. I like that. The turn-based combat (minus the final boss-battle, which enraged me to no end) is fair and interesting. Everything is about carefully positioning your fighters and striking just at the right moment. The audovisual aspect is superb. Beautiful stylized environments and authentic-sounding Icelandic chanting. So, embark on this little journey of beauty and despair if you feel like you're patient and contemplative enough, and if you like to make hard choices and later reflect on them!

----- ENGLISH REVIEW ----- I love turn based games and I played a lot of them, I just regret I didn’t buy this game earlier. The aesthetics are beautiful, with a lot of colours and very nice fitting music. The travel mechanics and especially the combat mechanics feels great, they are original and nice, with lots of classes. The story feels epic and is full of meaningful choices. It can take 10-15 hours it depends how you play, in my opinion can be replayed because it’s really nice and the combats can change every time, plus there are different build and difficulties. If you love turn based games and fantasy get it! ----- RECENSIONE ITALIANA ----- Amo i giochi a turno e ne ho giocati parecchi, mi pento solo di non aver acquistato questo titolo prima. Lo stile grafico è bellissimo, con un sacco di colori e una musica molto bella e azzeccata. Le meccaniche che riguardano il viaggio e specialmente quelle di combattimento sono grandiosa, sono originali e piacevoli, con un sacco di classi. La storia è epica e piena di scelte che hanno valore. Può durare 10-15 ore dipende dal modo in cui viene giocato, a parer mio può essere rigiocato perché ha delle belle meccaniche di combattimento e scontri che cambiano ogni volta, in più è possibile fare build differenti e adottare difficolta differenti. Se amate i giochi a turno e l’ambientazione fantasy non potete perderlo!

played through in 5h, no replay value, redundant game play. for all that a bit pricy, ok game for less than 5 bucks

This is a wonderful RPG set in a bleak world, where the gods themselves are dead and all meaning and purpose of history with them. This epic setting is well reflected in the plight of your characters, who face irrevocable consequences with every decision. It is a brilliantly immersive experience, well worth every penny, and more fresh and original than possibly every new game this year. Such games are worth owning, and Stoic is a developer worth being supported.