Wayward Son
Fails to keep valuable team members alive
Looks good. Will follow. Love the steampunk Ancient Greece setting, I've always loved Greek mythology and steampunk so this is a great mix.
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Hellenica - Bears and Steam Robots go turn-based RPG... in ancient Greece
- Thread starter Rahdulan
- Start date
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- Jan 28, 2011
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Last edited:
CryptRat
Arcane
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2014
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- 3,565
Taken from http://thedragonloft.blogspot.fr/2017/01/battle-manipulation-skills-part-3.html
So beautiful.
kurtle just a reminder, don't forget the DRM-free version, I'm probably going to day 1 purchase the game.
So beautiful.
kurtle just a reminder, don't forget the DRM-free version, I'm probably going to day 1 purchase the game.
kurtle
The Dragonloft
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2016
- Messages
- 13
Thanks CryptRat. I'm going to personally post a non-DRM build over on itch.io here: https://thedragonloft.itch.io/hellenica. Got you covered!
Severian Silk
Guest
Nice graphics. Surprised the water is not animated tho.
Latro
Arcane
looks cool
Zetor
Arcane
Interestink. Looking forward to this!
Out of curiosity, how long is the campaign? (or campaigns, since I read something about several different "stories" that may be mutually exclusive)
Out of curiosity, how long is the campaign? (or campaigns, since I read something about several different "stories" that may be mutually exclusive)
kurtle
The Dragonloft
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2016
- Messages
- 13
Thanks Nathaniel!
Yea, Hellenica's structure is a bit different from other SRPGs. It's possible to 'beat' the game in 7-8 hours if you rush through, though the final fight will be quite challenging. However, if you tackle each of the unique combat encounters and explore the various timelines, it'll likely take you 20+ hours.
Yea, Hellenica's structure is a bit different from other SRPGs. It's possible to 'beat' the game in 7-8 hours if you rush through, though the final fight will be quite challenging. However, if you tackle each of the unique combat encounters and explore the various timelines, it'll likely take you 20+ hours.
CryptRat
Arcane
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2014
- Messages
- 3,565
I have been playing a little, and I'm having fun.
First impressions :
The setting works very well, following how the history of Steam machines in the game is integrated into the greek history and mythologia is actually pretty cool ; the dialogs are often funny (the game is talkative).
There are branching storylines, which eventually rejoin. The thing is that you can travel in time at will, going forward in a timeline then getting back and choosing another path, and that's fun, for example you're meeting an important character for the first time in two different places depending on the storyline.
About the combat, on the easy side so far,
the fun part is definitely using environnement, in general pushing the enemies to make them fall for 500 damages while they only have 50 HPs.
Each mission has 1 main objective (always killing all enemies until now) and two secondary objectives (for example make x damage from fall). Then you gain XPs based on these objectives (and not otherwise).
XPs are used to buy new skills, and you're free to buy the skills you want. I like this XP system.
First impressions :
The setting works very well, following how the history of Steam machines in the game is integrated into the greek history and mythologia is actually pretty cool ; the dialogs are often funny (the game is talkative).
There are branching storylines, which eventually rejoin. The thing is that you can travel in time at will, going forward in a timeline then getting back and choosing another path, and that's fun, for example you're meeting an important character for the first time in two different places depending on the storyline.
About the combat, on the easy side so far,
the fun part is definitely using environnement, in general pushing the enemies to make them fall for 500 damages while they only have 50 HPs.
Each mission has 1 main objective (always killing all enemies until now) and two secondary objectives (for example make x damage from fall). Then you gain XPs based on these objectives (and not otherwise).
XPs are used to buy new skills, and you're free to buy the skills you want. I like this XP system.
Zetor
Arcane
I like it so far, the setting/story is delightfully crazy. I mean, using Plato to AOE stun luddites with "Dialectics" while my steam jetpack-toting techpriestess pushes mechanized statues from the Agora-> Acropolis conveyor belt onto their heads is a pretty unique experience. Also, the retro PSX graphics are legit.
The biggest surprise was the deterministic combat core (fixed damage for attacks depending on positioning/other factors and everything is autohit, cf Banner Saga / Invisible Inc / Telepath Tactics) combined with separate planning and execution phases, which basically turns each combat turn into a mini-puzzle. So far the objectives and enemies were varied enough so it's all good!
My only real complaint is that the second bonus objective is only revealed after you've completed the level once... so you pretty much need to do each level twice (full bonus completion gets you just enough xp for a full skill point, so it's worth it imo).
The biggest surprise was the deterministic combat core (fixed damage for attacks depending on positioning/other factors and everything is autohit, cf Banner Saga / Invisible Inc / Telepath Tactics) combined with separate planning and execution phases, which basically turns each combat turn into a mini-puzzle. So far the objectives and enemies were varied enough so it's all good!
My only real complaint is that the second bonus objective is only revealed after you've completed the level once... so you pretty much need to do each level twice (full bonus completion gets you just enough xp for a full skill point, so it's worth it imo).
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Chaotic_Heretic
Arcane
So bros is it worth buying? i am on the fence regarding this title. Hope it is not full of weaboo kawai baka baka dere dere shit as the art style indicates
Jinn
Arcane
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2007
- Messages
- 4,975
Honestly, the writing is about up there with fan-translations of anime.
So the game begins with a lady wearing bear skins sitting by a fire and receiving a vision from the god Artemis. Ok, good start, I like that even though the writing is a little choppy. Literally the next second a stranger the character has never met before walks up and just says "I bet you go on all sorts of adventures!" without a single word being exchanged between the two prior. The young girl that says this goes on to say that it's impressive that a woman can get away with wearing whatever they want in this day and age, and that she wishes she could do the same and go on fun adventures too! The lady in bear skins says that the young girl is free to do whatever she wants. The young girl, in typical and facepalmingly bad anime fashion infers from this an invitation to join and decides to go pack her bags for a fun spontaneous adventure! The lady in bear skins says "who said anything about packing your bags! >_<" then quickly runs off. Try as I might, I couldn't even create a story in my own head that would justify how this exchange went down.
This is the beginning of the story....
I'm sorry. I'm willing to suspend my disbelief pretty easily, particularly when it comes to videogame stories and writing, but this has fanfiction levels of cringe. When a game prides itself on it's writing and branching narrative, I need to have an incentive to want to get past the first half-hour without rolling my eyes six times. It was particularly painful to see this happening in such an excellent setting with so much potential.
As far as the combat goes, the different heights on the map and the pushing mechanics seem to be a main focus of the gameplay, which is cool, but not enough to draw me in without any kind of equipment progression or the like. That being said, I would have been willing to give the gameplay more of a chance had the writing not instantly turned me off and made me feel silly for playing the game in the first place.
I'm sorry to the dev. You are a champion for making a turn-based tactics game in this day and age. I don't mean to blast your game or anything, but I was really disappointed with what I got. I would highly suggest finding a more competent writer for your next game.
So the game begins with a lady wearing bear skins sitting by a fire and receiving a vision from the god Artemis. Ok, good start, I like that even though the writing is a little choppy. Literally the next second a stranger the character has never met before walks up and just says "I bet you go on all sorts of adventures!" without a single word being exchanged between the two prior. The young girl that says this goes on to say that it's impressive that a woman can get away with wearing whatever they want in this day and age, and that she wishes she could do the same and go on fun adventures too! The lady in bear skins says that the young girl is free to do whatever she wants. The young girl, in typical and facepalmingly bad anime fashion infers from this an invitation to join and decides to go pack her bags for a fun spontaneous adventure! The lady in bear skins says "who said anything about packing your bags! >_<" then quickly runs off. Try as I might, I couldn't even create a story in my own head that would justify how this exchange went down.
This is the beginning of the story....
I'm sorry. I'm willing to suspend my disbelief pretty easily, particularly when it comes to videogame stories and writing, but this has fanfiction levels of cringe. When a game prides itself on it's writing and branching narrative, I need to have an incentive to want to get past the first half-hour without rolling my eyes six times. It was particularly painful to see this happening in such an excellent setting with so much potential.
As far as the combat goes, the different heights on the map and the pushing mechanics seem to be a main focus of the gameplay, which is cool, but not enough to draw me in without any kind of equipment progression or the like. That being said, I would have been willing to give the gameplay more of a chance had the writing not instantly turned me off and made me feel silly for playing the game in the first place.
I'm sorry to the dev. You are a champion for making a turn-based tactics game in this day and age. I don't mean to blast your game or anything, but I was really disappointed with what I got. I would highly suggest finding a more competent writer for your next game.
Last edited:
Zetor
Arcane
Yea, I kinda agree on the writing. Thing is, though, dialogue in indie SRPGs is usually skim / skip bait (of the recent SRPG crop Telepath Tactics was 'ok', Voidspire Tactics was fine if a bit overly minimalist, but Blackguards and Banner Saga... yea), so my bar is set pretty low. Plus, the anime steampunk ancient Greece setting is crazy enough that I just focus on that instead. Interactions / dialogues with NPCs seem to be a case of exhausting dialogue so you unlock the plot branches accessible from the current location on the timeline (do VNs play like this? I never played one), maybe this will change though.
Gameplay is... different from what you'd expect from a PSX-era SRPG, it is very abstract and gamey (the bonus objectives play into this, with things like "do more than 100 damage in a single round from bouncing objects/enemies" or "throw every single pirate off the ship"). Combat is way more Invisible Inc than FFT (or Tactics Ogre, or Fire Emblem, or...); there's no real level progression other than unlocking skills for your characters you can put into your limited skill slots (which is fine btw, I like the idea of lateral progression in general), no consumables, no stats. Much of combat relies on using the right damage types against the right kinds of targets and (ab)using movement / terrain to your advantage. Doesn't mean it's easy, mind... as long as you're going for the bonus objectives.
So yea, my verdict is still positive overall. If anything, I think this game could really benefit from a demo.
Gameplay is... different from what you'd expect from a PSX-era SRPG, it is very abstract and gamey (the bonus objectives play into this, with things like "do more than 100 damage in a single round from bouncing objects/enemies" or "throw every single pirate off the ship"). Combat is way more Invisible Inc than FFT (or Tactics Ogre, or Fire Emblem, or...); there's no real level progression other than unlocking skills for your characters you can put into your limited skill slots (which is fine btw, I like the idea of lateral progression in general), no consumables, no stats. Much of combat relies on using the right damage types against the right kinds of targets and (ab)using movement / terrain to your advantage. Doesn't mean it's easy, mind... as long as you're going for the bonus objectives.
So yea, my verdict is still positive overall. If anything, I think this game could really benefit from a demo.
Siveon
Bot
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2013
- Messages
- 4,509
Personally I think every game, especially indies, should try to give some sort of demo to the consumer to try and sell their idea that videos and text wouldn't.
Chaotic_Heretic
Arcane
Ok so looks like a fresh take on srpgs. I am not a storyfag by any means, but absolutely hate stuff chock fill of anime cliches. Game play seems interesting enough for me to warrant a try and for some reason gives me mild Disgaea vibes. The 25% discount right now isn't too bad so might as well get it.
Hopefully I can Fast Forward dialogue and ignore all that shit.
Hopefully I can Fast Forward dialogue and ignore all that shit.
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