So I kickstarted the game so I got the standard version a long time ago. At the time I didn't have a great PC to run it so it was a bit of a pain. Just recently got back into it and started playing the Director's Cut, which I got a free upgrade for. So, the game is OK at best. Love the music, graphics aren't anything spectacular but they're not so bad as to be distracting. The story and lore are decent. But the game is kinda annoying. The problems start with saving. You're only able to save at certain save points and I understand the reaspon for that a bit... vut down on save scumming, blah, blah... but there are some areas in the game where tyhere is a long way between save points and that can be a problem for me as I generally don't have multilpe hours to play at a time. Also, assuming this is a bug, but any doors you need a key to get into will close and lock again after save. So not knowing what is critical for progression you have this feeling that you have to press on to the end of wherever the locked doors reveal or you're screwed. Combat is... eh. You can only choose 4 abilities per charatcer and if you decide to use a weapon that grants you an ability, say goodbye to some 4 abilities you chose. Additionally, elven weapons which you can unlock "powerful" abilities for, often aren't really worth the trouble... at least so far as I've played. Skills and skill trees are not all that varied or exciting and really, early on until you get some skills to unlock more oportunity points, you're playing defensively every fight (unless you don't mind losing half your party every fight or being able to fight red enemies at all). Fairy golf is kinda fun and puzzles generally aren't too hard to figure out if you take the time to read lore or pay attention to in game clues. Still, there are some that are ridiculous. All in all it's a solidly meh game that I'm pretty happy I kickstarted and didn't pay full price for
So really ,the game is trying to recreate the glory of older games like Fallout, as many people have mentioned. Problem is they didn't really accomplish their goal. It's kind of somewhere between a roguelike and an RPG. In the early game it's frustrating because you kinda suck, as you do at 2nd or 3rd level. Then you get jumped by 6 bandits. Time to reload. This time you gt jumped by 5 dudes burning books. Time to reload. This time you get to fight 2 rats. Ok, you can make it a little further into the wilderness. On the one hand, I like the inconsistency, on the other I do not. Take the bunker where you need to go gor your mission. Full of rats and ants, so a low level dungeon. Sure, but the only way in as a lower level toon is to talk to these 3 yokels who will absolutely murder you when you come out. Unless you give them all your stuff and you're back at square 1 again. So then go back at a higher level for a less satisfying but ultimately survivable experience. At least one clue was changed from the Russian to the English version of the game from a logic puzzle to something no one will ever guess or understand unless they look it up online. The game is full of inconsistencies like this. So far as the story is concerned, if you don't like old style RPGs where you should talk to absolutely everyone to get lots of fun ,or at least colorful quests you won't like the game. There are no quest indicators or trackers, which I don't mind, but lots of people will be disappointed. There is a lot to see and do in the game and there is a lot of cool story, you just gotta survive long enough to get some armor and decent weapons to get to it. Frustrating in the beginning, grindy in the middle... haven't gotten to the end yet. If you are persistent and don't mind dying a lot, it can be a fun game, if not... well, prepare to be disappointed
Rather than whine about GOG or HBS business practice, I thought I might actually talk about the game. I thought GOG was going to get rid of reviews that had nothing to to with the actual game. Eh... maybe that was Steam. The DLC itself is enjoyable. I've always loved the Javelin in TT and it really doesn't disappoint here, especially with some SRM6++. If you use it right, it's a really powerful Mech. Of course, it's super fragile, as all lights are in this game, but that's not the fault of the DLC. I haven't seen many Ravens and haven't gotten a complete one yet, but to me, that just adds to the fun because there aren't supposed to be 300 of them running around. But, unfortunately, I can't comment on the ECM/BAP game, which I am looking forward to. I'm sure someone else has some review about it but I'm too lazy to look it up... and besides then it wouldn't really be my review The Urban biome looks pretty slick. I really like fighting in them and, to me, it adds a new dynamic to the game. Stray Shot is AWESOME! doesn't matter what it hits, it's cool. First time I had one my Panther was shooting at an enemy Javelin, missed and hit a Locust in the face. Though most of the time the shot simply goes wide, it's a really cool mechanic. There also are new flashpoints and a bunch of new star systems. There's also a new Mission type which is a bit punishing, but if you've got the right Mechs (or you've got a good strategy) it's fun, if nerve wracking There really is a lot of stuff packed into the DLC. Is it worth 20? That depends on you. I got the Season Pass a long time ago because I'm a Battletech nerd and I really don't feel robbed. Now if you count content as just chassis as a lot of people seem to do, then you're going to be disappointed. But if you count new chassis, new mechanics, new flashpoints, a new biome, something like 50 new star systems and a challening new mission type it's pretty solid, to me.
First, like many others, I'm a big QFG fan... Actually, I played the original QFG when it was Hero's Quest (yeah, I'm THAT old). Anyway, I find it amusing that so many people lament the grindy nature of this game in the same review they talk about QFG. QFG used the exact same grindy methods/formula to advance your hero skills and abilities. Anyway, the game itself is fantastic! It's a thrwback to the days of old and there are tons of references to the old QFG and other Sierra titles from back in the day. I like the art and style of the game and the storytelling brings back fond memories. I loved that you basically know nothing and have to figure everything out from the beginning. I also liked the challenge of having half of your day sucked away by classes and that you get quizzed on what you learned in class. It was so much fun to play, though I will say the last few days after you resolve your family history are kind of boring because everything is basically done at that point. Couple of things from keeping it from being a 5 star. There are quite a few typos and grammar errors, in a game which has so much text, it's kind of annoying. There are a couple of instances where, if you don't have conversations in the correct order, you can't complete a quest. It is not always obvious to the tone of the conversation that you might need to immediately talk to that person again. However, those minor issues aside, it was a pretty fantastic game.
So, let's get one thing straight from the start... if you're looking for Table Top Battletech, look somewhere else. The game is not, nor was it ever promised to be so. As a game baesd on Battletech, though, it's pretty good, but has a few annoying flaws for me. The Good: Inspiration abilities, which I totally hated in beta, are reworked and pretty cool. They don't have much use in the early game but become critical later when you're facing 8 pristine heavy and assault Mechs The Interface. You know whether you'll be in cover, how much evasion you build up, what your weapon % will be, whether you have LOS, and what range all at a glance. Lots of settings to adjust if you so wish and it gives me everything I need to be successful. The maps and terrain are varied enough that the game never gets boring or rinse/repeat. Well to me, anyway, I guess others here have a different opinion. But different maps force you to make different choices and formulate different plans of attack. I think they're one of the strongest points of the game. When it comes down to it, the game is just fun to me. Cons: Headshots... oh my god, the headshots. Not me hitting other Mechs in the head, mind you, it's them hitting me. The last mission I had 5 head hits across my Mechs. You don't die from it (usually), but it's annoying to always have to send guys to the medbay. So I have found that cockpit mods are essential if you don't want to deal with that Which leads me to other mods. Really, most are quite useless except for the Gyros that boost your stability. Oh, the Exchanger, if you can find one, is pretty awesome too, but leg and arm mod as well as other gyro mods cost too much tonnage and give useless melee boosts Abilities are largely useless. I have found that Bulwark, multi-target and breaching shot are all you need, though it can be useful to have someone with the ability to allow them to move in a higher initiative order
I played this game a million times as a teenager. I was one of the few who had a Tandy PC back in the day. There was a graphical glitch on the Tandy which made for odd rice paddy battles but that's not an issue in this version. I love this game still! There is so much to do, dueling, battle scenes in castles, villages, and rice paddies which are all randomly generated. There is intrigue, kidnapping, rescuing and, of course, battles. Actually, the battles are my least favorite part as the AI for the military battles is pretty bad. If you know what you're doing until hatemoto level you can defeat very large forces with very small ones and not lose a single samurai. But all in all, an excellent game that captures the imagination.
