cRPG

Other Games => ... and all the other things floating around out there => Topic started by: Grumbs on January 15, 2014, 02:09:06 am

Title: The Banner Saga
Post by: Grumbs on January 15, 2014, 02:09:06 am
This just got released on Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/237990/ Looks interesting..tactical turn based RPG

Cartoony graphics kind of look offputting to me, but its got good reviews so far. Anyone tried it?

http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/the-banner-saga
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Rumblood on January 15, 2014, 02:41:45 am
Haven't tried it, looks good. People who comment on graphics over gameplay are offputting to me.
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Grumbs on January 15, 2014, 02:44:27 am
I mean cartoon asthetics rather than the quality of the graphics. I just find cartoon stuff less immersive because it detracts from realism and especially that type of animation that looks like a kids tv show. But I could get into it, just first impressions put me off
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Mala on January 15, 2014, 12:07:15 pm
it is quite nice so far and has a strong focus on decisions. because of that i have lost my tank quite early, crap :P .
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Ninja_Khorin on January 15, 2014, 01:03:26 pm
Well, it is a saga and I love the art style. Really gives it that illustrated look that fits a saga of this type.
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Grumbs on January 15, 2014, 02:45:16 pm
Quote from: Mala on January 15, 2014, 12:07:15 pm
it is quite nice so far and has a strong focus on decisions. because of that i have lost my tank quite early, crap :P .

I decided to get it. BTW you know you can just rest at the camp and guys that died in battle can come back. Dunno how perma death works yet
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Tennenoth on January 15, 2014, 03:36:47 pm
I've been watching it for a little while and bought it a couple of days before release.

Having only played a couple of hours, I am having a lot of fun, the gameplay is sound and I can already see a lot of replay-ability, much to do with making decisions differently, similar to playing through with "what you would instinctively do" the first time around, then going through trying not to murder anyone.

The story is nice as well, and the animation & graphics style does lend to the game, it fits very well.

I'd certainly recommend this to anyone who has a liking for grid based unit movement with minor RPG elements alongside a rather good decision making game, each one you make does seem to have an effect on something.

I've already gotten some kid killed by mistake, simply by doing my duty as a Guard.  :rolleyes:


I'm also still trying to find out who did this;
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: SixThumbs on January 15, 2014, 04:22:15 pm
This one piqued my interest when I saw the previews for it so at some point when I'm feeling less miserly and/or I finish the other games I bought I'll pick it up.

Looked like a solid SRPG, I'm just afraid I'll end up doing what I did with the last one I played and lose steam as the end of the game approaches.
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Mala on January 15, 2014, 11:09:29 pm
Quote from: Grumbs on January 15, 2014, 02:45:16 pm
I decided to get it. BTW you know you can just rest at the camp and guys that died in battle can come back. Dunno how perma death works yet

Naa, i do not mean that, but the random encounters between the fights or during your journey.
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Tot. on January 15, 2014, 11:26:21 pm
Artworks in this game are just amazing. More companies should wake up and realize that "aesthetically pleasing" != 3D wannabie-realism and gorillions of blooms and filters.
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Emotion on January 15, 2014, 11:30:13 pm
great game. nuff said.
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Grumbs on January 18, 2014, 08:53:52 pm
Really good game, just finished it now on Normal difficulty. I spent 14 hours on it apparently

The art style grew on me
Liked the perma death of characters, had a Game of Thrones feel to it sometimes
Nice decision system and seems like it could be played through again (maybe on hard this time, only time I lost a battle was on the last one)
Turn based gameplay is pretty good. Maybe a lack of enemy types
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Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: FleetFox on June 28, 2014, 12:49:10 am
Wow what a game, got it from the steam sale and haven't played anything else since. Really fun, looks beautiful and the gameplay is a little like glorified chess which is great. Highly recommended! If you are into Viking culture like me, definately worth checking out :)
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Banok on June 28, 2014, 01:59:48 pm
I like the feel of the game, but it did feel alot like only a slice of real game. in that story just sorts of cuts off and game isn't that long. I did play through again on hard and it was actually challenging and has some level of re-playability. altho I don't think the combat is great tactical depth, its enjoyable enough. its an interesting and cool game, but I wouldn't exactly say its amazing.

One thing I would criticise; I feel like if the game had voice acting and characters actually animated didnt just stand still in cutscenes, it could have been SO much better. they actually got $700k from kickstarter, which sounds like alot to me for such a basic end product, but I guess both quality voice acting and animation is very expensive.

I've mixed feelings about the art. On one hand I really like the retro basic cartoon style, its impressive when graphics have no textures or lightning, but somehow still looks interesting. but on the other check out their concept art;

(click to show/hide)

isn't it abit disapointing none of those textures of details, slightly higher realism didn't make it into the game? but then sometimes the game just looks so fucking cool, like these scenes;

(click to show/hide)

did they remind anyone else of the 2d traveling scenes in monty python?

Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Bulzur on June 28, 2014, 03:32:46 pm
Why the hell is there a centaur in the concept art ? I replayed it, with different choices, and definitely didn't run across one of this.

I also find it's a shame that you're not given a rating with the number of villagers you save. You can "kill off" all the ones in the beginning, and they just won't care.
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Banok on June 29, 2014, 12:19:25 pm
Quote from: Bulzur on June 28, 2014, 03:32:46 pm
Why the hell is there a centaur in the concept art ? I replayed it, with different choices, and definitely didn't run across one of this.

I also find it's a shame that you're not given a rating with the number of villagers you save. You can "kill off" all the ones in the beginning, and they just won't care.

I would expect because game only contains part of the whole story, expect centaurs in future game in series
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Oberyn on June 29, 2014, 10:56:57 pm
Backed this on kickstarter, very cool game. I made it to the last boss and kept failing on the second phase though. I manage to take down all his armor, but by then at least one of my main tanks and/or dmg dealers is down. I have to replay it from the start cause I made some bad choices. Focused on the wrong skills and leveled up the wrong people. It's by far the most difficult fight in the game, tailoring your team specifically for it from the start won't make the rest of the game that much harder I think.
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Grumbs on June 30, 2014, 01:58:30 am
Quote from: Oberyn on June 29, 2014, 10:56:57 pm
Backed this on kickstarter, very cool game. I made it to the last boss and kept failing on the second phase though. I manage to take down all his armor, but by then at least one of my main tanks and/or dmg dealers is down. I have to replay it from the start cause I made some bad choices. Focused on the wrong skills and leveled up the wrong people. It's by far the most difficult fight in the game, tailoring your team specifically for it from the start won't make the rest of the game that much harder I think.

Yeah I didn't lose a single time until the boss at the end, then I died a few times. The last patch notes say they made the last fight easier
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: FleetFox on June 30, 2014, 08:11:58 pm
Do you guys know if they will make any DLC or expansions? I mean, looking at the map there are huge chunks that you never go to, and the whole mystery behind the Darkness from the North is something I wanna know about haha.
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Bulzur on June 30, 2014, 08:41:59 pm
Quote from: Grumbs on June 30, 2014, 01:58:30 am
Yeah I didn't lose a single time until the boss at the end, then I died a few times. The last patch notes say they made the last fight easier

No kidding. I just love playing with the range, and... well... second part just became difficult suddenly.
Still, gives you a good feeling when you defeat it. Some items that you can get freely on the way during the campaign really help too.


Eagerly waiting for the follow-up. All games with dragons are good games. (doesn't count as a spoiler, right ?)
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Ninja_Khorin on June 30, 2014, 08:46:54 pm
Quote from: Bulzur on June 28, 2014, 03:32:46 pm
Why the hell is there a centaur in the concept art ? I replayed it, with different choices, and definitely didn't run across one of this.

If you click on the plains in the southernmost parts of the map it describes a race of centaurs that saw the mountains and snow and decided to return back south to the open plains.
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Bulzur on July 01, 2014, 06:53:51 pm
Quote from: Ninja_Khorin on June 30, 2014, 08:46:54 pm
If you click on the plains in the southernmost parts of the map it describes a race of centaurs that saw the mountains and snow and decided to return back south to the open plains.

There's only text, no pictures though, am i wrong ?
Still, definitely lore there, indeed. Thanks for that information.
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Ninja_Khorin on July 01, 2014, 10:46:55 pm
No, I don't think they were ever shown, but possibly in a sequel ;)
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Banok on July 01, 2014, 11:11:01 pm
nobody else thinks this could have been 3 times better with actual animation and voiceovers in the cutscenes?

Personally if I want to read dialogue there is much better books out there.
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Joseph Porta on July 02, 2014, 08:14:49 pm
Quote from: Rumblood on January 15, 2014, 02:41:45 am
Haven't tried it, looks good. People who comment on graphics over gameplay are offputting to me.

People who are put off by someone else being put off because of some personal taste are offputting to me
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Golem on January 08, 2015, 10:57:16 pm
There is an official multiplayer add-on now. Thats what I would call it anyway. I'm downloading now. Will get back and report.
EDIT: Pretty good, feels like chess. I had about 1:1 w/l ration so it's pretty clear I'm no master of board gmaes
Title: Re: The Banner Saga
Post by: Polobow on January 09, 2015, 09:15:44 am
Quote from: Golem on January 08, 2015, 10:57:16 pm
I had about 1:1 w/l ration so it's pretty clear I'm no master of board gmaes

1:1 w/l isn't bad either.