The game is a pleasure to play and drags you in with a well characterized world with its quirks. Something mysterious has happened, involving some technology from an obscure civilization: great! It is very unfortunate, in my opinion, that through the game you do not learn anything at all about why and how the main events get put into motion. Leaving a bit of mystery is usually ok, but here it feels a bit like the main story is some undefined background noise. I would still recommend the game when discounted.
Encased is a CRPG with turn-based combat and classless character development system.
There are numerous gameplay systems supporting a wide range of playstyles and approaches. Also these very systems are at odds with each other - Fatigue increases for cracking open locked containers and non-lethal melee attacks, but not hacking or stabbing people. There are crafting and quite a lot of materials scattered, but not enough to use devices or upgrade weapons.
The skill checks are static and RNG-free - the requirements are either passed or not and usually there are several ways to achieve the objectives. Non-combat builds are meaningful and viable throughout the game. There are a lot of equipment pieces, but the inventory management is most uncomfortable.
The companions have personalities, character development, their own combat styles, and unique equipment, while their approval depends on the protagonist’s regular actions. They also can help in several story interactions and use their skills outside of dialogues. On the other hand, they do not have any quests after recruitment.
The writing is mixed - while it presents a coherent narrative, there are some translation issues and it is not clear what the story is trying to tell, except that Fallout is inspirational. The protagonist’s appearance or Wing are never addressed, the only aspect that a vastly different experience in the story is the low Intelligence (Brains) attribute.
The pacing is uneven, with the majority of quests and locations being in the first half, while in the second both the density and the flexibility decrease rapidly.
The game has several accessibility options including subtitles, item and field-of-view highlights, rebindable controls, and manual saving at will. Though, in a few cases item highlighting does not work.
The 3D graphics are adequate, the 2D images are most impressive, the soundtrack is present and not annoying, the voice-acting is partial and usually on point.
I can't quite put my finger on why, but I couldn't get into this game. Maybe I made the wrong choices in early game. I play a lot of strategy games. I like a challenge. I kept having to re - play battles and get trounced until I'd figured some weakness. I quit out of frustration.
There's a lot of good here. Graphically it's solid and runs butter smooth on my R5 3600 / RX580. There's lots to like about the RPG mechanics and the depth of character customisation.
I'll likely come back to it later. I've not long ago finished Wasteland 3, so maybe too soon for another RPG
Encased had a lot of thought, effort, and love put into it, and it bleeds through its absolutely grimy and cruel world. I can easily recommend this for turn based strategy and RPG enjoyers
The world, enviroment and the music is great pairing with its atmosphere, and its storytelling. Some would say the story tries to copy fallout, or S.T.A.L.K.E.R, but I'd leave a remark on such comments. I'd say that this game is a love letter towards these franchises, and it puts its own ideas inside of it. Yes it DOES build upon these afromentioned brands there are simillarities, but rather than trying to hide it, it shows this on itself like a badge of pride.
One must understand when playing this game, that this wasn't made by a tripe AAA + ULTRA studio with infinite funds. It is a love project made possibly by a handful of people who put everything they had into it.
I wish I could give this game 5 stars, but there are some glaring issues, mainly with the gameplay itself.
PROS!
+ The game is simple(For a strategy game), understandable, and quick to pick up. The game rewards everything so you don't have to worry about "powerfarming"
+ The main story for those who read the dialogues is fantastic!
+ The enviroment, the music is great! It fits everything well, from the clean corpo-megalomaniac sanitized halls, to the endless dunes of lifeless emptiness of the dome!
CONS!
- The game is AWFULLY SLOW. This game consists of walking to point A to B. Not only that the combat as well is pacing at a handicapped snail. Combat has speed up thankfully, but even then, this game is TOO SLOW.
- The game feels unpolished, and in some places, empty. In a BAD way. It is obvious the developers ran out of money, and there are places where the game feels ... off. It is clear they were rushing it by the end, and it did not turn out well for them.
- The companion level ups are a joke. They can't be customized, by any means and they are not allowed to do anything.
Its' worth trying out!
Yes, they do. THIS IS IT!
Fine, interesting and immersing, with variety and plenty of details though never overwhelming. The writing, the story, excellent. Combat system, character development, near perfect. Mature, lovely to look at... wow! I did not think there would ever be another real isometric turn-based RPG like this. But there is! Reminds me in a way of Shadowrun, but this is much more deep and realistic.
Russian RPG makers are usually over-ambitious (in a good creative way) and often fail to meet the mark. But this time, they made it. The overall rating for this game should not include early access notes. It would then get a solid and deserved 4.8 stars.
