LOST SPHEAR
I’ve done a lot of thinking about this, and having played through the entire story I can safely give my judgement: This is not a good game. It’s adequate, at best.
Sure there is some stuff to like in here, but overall I found it severely lacking. Here’s my nearly free/ only minor spoiler review:
First of all, the writing and characters are absolutely atrocious. If I’m playing any sort of RPG, I want to be invested in who I’m controlling. In this game, every character hits an archetype from the moment you meet them and doesn’t grow at all through the course of the game. This doesn’t hold true for two of the characters: Locke and Van. But even in their cases, we all saw their individual plot-lines coming, right? (If I were doing spoilers in this review, there would be an earful here about how increadibly stupid and plothole filled a character Locke is here)
– Real player with 85.3 hrs in game
Read More: Best Turn-Based Singleplayer Games.
A retro-esque JRPG that brings me back to the days when I had to do all my homework before my parents would let me play my videogame… In fact, Lost Sphear is exactly that, as it refuses to let you enjoy its mechanics until you’ve sat through 30-40 hours of uninspired plot first.
It’s narrowly a “no” from me.
If you like mechanics-heavy ATB-based JRPG combat, there’s a lot to love here. Global modifiers in the form of Artifacts allow you to change the battle mechanics, allowing you to warp them to favor your playstyle and character builds. Your characters start out as fairly cookie-cutter JRPG roles, but Momentum and Sublimation, though poorly-explained, allow you to permanently imprint your characters' skills with unique mechanics-abusing effects. Weapons and armor are modifiable, too, making almost every piece of gear technically viable* in its niche.
– Real player with 74.3 hrs in game
Sandwalkers
If you’re interested in Sandwalkers, please wishlist and follow us :)
Every decade, the Mka tribe sends caravans of adventurers into the Phithi, the meteorological chaos that keeps the Uwando tribes isolated from each other and makes life outside the refuges almost impossible.
Their mission: to establish diplomatic and trade relations, to explore and reclaim the lands left to the mercy of monsters and pirates, and, most importantly, to plant a new tree city that can become a refuge for the Mka and their allies. Regardless of the success or failure of their mission, the caravans must send the memories they have gained back to the capital, using the crystospheres carried by traveling beetles.
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Guide a caravan of adventurers through ever-changing landscapes.
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Fight and survive in the face of acid rain, sandstorms and heat waves.
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Tame hostile creatures, rescue refugees, seek allies for mutual aid, or follow the blood path and loot everything you can.
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Seek rich arable soil to plant a new tree city for your people.
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Progress by passing on your knowledge to a new caravan.
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Repair the broken climate, and put an end to centuries of wandering.
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Make choices that will affect your future expeditions.
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Each character has a different job that greatly influences the gameplay. It’s up to you to explore mythical ruins as an Archeologist, or track down huge beasts as a Hunter.
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Don’t underestimate the weather! It influences the movements of the characters and the outcomes of confrontations.
Read More: Best Turn-Based Dungeon Crawler Games.
The Bard’s Tale IV: Director’s Cut
Great fun! If you liked Legend of Grimrock 2 I would say this is a must buy, it’s a puzzle-heavy RPG but the movement is smooth, (grid-based movement can be enabled for those who prefer that), and the combat is turn-based and somewhat tactical, and is very entertaining once you get the hang of it and have acquired more types of attacks, spells, and songs. Some combats are puzzle-like and may require to to re-equip or swap abilities beforehand-this can turn an impossible fight into a much easier one at times, as the game itself reminds you. It has a fair amount of flavor of the original Bard’s Tale series in terms of lore, street names, the prominence of the bard class, boss enemies, some locations, and interstitial scenes. Strong Celtic feeling throughout.
– Real player with 130.2 hrs in game
Read More: Best Turn-Based Dungeon Crawler Games.
120+ hours of weekend play over the past few months and I finally completed the game. I think my Adventures began back in April, 2020. I wanted to play this game back when it first came out, but I was reluctant to do so because of the nasty reviews I read about it online. I usually do not let outside opinions sway my decisions but I have a soft spot in my gaming heart for this series, the Wasteland one too, and I didn’t want my childhood memory of games done right to be upset by a potential premature release. When the rumors that a Director’s Cut was going to be launched, I was happy to see InXile continued to polish the game and add new challenges/rewards. Going into this (my first) play-through of the fourth chapter in the Bard’s Tale legacy, I decided I would play as the InXile created Bard to play the story the way they intended me to.
– Real player with 126.8 hrs in game
The Dragons' Twilight II
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed Dragons' Twilight II [DT2], but you know…here goes:
Be sure to play DT1 before starting DT2. The story is wonderful and very important to know so you’ll better understand the DT2 continuation. I was a bit disappointed with the DT2 storyline at first. It is not as dragon-involved and doesn’t have quite the heart that DT1 had. But after getting into the game further a bit, I became enthralled with how the weapons, armor, and magic tomes could be enhanced or rearranged.
– Real player with 109.2 hrs in game
I can highly recommend this game. The developer has used clever changes in plot to make the story continually interesting. Just when you think things are getting predictable you are thrown a curve. The variety of music is excellent and the background scenes in battle and in travel mode are carefully done. Gameplay is interesting and fun. If you get stuck the developer is right there to help with advice. A great addition to the library of any old school rpg fan.
– Real player with 104.8 hrs in game
Walthros: Renewal
Bob is a regular guy working a part-time job in excavation. He’s also a floating fish with an endless appetite for greasy food and helping people in need. Walthros: Renewal is a turn-based RPG about getting by, making friends, and maybe uncovering the history of the world.
Walthros: Renewal is a full remake/reimagining of the original Walthros and is intended for release in 2022, the 20th anniversary of the release of the original DOS game. This new title will take the characters and themes of the original game and give them a new twist, introducing a world that’s both familiar and new to players who enjoyed the original game.
Features:
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Turn-based combat with over a dozen unique playable characters
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No random battles; carefully approach or avoid monsters in the field
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Three difficulty levels to accommodate a range of player abilities
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Explore a world filled with friends and foes; hang out with buddies to strengthen your bonds
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15-20 hours of game play
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Arcade minigames and watchable TV shows bring the world of Walthros to life
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Detailed bios and bestiary to add flavor to the critters you meet
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Logs for main and side quests; never get lost or forget what you need to do next
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Soundtrack by Glock & Mr8bit
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Powered by OHRRPGCE
Credits:
Game by PC Harrington - Music by Glock & Mr8bit - Trailer by Jeremy Bursey - Promotional art by Bemmpo
Colony Ship: A Post-Earth Role Playing Game
This is an Early Access review. The game contains bugs and is only feature complete for Chapter 1. I will not mention bugs in the review, because there aren’t any game-breaking ones and the ones that do exist are minor. Also, please download the combat demo before purchasing.
Background
The game takes place in a post-apocalyptic post-Earth world revolving around a multi-century trip on a colony ship. You are just one person, who lives in an area of the ship, called the Pit. You are not a hero, nor are you anyone special – yet.
– Real player with 90.4 hrs in game
UPDATE:
I now have a good handle on the combat system. Here is what I was doing wrong:
- Character spec:
Decide how you intend to play and spec accordingly. For example: my tank maxed Con and Str this prevents his from being knocked down as I took the Juggernaut feat. It is critical that you also take the Armor Feat with this kind of build. My primary weapon is a shotgun, and he feels really strong. Go all in on your chosen spec, I cannot understate this!
- Easy Target
Pay close attention to what you are wearing. If you make yourself an iron brick you will get prioritized by the enemy AI and get more holes in you than a cheese grater.
– Real player with 60.7 hrs in game
SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech
Makings of a Hero
SteamWorld is a franchise of vaguely connected games, each starring a friendly cast of robots. The latest entry – Hand of Gilgamech introduces a stark departure from the usual futuristic setting, venturing instead into the land of fantasy. Meet Armilly, an adventurer aspiring to at last become a member of the local heroes’ guild. Good heavens! The village has been invaded by an evil army and all of the heroes have been kidnapped. Such a tragedy, if only there was someone desperately longing for a worthy quest to finally prove themselves. It’s high time to gather your trusty companions and make this one count.
– Real player with 41.6 hrs in game
On my first playthrough I went with the Legend difficulty and I was not disappointed… Mostly. Also, quick note, I got the game half off so my thoughts are based around what I got for that price.
Starting with things I liked/loved:
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The Art is beautiful.
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The Characters are simple but lovable.
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The Music I find to be very pleasant to listen to.
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I love the opening and ending sequences, I wish there were more of these.
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The Ending Song, while short, made me smile. I love it.
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The card game mechanic is pretty solid. Deck-Building is fast and easy, chaining cards together for combos or allowing for an additional helpful card to be played is really fun, and while I didn’t use a lot of other cards, I can definitely see some ideas on how to use them for other play styles so I like that there is multiple options on how to play.
– Real player with 38.5 hrs in game
8-Bit Adventures 2
A Retro RPG That’s More Than a Throwback!
8-Bit Adventures 2 is everything you love about NES, SNES and PS1-era JRPGs - with all of the charm, heart and soul, but none of the inconvenience.
That means an earnest, engaging storyline; relatable, easy-to-love characters; strategic turn-based battles; deep party customisation; bizarre monsters; an unforgettable soundtrack; and a large, fantastical world, traversed by Airship, and filled with people full of personality – all brought to life by vibrant 8-Bit inspired visuals.
Our modern approach to design ensures no random encounters or mandatory grinding, the freedom to save your game anywhere, and precise pacing which never bogs the player down with pointless filler, and ensures you’re always doing something fun and meaningful over the 20+ hour playtime. From beginning to end, 8-Bit Adventures 2 is focused on telling an engaging story, not wasting your time.
It may be a sequel, but anyone can jump into this brand new JRPG adventure!
EXPLORE
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12 Towns and 29 Dungeons, every environment featuring its own feel and flavour.
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An expansive World Map filled with secrets and optional locations to discover; both on-foot and by vehicle.
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Take to the skies in your Airship and fly wherever you want, or take a walk on the deck to do a bit of shopping and chat with your party members. It’s your high-in-the-sky home away from home!
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Constant variety – everything from ancient ruins to a robot murder mystery – realised through charming pixel art which walks the line between authenticity and aesthetic.
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Everyone has a story, and you’ll find 8-Bit Adventures 2 full of weird and wonderful people eager to tell you theirs. They might reminisce about the past, offer helpful hints, complain about their daily lives, or just make a joke – you never know what they’ll say!
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Curiosity is always rewarded; the more you explore, the more powerful your characters can become!
BATTLE
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A turn-based JRPG battle system with depth and strategy, inspired by games like Final Fantasy X and Chrono Trigger.
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Build your party from 7 playable characters, who can be freely swapped in and out of battle – without even wasting a turn!
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Unleash 99 unique abilities, including Team Attacks and Omega Burst finishing moves.
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Mix and match between an arsenal of weapons, armour, and accessories, or tap into a flexible Augment system which allows you to customise your characters stats and give them all kinds of special effects!
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Snappy, stylised menus and icons make commands easy to find and execute, even if you’re new to menu-based combat.
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Face down 98 of the toughest and weirdest foes you’ve ever seen – complete with the occasional name pun. They wander the world just like you do, so there are no random battles!
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A carefully balanced experience with a gentle difficulty curve that allows players of all skill levels to enjoy the game, while still encouraging strategy. In 8-Bit Adventures 2, victory requires more than spamming the Attack button!
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Numerous side-quests and super bosses – some of which provide a significant challenge!
STORY
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Become absorbed in an engaging, character-driven tale about living a full life and protecting the things that really matter.
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A feel-good adventure filled with love, laughs, and drama, which deals with the dark stuff but always wants to leave you feeling uplifted over its 20+ hours.
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Meet a loveable cast of characters who form relationships, make mistakes, and struggle with their past, but still work to save the world and overcome their demons.
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Save the world from a vengeful Glitch! A mistreated child with terrifying powers threatens to reshape the world in his own chaotic image. A unique and persistent foe from beginning to end, the Glitch changes and develops over the course of the story like any other character, grappling with what he is…and what he could be.
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8-Bit Adventures 2 has a script the size of a novel, and every line of text has been meticulously timed to make dialogue flow naturally and bring out each character’s personality - just like if they were speaking out loud.
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A focus on tight pacing and providing a consistently enjoyable adventure, rather than dragging things out or artificially extending the length.
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Some fun references and out there ideas, but this isn’t a Meta, fourth-wall breaking story; it’s a heartfelt, character-focused adventure through and through. While the conflict with the Glitch drives the overall narrative forward, the personal struggles and relationships of the party members give the game its heart.
This game features bright screen flashes for certain special attacks and effects. If you are susceptible to these kinds of flashes and bright lights, or have an epileptic condition of any kind, please consult your physician before playing.
Age of Fear: The Free World
Age of Fear: The Free World sports some really ineresting battle mechanics. The Ai is pretty good indeed. it only comes to its limits when units get crowded in limited spaces. otherwise it was most of the time hard to flank.
Otherwise this game, or should I rather say this demo does not offer very much. There is no story i noticed. You do not even travel the world map but rather click on the locations all over the realm. What made the whole experience a bit more interesting was turning the option on for units to have items too. Then I had the motivation to start stealing stuff from enemy units.
– Real player with 51.3 hrs in game
This is one of those games that has the potential to be good, and some aspects of the game are good, but in the end, it just isn’t.
So, the game has a fully functioning battle system, with skill upgrades and a slowly building list of creatures available for recruitment. the game also has items and potions that can be won and used by the player to give the hero/creatures certain perks. this is what is good about the game, but unfortunately that is about all there is to the game: an endless line of battles, with no descernable purpose. you aren’t defending an area from enemies, or trying to conquer areas… you are just randomly fighting random foes, with nothing really gained in the end. The game has no story line. There are random encounters of peddlers selling potions and items, but it doesn’t really add to the game at all.
– Real player with 46.5 hrs in game
Kaiju Big Battel: Fighto Fantasy
Kaiju Big Battel: Fighto Fantasy is a charming and lighthearted throwback to JRPGs of the past, substituting swords and sorcery with the wonderful world of kaijus and wrestling. Kaiju Big Battel: Fighto Fantasy is a definite recommendation to any fans of the JRPG genre.
With eight distinct party members, tons of sidequests to do, many enemies and bosses to face and countless NPCs to talk to and plethora of puns, Kaiju Big Battel has a new surprise around every corner. Accompanying the gameplay is an absolutely bopping soundtrack, pleasant pixel graphics and a whimsical tone that really ties everything together. Talking to every NPC and inspecting every nook and cranny is rewarded with funny banter and the later areas in the game have some of the funniest sequences of any game I’ve played.
– Real player with 21.5 hrs in game
This is a great game. I honestly had no idea games were still being developed using the OHRRPGCengine. This is easily the most impressive I’ve seen and to my understanding also the first to ever get a commercial release. Finally, a complete game that shows off what that engine can do. Looks great, sounds great, and will satisfy those looking for a quirky SNES style RPG. I have a passing familiarity with the Kaiju Big Battel property and was concerned my limited exposure might hinder my experience. Luckily players need not know any lore to enjoy this wonderful game. Highly recommended.
– Real player with 20.3 hrs in game