Turn-based Archives - Tech-Gaming

Trials of Kokoro review

Robert Allen — Thu, 25 May 2023 02:51:42 +0000

Kokoro is the Japanese word for “heart”, and this game has it. Franchises like Utawarerumono, Tears to Tiara, and of course, Disgaea have married the expressive storytelling of a visual novel to turn-based combat. The results have largely been rewarding, with pulpy dialog providing plenty of motivation when fights inevitably break out. The sophomore effort ...

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Abalon review

Robert Allen — Tue, 16 May 2023 19:08:49 +0000

Abalon might lack visual allure and battles can grow unbalanced by unit summoning. But the game’s succinct adventures convey potential. D20’s Abalon makes a modest first impression. The game’s simple sprites depict a fantasy setting where human adventurers, creatures, and the undead intermingle. But the art used for the game’s overhead perspective is simplistic. Alongside ...

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Showgunners review

Robert Allen — Thu, 04 May 2023 03:51:19 +0000

While the social satire lacks some bite, Showgunners blend of murderous spectacle and XCOM-style strategy is a title tactics aficionados won’t want to miss. Formerly known as Homicidal All-Stars, Warsaw-based developers Artificer changed the name of their latest game to Showgunners. The new moniker is decidedly less garish, but it’s hard not to wish that ...

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The Battle of Polytopia review

Robert Allen — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 21:34:53 +0000

Looking to occupy an entire landmass on your lunch break? The Battle of Polytopia provides many of the essentials of a 4X strategy game, while eschewing some of the time-consuming nuances. Civilization VI is a lot like Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman. Both are best when enjoyed in uninterrupted form. But let’s face it, having a ...

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Circus Electrique mini-review

Robert Allen — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 20:55:54 +0000

2016’s Darkest Dungeon delivered a rousing interpretation of card-driven, turn-based combat. As with most breakout hits, the title inspired an array of indie developers to code their own deviations. From Legend of Keepers: Career of a Dungeon Manager, Iratus: Lord of the Dead, to Slay the Spire, each game replicated Red Hook Studios’ basic formula ...

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Hard West 2 review

Robert Allen — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 01:49:07 +0000

With a variety of smart variations, Hard West 2 offers a delightful digression from turn-based strategy titles, making it more than just XCOM with revolvers and rifles. Gunslinger Gin Carter just lost his soul in a card game against a deceitful demon named Mammon. Carter planned on an easygoing train heist for his posse, but ...

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Coromon review

Robert Allen — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 01:22:15 +0000

Like many battles between cultivated game creatures, Coromon swings pendulously. One moment you’ll adore its variations on Pokémon formula, the next minute you might curse at the superfluous amount of HP an opponent has. As monster-taming games go, TRAGsoft’s Coromon gives a disagreeable first impression. Before the game starts, players are asked to link the ...

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Obsidian Prince review

Robert Allen — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 03:11:28 +0000

Descriptions or aesthetics might make you assume that Obsidian Prince is derivative. Like it’s plucky adventures, the game forges its own distinctive path. Perhaps I’m getting old and jaded, but descriptors like “roguelike” and “voxel graphics” don’t grab my attention they once used did. But when Steam applied the Mystery Dungeon label to Obsidian ...

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As Far as The Eye review

Robert Allen — Tue, 03 May 2022 15:58:07 +0000

With two inelegant tutorials and play that seems soothing but can be surprisingly strenuous, As Far as The Eye often dares you to like it. There are several strong reasons tolerant players might. The “eye” in As Far as The Eye isn’t a visual organ, or even a metaphor for sight. It’s the sole sanctuary ...

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Defend the Rook review

Robert Allen — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 02:19:24 +0000

By Rogue or Rook, clear out waves of spawning enemies with your adventuring party in this intermittently clever departure from more turn-based tactical titles. Occasionally, the language that developers use to describe their game isn’t always accurate. That’s the case with Sydney-based One Up Plus’ Defend the Rook. While the husband-and-wife development team toss around ...

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Hero’s Hour review

Robert Allen — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 01:09:56 +0000

Ubisoft let the Heroes of Might and Magic franchise tumble into obscurity. Fortunately, Copenhagen-based Benjamin Hauer revisits turn-based, map-roaming conquering, adding real-time battles, and a heap of chaos into the proceedings. An appreciation for uncertainty is almost a necessity when venturing into Hero’s Hour. Initially, the tutorial makes the game seem relatively straightforward. Across a ...

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Jupiter Hell review

Robert Allen — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 05:39:36 +0000

DoomRL demonstrated that Doom could be turned into a rewarding turn-based tactical game. But when the lawyers started sending cease-and-desist warnings, the developers moved the action to another planet. Jupiter Hell retains the look and spirit of its predecessor, with skulking, shooting, and character cultivation that’s as absorbing as ever. Over the past few years, ...

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Legend of Keepers: Career of a Dungeon Manager review

Robert Allen — Fri, 07 May 2021 15:30:35 +0000

The weekly scheduling of recruiting and training monsters, enhancing trapping technologies, and building up the boss makes Legend of Keepers: Career of a Dungeon Manager a vocation worth seeking out. But look over the work conditions before signing on the dotted line. Dungeon Keeper, War for the Overworld, the Dungeon series, and even the recent ...

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Quinterra (Early Access) preview

Robert Allen — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 03:19:07 +0000

The best Early Access titles feel virtually complete. Built on seemly solid foundations, these games might need just a bit of additional substance before making the leap toward a final retail build. Then, there’s a second tier of game which offer fleeting glimpses of achievement. There’s just not enough completed development to ensure successful results. ...

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Fights in Tight Spaces (Early Access) preview

Robert Allen — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 16:23:01 +0000

Deck-based, ass-kicking action that’s even better than the B-movie title might suggest. If you ever owned a Sony PSP, there’s a good chance you might have played 2005’s Metal Gear Acid or the sequel released the subsequent year. A bold departure from the mainline titles of Hideo Kojima’s stealth-action series, the ACID series still focused ...

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Crown Trick review

Robert Allen — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 15:21:33 +0000

While the try, die, repeat cycle feels familiar, the rest of Crown Trick’s execution is unique. Fans of turn-based title should appreciate the sense of dominance that comes with the powers of defeated foes and traits like teleporting around bosses. With nearly as much predictability as the phases of the moon, several new roguelikes appear ...

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Runestone Keeper review

Robert Allen — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 14:11:51 +0000

Runestone Keeper is ideal for when you want a dungeon-delving, monster-murdering, experience but don’t have hours to spare. While the board-game like approach doesn’t offer much storytelling, the traditional role-playing dilemmas are here in condensed form. I absolutely love 80+ hour role-playing games. Given a substantial investment of time, I’ll often feel a connection ...

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Sentinels of Freedom review

Robert Allen — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 04:46:29 +0000

As another multimedia spin-off, Sentinels of Freedom has its moments, but it’s also best enjoyed by fans of the property. If you’re here seeking turn-based action with heroes, you might want to familiarize yourself with Legacy, Absolute Zero, and Expatriette before proceeding. In concept, the idea of an XCOM-like, turn-based title where players take control ...

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European Conqueror X review

Robert Allen — Mon, 13 May 2019 22:47:05 +0000

Some developers leap across genres like a frog jumping from one lilypond to the next. But that’s not the case for EasyTech, A Chinese studio who’s been crafting historically based, turn-based war titles for over a decade. Adhering to a tabletop-like formula, the developer has made twenty different battle simulations, across periods as diverse as ...

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Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics review

Robert Allen — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 19:07:23 +0000

Every week, the Switch’s software library grows with an abundance of new games. Although there’s already an assortment of turn-based games like Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, SteamWorld Heist, as well as multiple entries in the Valkyria Chronicles, Disgaea, and Banner Saga franchises, genre fans might argue there’s no such thing as too many tactical ...

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