...and it still feels like I paid too much. You know those really terrible games that are overcrowding Steam these days because everybody is a game dev nowadays, and it's so easy to throw up (literally? figuratively?) an Early Access game and sell it on the promise that it *might* get better before "release"? Well, this game is like the 1990s forefather of those terrible games. In fact, if I hadn't seen that it was originally released in 1996 I would have assumed it was exactly one of those games. I'm keeping this short so in conclusion, take a minute to read the synopsis. Get it for free because then you also get Stronghold HD for free and that's a win (sorry if you're reading this after that promo ended). Otherwise, avoid this game like a man trying to survive in a world full of killer lesbians and bionically-engineered man-women. (seriously, read the synopsis)
I got this game on Steam Early Access. Now that it's officially released and the devs have stopped creating new content, I'll give my thoughts. Battle Brothers is a unique game where every character you hire could become your new hero, or just more fodder for battle. Almost everything in the game is procedurally generated, from the map to the character backstories and the missions. After a few hours of play you'll start to see the stitches holding everything together, but it's still a fun experience. The option to choose whether or not you're able to save your game manually is great; it adds a level of realism and a sort of hardcore-mode that makes every decision count. The graphics are pretty to look at and the battle system is very enjoyable (turn-based, hex-tiles, with some nice strategic elements). Missions are typically of the "kill those guys" or "escort this guy" variety, but the Renown and Ambition systems work well to keep you moving forward. The most disappointing part of this game is that is feels sort of unfinished. There are tons of little stand-alone buildings near towns that do nothing, there is no interaction with peasants or caravans on the roads. I thought the devs would add these things in since it seemed like such an obvious feature, but it never happened. Of course this doesn't ruin the game by any stretch, but it does knock it down from a 5-star rating. Overall Battle Brothers really is a great, fun game that's easy to pick up but hard to master. If not for the feeling of emptiness from the vacant buildings and non-responsive NPCs, I would give this game five stars. As it stands, it's a solid 4/5.
I went into this DLC with somewhat high, but not unreasonable hopes, and was disappointed. VC should not be labeled as official DLC. It's kind of a messy mod at best. I'll start with the positives. There are some really cool additions to the M&B gameplay. I love the ability to issue a shield wall command and other (admittedly clunky) formation commands to control the battle. I also think the VC story is engaging with fun twists and turns. Some little adjustments, like the addition of work places (farms, salt mines, etc.) and the naval aspect are really cool and have a ton of potential. Finally, I love the historical setting. Unfortunately this mod (I mean DLC...) is just too much of a mess to really enjoy. The UI scaling is terrible compared to the original Warband, to the point where a large army list doesn't even fit on the screen. The CPU/GPU demand is bloated beyond the original Warband, which is not a negative in and of itself (games are allowed to get an overhaul with DLC), but the payoff just isn't there for such high system demand. Not to mention the aforementioned gameplay additions which are good, fun ideas, look really shoehorned into the original game mechanics. It looks like nothing was newly created, but rather existing features were copy/pasted then tweaked to appear to be new features. The effect is pretty underwhelming. For example, the player passes through resource textures as (s)he cuts wood, mines salt, etc. Some changes to the original game are a misstep as well, like the need to prove yourself before being able to hire soldiers. It's an interesting idea that adds a ton of challenge to the early game, but there aren't enough mission types that can be completed by a solitary soldier to make this change engaging. Instead, it feels like a grind, trying to find feasible sources for money or renown. Overall, I sadly cannot recommend this DLC. It's packed with good ideas and a great setting, but the execution leaves a LOT to be desired.
