Yes, I am calling them expansions, because they came out long after the main game and were combined into one game (Treasure Trove) later. The main game is great, funny and hard. The expansions however, are different. Spectre and Plague Knight's campaigns are pretty good, I would say, with Plague Knight being in the lead. King Knights campaign however, is different. It's often frustrating, doesn't really introduce new mechanics, and is missing a lot of the spirit the main campaign has. It also has a needlessly tacked on card game mechanic, which ultimately is not really game relevant. (I think you can even play through it without touching the card game at all). BUT it is still the driver of the story, and that feels somehow wrong. That's why I reduced the rating by one star, considering it is still a 40 bucks game.
Ok, a crash in the first fifteen minutes is not promising, I have to say. The main points: The controls are not very good, I'm afraid, I nearly couldn't maneuver my mech out of the tutorial because it wouldn't let me get him into the marked circle. Same goes for firing, it is kinda counter-intuitive, I have to click on my mech (that's ok), then I have to click on the action I want to perform (fire, walk, sprint etc.), that already feels a bit clunky, THEN I click the enemy vehicle AND then I have to press FIRE. It doesn't sound like an ordeal, but it unfortunately feels like one. That also boils down the main problem I have with this game, everything feels so clunky and akward, it is hard to describe. I can see the promise it holds, but there is need for many patches to make this one run smooth. Furthermore, the game is kinda ugly, even on high settings. Company of Heroes (if this comparison is allowed) looked nicer, altthough it is a way older title. The lighting overall feels too brown, like a bad filter. I wish I could say nicer things about a game I backed, but here we are, I hope they will improve the game with patches as soon as possible.
Ok, a crash in the first fifteen minutes is not promising, I have to say. The main points: The controls are not very good, I'm afraid, I nearly couldn't maneuver my mech out of the tutorial because it wouldn't let me get him into the marked circle. Same goes for firing, it is kinda counter-intuitive, I have to click on my mech (that's ok), then I have to click on the action I want to perform (fire, walk, sprint etc.), that already feels a bit clunky, THEN I click the enemy vehicle AND then I have to press FIRE. It doesn't sound like an ordeal, but it unfortunately feels like one. That also boils down the main problem I have with this game, everything feels so clunky and akward, it is hard to describe. I can see the promise it holds, but there is need for many patches to make this one run smooth. Furthermore, the game is kinda ugly, even on high settings. Company of Heroes (if this comparison is allowed) looked nicer, altthough it is a way older title. The lighting overall feels too brown, like a bad filter. I wish I could say nicer things about a game I backed, but here we are, I hope they will improve the game with patches as soon as possible.
What could have been a fun top-down shooter with a snappy protagonist is pulled down by the fact that clearly NO ONE bug-tested this game. For example, if I jump into the damn decorative pillars in the Whitehouse with my mighty fist ability, I get stuck there EVERYTIME. No one can persuade me that this couldn't have been avoided with a little testing. The nerve to ask for 35 bucks for this piece of game is astounding.
People should realise a few of these DLCs might just be content cut from the game for marketing purposes. "Hey, they give out free DLC, they are the good guys!" Although CDProjectRed didn't need that kind of publicity in the past and if they follow their open course towards customers, they will never need that, the DLCs are FREE. So whatever floats ypour boat, I'll take them.^^
The gameplay has its flaws, but the decisions you make might help you OR bite you in the ass later in the game, with no point of return, which is great, although some people might dislike that. But the key feature is the story of the game, while not fully unfolding yet and with an open end, it is full of epic encounters and you get a glimpse of the rich universe of characters, gods and giants with potential for a even more epic storyline next time. I really look forward to the second part, i hope they make it!
