The Banner Saga

[Grumbs]

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

[Rumblood]

Haven't tried it, looks good. People who comment on graphics over gameplay are offputting to me.

[Grumbs]

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

[Mala]

it is quite nice so far and has a strong focus on decisions. because of that i have lost my tank quite early, crap .

[Ninja_Khorin]

Well, it is a saga and I love the art style. Really gives it that illustrated look that fits a saga of this type.

[Grumbs]

it is quite nice so far and has a strong focus on decisions. because of that i have lost my tank quite early, crap .

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

[Tennenoth]

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. 


I'm also still trying to find out who did this;

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[SixThumbs]

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.

[Mala]

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.

[Tot.]

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.

[Emotion]

great game. nuff said.

[Grumbs]

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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Story is ok, the lore was pretty interesting at least. It seemed like the story was going to go a bit deeper but it kind of finishes a bit early imo

[FleetFox]

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

[Banok]

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;

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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;

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

[Bulzur]

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.