Miasma Chronicles

 PC
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 23
  3. Negative: 1 out of 23

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  1. CodyYoung
    May 24, 2023
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Voice acting ranges from quite excellent to hammy but even the worst isn't bad and generally works. Settings are great and filled with easy to miss details -like crocodiles mucking about in the water beyond the railing out in the swamp. I really wish more games incorporated elements like that. The environmental storytelling is also pretty decent, not nearly on the same level as say Elden Ring but still pretty satisfying for those like me who enjoy exploration. There is a score but nothing memorable, if you are one of those who believe in nonobtrusive leitmotif then you'll be thrilled by the unremarkable musical accompaniment

    That's all I got for the good

    As for the bad? Controls are miserable (nothing can be done with a single click, everything requires a -sometimes convoluted- sequence of different keys to execute anything you want to do. You want to end a conversation early? Well, first you have to click escape through each line of dialogue and right click with your mouse at the end to terminate the exchange. No using a GUI in combat and clicking on your action, no no, you have to hit the number key that corresponds with the action you want, select a target with the Q and E keys, then hammer the spacebar to get it done. There is nothing in this game so well done that it makes navigating the controls worth it in my opinion

    Narrative is so thin they have to hide it behind constant misdirection and pointless obfuscation. I don't want to spoil anything for those who might be able to look past the imperfections and may really be able to love this game, but the gist is after abandoning you as a child your mother leaves you a MacGuffin that will help you find her and while she has time to completely program and test a robot to raise you in her absence instructions on how to use the MacGuffin are safely stored as poems on a separate and encrypted hard drive then doled out one stanza at a time by a brain in a jar because that is the most effective method of disseminating vital information. All this game is missing is an animatronic Abraham Lincoln leading a robot uprising. Every NPC you run into will constantly remind you of you mother, how important she is, and how you really need to find her mainly because there is nothing else to establish any emotional investment from the player into the narrative. 'Show don't tell' is an oft repeated mantra in writing because human concern and interest cannot be compelled or commanded, they have to be earned. You can say Storm Troopers are accurate, but when all they do is miss their target no one will take your claims seriously. Repetition cannot eclipse demonstration

    Combat is generally unsatisfying. You like chess? How about a game of chess where I take away all but three of your pieces, arrange mine so you are three moves away from check mate and if you beat me it will feel amazing! Slog through a half a dozen of of those games and I will give you a skill point to unlock another chess piece! That is a slight exaggeration but not by much. This game relies on a lot of gamey elements that take control away from the player in order to force them into a situation and deliver a specific experience. Exhaustively clear an area and you will be rewarded with a cinematic ambush where you are surrounded on all sides as your character simply watches them arrange themselves with shock to match your annoyance. Combat always feels forced, uninteresting, and unavoidable

    There are sixteen skills which require a total of forty six skill points to unlock. After your first 60 minutes in the game you will have. . .two, maybe three if you didn't waste time looking for the insultingly low level loot; denominations of 'plastic' mostly doled out lots of 10 where consumables cost hundreds and weapons cost thousands, this exists to gate the player as there is not much too really buy and what little there is is further thinned out by making levels for everything so you have to constantly replace whatever you do have with the same thing but different stats

    Firearms haven't been so short ranged and lacking in lethality since we abandoned black powder and ramrods, Sniper rifles have a one shot capacity, a range of thirty feet and you can't fire and reload in the same turn, worse they only do marginally more damage than the automatic rifle -forgive me, "assault rifle"- which is incapable of burst or automatic fire. Shotguns do even less damage than the rifles. Firing a weapon is only a single action if done as a second action but if done first your turn is ended. Using the ample cars strewn about as scale, grenades have a range of what looks like twelve feet and a radius of maybe four. They deal more damage than the rifles, by and large, but are only capable of taking out the very weakest enemies - you know, those spawned into existence by the enemies you are actually trying to kill

    This game feels a lot like Encased where the love and craftmanship was traded away for better graphics    … Expand
  2. DayDrunkGamers
    May 28, 2023
    6
    A better than okay showing from The Bearded Ladies, though not without its faults (6/10).

    Full Review:
    https://daydrunkgamers.com/reviews/MiasmaChronicles.html
  3. mdk567
    Jun 10, 2023
    5
    훌륭한 세계관과 그래픽. 스토리
    끔찍한 전투와 번거로운 컨트롤이 망친 게임

Awards & Rankings

98
#98 Most Discussed PC Game of 2023

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 38 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 38
  3. Negative: 1 out of 38
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 22, 2024
    60
    One can't help feeling that it is a worse version of its predecessor. The game contains a few new features, but some of them make it slightly worse. It's still fun though, with a cool world to explore and an interesting combat system that will keep you entertained most of the time. [Issue#329]
  2. GamingTrend
    Jul 17, 2023
    80
    In the post-apocalyptic world of Miasma Chronicles, players embark on a gripping journey with Elvis, a young man possessing a unique glove that can control the devastating Miasma. Developed by The Bearded Ladies, known for Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden, this turn-based tactical game offers a captivating story and memorable characters, though it follows a mostly linear narrative. While the exploration aspect may feel repetitive, the game truly shines in its intense combat, featuring Elvis's glove and strategic elements inspired by games like X-COM. With customization options, evolving characters, and no need for grinding, Miasma Chronicles delivers an accessible and engaging experience for players seeking a balance of gameplay and narrative.
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  3. GameCritics
    Jun 28, 2023
    60
    While I’m enjoying Miasma Chronicles, I don’t think it’s one I’m going to stick with. There are too many moments where the deck feels stacked against me in combat, and there aren’t many ways to get on par with the difficulty curve, let alone get ahead of it. The developers get very close to something great here, but there’s something off in their formula and it’s just not clicking in a way that feels satisfying.
    Read full review
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