In case you haven't noticed, we now got a 2Gb
demo.
I have downloaded and played it today, so I can provide a mini review, while YourConscience is working on a full review.
Battles
battles use mechanics and control very similar to TW. You can form groups, and most keyboard mappings are familiar.
However, battles are more fuddly than in TW, some controls are missing, for example:
- no LMB + drag to control formations
- no option to assign multiple waypoints with LMB + click
Morale seems not to be modeled at all, so units will not rout, and fight
to the last man!
Ammunition isn't modelled either.
Then there are some similar problems which are as old as the TW series, e.g. if several units engage in combat they turn into a single goddamn cluster. I don't think you can (or should) disengage units when this has happened, so I usually had to let them fight until the bitter end
Overall I would rate the battle engine as no more than average, probably I would not even play the game anymore if it were only for this part individually. But on the other hand, I had expected it would be much worse.
It turned out entirely rateable as a game that needs to be played strategically, although a bit cluttered.
Campaign
If the battles are soso, it's the campaign map that makes me want to play this game another time. Screenshots already show that you get a very beautiful map, with a lot of options that you would expect, and quite a few fresh ideas. There is a lot of RPG elements, like levelling up the round table knights, and solving quests.
First the bad news. As it was hinted at in reviews, the campaign is really
linear. It's separated into several chapters, with scripted, sometimes branching objectives (some of them optional).
But from what I have seen the story and the scripted parts are very well done. Neocore seem to have done their homework and captured the spirit of the Arthurian Legend. I'd wish they'd turn down a bit more the cheesieness. But if you consider what we usually come to expect from Eastern European developers, they did a marvellous job.
My concern is, since you only have one faction (King Arthur), and one scripted story, is there any long term appeal? Or will most people shelve this after one or two playthroughs?
Overall
My impression is good, if you have the bandwidth you should really download this. PC gamers must be thankful if we get such a game once in a while.
It's also a well designed demo. The tutorial is very long and lets you play through the first chapters of the game. Amusingly it does not waste any time with obvious things. Often it tells you what to do next, but not how it is done. You must have learned it somewhere else, and figure it out