Solasta was a great idea, with some pluses and some minuses - things that truly needed to be improved in the main game. Instead of improving on those issues, which have been mentioned again and again to the devs, a decision was made to focus on DLCs. And so, DLCs we do have. Classes that should have been in the main campaign? Pay up. New scenarios and minor cosmetic changes? Pay up. Despite owning the main campaign, I am certainly not going to pay another cent for any DLC until the many issues that have been mention from release have been sorted out. Unfortunately the devs would rather keep on mentioning on how they are a small company, with too few people, etc. Not too small a company to turn a profit on DLC that shouldn't even exist. But certainly too small to return a good, finished game.
I find it unacceptable to have a paywall for base classes. It makes no sense whatsoever. Develop awesome stories, create new content, add more flash and pizazz, but don't lock away classes like the monk ,the bard or the warlock behind a paid DLC. It's scammy.
5 stars because it does exactly what it sets out to do. It's immersive and engaging, makes good use of the 5th edition ruleset, the story is interesting, and the combat is fun - and yeah, it actually has z-levels, uses darkness as part of the environment and, despite it's visual limitations, it is more than enough to fulfill it's purpose. It's one of those beautiful games that come from time to time and that keep you hooked in. Is it perfect? Nah, but no game is. If a 5 star review required a perfect game, or even a perfect turn-based RPG, then no game would get a 5 star review. I give 5 stars only to games that I think are truly memorable and that will make me come back to them again and again, and this is one such game. It stands out, and has no issue looking in the eye the very expensive, very glossed DnD and DnD derived products of the last few years which, in my opinion, have been very boring, bland and forgettable. Try this one out.
This is one of those gems that come out from time to time. And, like other gems, it hasn't really been remade in any meaningful way by any other game - not really. I had a blast playing it in the early 90's and still play it today, from time to time. It's fun, engaging and quite immersive. Is it as deep as some of the modern RPGs or Strategy games we have nowadays? No. But it will give you countless hours of fun and immersion. What kind of Samurai do you want to be? Honorable, states-like and distant? Or perhaps a cutthroat nasty, ready to murder every other lord, and even perhaps your own? Do you want to remain as a loyal retainer, or do you want to climb the power ladder? Do you perhaps want absolute power at all costs, or would you rather build your empire slowly, making sure your empire lasts through the ages? It's a funny thing that everyone mentions Sid Meier, when the only actually flaw of the game (at the time, but still remains) is the dueling system, which he created. Don't read the next couple of lines if you don't want any spoilers: ... You can abuse the dueling system by always slashing sideways (right-left, right-left, and so on). If you do that, you will never have to defend and you will always win each and every duel. Try it. This is the only really down side of the game, but it's so minor that it doesn't really matter in the bigger picture. Most of your playing time will be spent managing your fiefs, sipping tea with allies, fighting in close quarters Vs many enemies (not in duels), and engaging in field battles with your enemies. Duelling is a very small part of the whole experience. If you go and try this game with the current 'hold-my-hand-and-spoon-feed-me-everything' mindset, you will feel lost and angry (oh, and sidenote, for the time, this was one of the easy games to get into - not hard or tricky at all). But if you don't care too much about graphics or the UI, you will see this game for what it is: a True Gem. Enjoy!
