Modernized "Old-School" gold
This is a game with equal parts homage to scottish and welsh folklore and snarky humor. Most of the game is kept light-hearted, but are punctuated with some fairly sobering and dramatic moments.
Content/Story
Many of the villains and monsters found in old Scottish folklore are reimagined here, something that I personally enjoy. Also, you play a "bard", though you can play different classes. Every class has the same basic bardic abilities that help you solve puzzles, gain clues, and more.
This has a good variety of gameplay. It's not just a murder hobo's paradise. There are plenty of puzzles and riddles to solve, some of which can be challenging. The gameplay is great in this regard. Puzzles often incorporate your basic bardic abilites. It gives you basic challenges at first, but then the complexity increases, often requiring you to use several of these basic bardic abilities to navigate various challenges.
The story is great, and if you just want to focus on that, then you certainly can, but you'd miss out on a lot of fun stuff!
Gameplay
You can move in real time, but combat is turn-based. Combat teaches you some basic mechanics at first, but as you level up, you begin to see how these basic concepts work together. It's important to learn how various character abilities work together to get the most out of it.
Graphics (running out of room!)
In short, it's good, for what it is. It's a square grid-based system for that old-school feel, but within that context, they've created some compelling environments!
The Bad (little room, so bullet points)
- While classes are great, the level up mechanic sucks. Part of it relies upon you going to some 'council' of NPC's. Great flavor, but an annoying mechanic.
- Save points. I mean...really? Let me save anywhere.
- Crafting/cooking/alchemy/etc. - This may be personal preference, but this never really clicked with me. Sadly, it is somewhat necessary.
Conclusion - is it worth it? Yes. It's fun. Time well spent.
30 gamers found this review helpful