Put simply, this game is very polarising. You will either love it or hate it. And if you do love it, you will likely also hate it. I love it so much that I usually replay it at least once a year. Yet I hate it that much that I have never actually finished it. People who've made it to the last part of the game will know what I mean. As far as the story and setting goes, it is incredibly unique, and the world feels thoroughly realised and lived in. The NPCs react how you would expect them to react in a future where humanity lives underground with true unexplainable horrors - pretty f'n depressed. But this game just nails that atmosphere - immerse yourself in it, explore, dominate enemies from rats, to psionic bugs and psychotic bandits with an array of weaponry and skills I don't think has been matched even in the original fallout games. Put bluntly, if you're a fan of the old fallouts, and want to play a similar game with some quality of life improvements, this is a must buy. Even if you haven't and you just want to play a decent game where the developers passion really shines through... Check it out. However, the game can be punishingly difficult. And not always by design. This is not an RPG for softies who just want to be good at everything - like I was when I first played. It requires some min-maxing (although less than you might think or be told), really thinking about your character and how you want to play, and how he will interact with the environment to be successful. But, this also serves to immerse you further within the game world by making you invest in it. So, put bluntly, it can be the most pure role playing experience you've had in years you just have to get used to dying (and learning) a lot. I've dropped a star, as the devs could really make it easier players. It can be an uphill battle from beginning to end (especially end) - sometimes when it doesn't need to be. In short, if you've got this far, do yourself a favour and just buy it.
This game was included in one of those multi-game packs you would buy from your local games store for about $10. There may have been one or two games in the pack that you would know, but before the days of GOG and Steam, this was the only way to buy old-school games. Exactly what I was chasing for my parents ageing PC (they couldn't see the value in forking out $200 for a graphics card...). I think Gangsters came in a pack along with Soldier of Fortune and Mobile Forces... for some reason. I remember actually enjoying this title. Taking out rival gang members and eventually controlling the city, all to a pleasing early 20th century aesthetic. Unfortunately, GOG's copy does not work on my system over the last, I think 5 years since I bought the game on GOG. I give it 1 star since seeing it for sale on GOG brought back some good memories of when you actually went into a store, browsed the titles, picking up game cases and reading the back, avoiding glancing at the new releases since you'd only saved up $20 from doing odd jobs for your folks. So you bought a whole bunch of budget titles instead, or you might get lucky and find Heretic II on sale for 19.99! You'd head home, salivating over the pictures on the box and anticipating the fun you'd have playing them over the holidays ahead. You installed it, and then found out it didn't work anyway, headed back to the store and found out no, they would not provide a refund. Ah the good old days. Overall I'm disappointed GOG, but thanks for the trip down memory lane.
I'm trying to avoid repeating what everyone has already said, but if for some reason you can't read other better reviews, in short - Excellent game, seems to modernise the classic RPG genre while doing its own thing, making it more accessible to new players, and is still a decent challenge for veterans. Engaging, unique and addictive combat that still holds true to its RPG roots but avoids the whole micro-managing aspect (relative to Baldur's Gate, that is), so it keeps the action going. Overall definitely worth it if you're a fan of RPG's, or if you want to enter the genre but don't want to start with the admittedly, beginner-unfriendly 'classics' of the genre. Now the reason for 4 stars and not 5 While it was great they added voice acting, some of the characters were enough to stop me playing the game. Their voices were so annoying and the very definition of over-acting, they caused me to rage quit. I would like to throw ZixZax and the potion lady from Cyseal into the void. Play the game and you'll know what I mean. While some people may like it, I found the overall tone of the game to be overtly twee. It's a very standard fantasy setting, with some interesting quirks thrown in, but in all honesty it was not to my taste. Not helped by the overly cartoonish graphics. Realise this style may be for some people, just not my cup of tea. Some broken quest design. Avoiding spoilers, there is something you need to do at the end which is not communicated to the player very well, even though its critical to do this throughout the entire game. It extends the length of the game considerably and really does require a walkthrough. Which brings me to my next two points. The game, in my humble opinion, goes on for too long. What feels like the end of the game just dragged on for me, such that by the actual end, I just didn't care. Finally, entertain yourself with the fanboys in forums blindly defending any issue you have with the game.
I feel like too many people give this game an easy pass because it is a kickstarter title. I find it is just... boring, lacking depth and ultimately I feel the devs could have done so much more with the IP. The combat is just tedious. It lacks weight, and, whilst it uses an xcom style cover system, the tactical options are severely lacking. The UI and all interfaces (such as levelling up, inventory etc.) are all very clunky to use. You could hardly call this an RPG. You do play a role, but conversations and customisation options are limited. Really, when you boil it down, the role you choose dictates what weapons you'll use, and outside some skills checks for things like decking, that's about it. See above for the review of combat... nuff said. Outside of combat, gameplay involves clicking on icons that pop up to gather gear, items or further the plot. When you talk to someone, you click on responses to get to the end. Then you click on the floor until you reach an objective marker and click on it to change the map... It often feels like a point and click adventure game without the adventure or the game. The story, which everyone touts as amazing, is pretty unengaging. Why can't you trade items between characters?!?!? Especially during combat?!?!? Why can't you select characters to use certain skills outside of combat?!? Is that not the point of gathering a party?!??! It is just confusing why the devs made such a choice for an 'RPG'. I would not recommend this. Save your money. It really is light on features, gameplay and fun.
Basically, if you want to feel like a god (or emperor), bend history to your will, or just live through it, this is probably the best out there. Not many games can engross me like EU3, and as a relative newcomer to the Paradox strategy titles (I've only played Crusader Kings 2), I was a little hesitant to believe that lightning would strike twice, but this game holds up just as well. If you're a fan of grand strategy, or looking to get into it, I would highly recommend it. There's a number of complaints that this does not include the expansions, but in it's own merits it is still an amazing title, and you can't blame a company for marketing its products one way or the other. They are designed to make money after all. Disclaimer: This has a STEEP learning curve. Even having played CK2 in the past, it took me a good number of hours to get the hang of. So if you're new to paradox strategy titles expect to put in a time investment. But, believe me, it is worth it in the end when you're dominating the globe. and I am slightly biased being a fan of European history, and this is basically a European history simulator, so if this is not your thing maybe rethink buying it.
Elex is definitely a game that you need to have patience with. Where this game really shines through is exploration and slowly becoming more powerful in the world of Elex. It definitely gives you that sense of achievement when you are finally able to wipe out a group of Reavers with health potions to spare, where before you were a short snack for a Biter - and it is a very long road before you can get to that point. The enjoyment level is a bit of a roller coaster ride. I'm either playing it until the wee hours of the morning, forcing myself to stop, or playing it for no more than an hour before I rage quit from being killed by a low level monster, or suffering a glitch, or just plain bored. The way quests are given and followed is a bit lacklustre - again typical of a PB game - where it doesn't really give you much direction. The more hardcore fans will say this is because it doesn't hold your hand, I just think it's sloppy implementation to be honest, and often I found myself solving a quest by accident, or just bored running around wondering what to do next. The combat itself is ok, however it does tend to have typical tropes of a PB game. The stamina system is broken (why does it even need one?) which makes pouring skill points into ranged combat a must. It gets a lot better after level 10 or so, before that it is a real grind, and you won't be able to take on much. Levelling your character is ok, however knowing when and where to distribute points is difficult in the beginning, if you haven't played the Gothic series it'll be a new system entirely - it's not a very good system to begin with. Can't understand why they included the whole 'Cold' mechanic. Reminds me a lot of Mass Effects Renegade mechanic, and it's kinda useless, and feels a bit tacked on. Finally, you have to join a faction to progress the story, and I don't know if it's just me, but none of the factions seem like a party I'd want to be a part of. I actually really hate most of the NPC's in the game world. They all come across as selfish A-holes.
