I want to start out this review by saying that I am in no way experienced in turn-based RPGs. This is the first game in the genre that I've beaten. It's not a genre I am particularly good at or interested in. Regardless, I have an opinion and the kind folks of Metacritic are going to let me say my piece. Though that piece will be more relevant to newcomers of the genre like I.
Let's startI want to start out this review by saying that I am in no way experienced in turn-based RPGs. This is the first game in the genre that I've beaten. It's not a genre I am particularly good at or interested in. Regardless, I have an opinion and the kind folks of Metacritic are going to let me say my piece. Though that piece will be more relevant to newcomers of the genre like I.
Let's start with the narrative. The narrative is... there. There is dialogue, though it is awkward and largely unnecessary. I still can't work out why I needed my experience to be interrupted for a 5 minute conversation on how big the visually big gate is. Or why every battle starts out with a minute of flavour text, though I use the word 'flavour' loosely. Personally I've found more flavour in a bowl of vanilla ice-cream cereal topped with white chocolate. Usually it just ends up with one of my heroes kindly explaining to the random, unintelligent bat how slim his chances of victory are. Thanks Calibretto, I really needed that. Otherwise, the story is generic fantasy tale number B, including an uninteresting cast of supposedly complex heroes who are as two-sided as a one-way mirror, a generic big bad evil and an overreaching dark wizard; sound familiar?
All this to say that the box-art feature of this game is that it has absolutely no respect for your time. If their invention of the time-consuming-lack-of-plot wasn't enough, then I'm here to talk gameplay. And oh boy, is there a lot of gameplay.
Not to say there's a lot of unique gameplay, or depth of gameplay, just that you have to do a lot of it. Welcome to a world where abilities are mostly useless as everything is measured solely in damage, not utility or strategy. Meaning if you're having trouble with a fight then you're not playing it wrong, you just forgot to do your mandatory 2-3 hour grind for levels and gear between dungeons. And even then several enemies are still given oceans of health and damage, meaning back to the grinding board for you. One-shots are all too common in an otherwise snail-pace game, supposedly about tactics and wise use of abilities. Again, no respect for your time. And don't even ask me about the final boss which, for the average player, simply isn't viable with most party makeups. It's Garrison or nothing.
Levelling and collecting gear is slow too. And I wouldn't expect your grinding of dungeons to drop relevant gear, because that occurs less than a benevolent politician. Even when completing a dungeon on legendary, the highest difficulty in the regular game, expect no more than 1-2 pieces of gear, and both will usually be for a character not in your current party. I understand not every player will have that problem. It's up to luck. But it shouldn't be. Why isn't gear dropped at least somewhat weighted towards the characters used to collect it. This shouldn't be a problem for any player. Truth is, I argue this though I know it's of no consequence. Farming dungeons for gear is a waste of time. At this point 'Waste of Time' should be Battle Chasers subtitle. 'Nightwar' is generic enough to be accurate too though. Instead, crafting is the path to usable gear. Now I already hear you asking; why is crafting in a turn-based RPG with a loot system, and why is it absolutely necessary for beating the game?
Well, dear students, the answer is simple:
Hell if I know. Minecraft, I spose'
So have fun grinding out ancient vampire acne which drops randomly from a randomly spawning monster in a randomised dungeon. Oh look, lots of ludicrous RNG for necessary loot, or in other words "example #153 of how this game has zero respect for your time." This is an MMO worthy time gate, yet without the reason of selling subscriptions or DLC. It's there as a conscious effort in wasting away one's short life, I assume. There's no other reason for it. It's not fun or challenging.
So if the game is a dull grind, with cheap combat and enemies, and a plot so bare-bones it would make an elephant graveyard envious, then what is there to enjoy? Well not the art style or music. Hey kids, can you say 'generic fantasy soundtrack?' Because you'll be saying that with every monotone track you hear, and that extends to sound effects too. That second part is a particular shame as strong sound effects could negate the lame combat animations that not only don't represent exciting action, but actually work to erase that phrase from your mind. No more can I watch an animation of giant war machine readying a giant party heal in a close up camera shot with shadows falling over the background only for him to prepare a tiny little ball of magic, lift his arms up slightly as some green washes over characters' feet with a faded groan sound weaker than my morning wake-up groans. And, of course, it's unskippable. Battle Chasers: Nightwar "Wasting your life seconds at a time" TM.
I wondered how this game could be so lame and wasteful, but then I found it on Google Play Store. It's a mobile game.… Expand
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