What should I say that hasn't been spelled before... Incredible atmosphere, gorgeous presentation, a serious and believable setting, deep role-playing, exciting tactical action combat, countless builds to be played, incredible amount of gameplay customization (RTwP auto-triggers for Pause are a game changer, plus it offers TB mode too), the music, the art, the voice-overs, the stories, the feelings it all gives... It's a real gem.
To think that this game is SO good, and 20+ years old, is mindblowing! They got all the right things in place, and so I am left wondering what the heck happened to the industry...it's a mystery. Anyhow, this is an absolute thumb up, just be sure to visit the official website for some QoL and maybe Texture Mods, and you're set. It plays wonderfully with all sorts of input devices (again, Mod section) including Mouse and Gamepad, and works very well with them all. Gameplay is tactical and action -based, those Newtonian physics and the ships' hardware are implemented in way to allow the player to think, let's remember this is a SIM after all. You can have a dogfight here and there, but that alone won't be enough, strategic positioning is very important too, and it's great! Graphics aged very well, once you are in space, it just looks good. There is somewhat of a learning curve, and a little of frustration here and there, but QoL Mods allow to make these limitations more bearable. Do yourself a favor and give it a try!
The game is in development and needs polish, balancing, new mechanics and other content. That said, my time on A:I is being enjoyable so far. There is enough to play for many hours and, most importantly, help the Dev in shaping this EVE OFFline experience.
I will keep this as Spoiler free as possible, what I mention can be discovered 30 minutes into the game. Story: You have killed a fellow member of your order, and are therefore sentenced to reach the Temple and join the struggle to free your God. From here, the story unfolds progressively as you venture deeper and deeper into the temple, and unveil its secrets and history. The narrative is delivered through conversations, notes, and item descriptions. Gameplay: This is a rogue-like metroidvanian action/ exploration game. The focus is on tactical combat and strategic thinking. You will need your brains to figure out the best approach and tools to the challenges laying ahead of you. Each weapon has its own animation, and the choices include: one-handed, two-handed, bows, dual-wielding, shields, spells. The game is punishing but fair, easy to learn and hard to master, rewarding and satisfying. Exploration is done so that any path, meaning any door entered or leap taken, is oftentimes a final choice for the run. This may seem like an odd choice, but the map is massive and well interconnected, and taken into account the rogue-like nature of the game, chances to explore every nook and cranny of each game room abounds. Each run starts by choosing starting gear from the progressively unlocked load-out. There are talents to unlock too, and they help you define the class and gamestyle for the run. Presentation: The pixel art is top notch and one of the best I saw in my +35 years as a gamer. The music and ambiance are incredibly good and hooking, not often a game has given me an ear-worm, but this title surely knows how to do that. Is just THAT good. All these elements combine in a thick atmosphere that will suck you in, immerse you to the bones, and follow you even after you dropped the gamepad or K/M. An awesome little indie gem, with few rough edges that the Devs acknowledged and are working on. Highly recommended!
This game is a love letter to the genre, combat is fantastic, presentation is stellar, the story engrossing, all mixed into one of the most immersive titles I ever played. Love this game.
