The Banner Saga: Factions

 PC
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 115 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 85 out of 115
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 115
  3. Negative: 17 out of 115

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  1. Kattsylt
    Feb 27, 2013
    7
    The game is beautiful to look at and creates a nice atmosphere. Its easy to learn and get started and with four base classes with 3 different specializations each there are a lot of different ways to customize your 6-man team.

    At this point there are some issues though. A lot of the matches are incredibly slow due to server issues; most of the time playing is spent waiting on lag.
  2. Caspica
    Feb 27, 2013
    7
    This game is wonderful in so many ways. The amazing art style, a combat system with actual depth and an interesting progression system for each individual character. Sure, the game might suffer from some bugs and lag issues but that will be fixed in due time. There is, however, one major flaw of the game that drags the score down from a strong 9 to a 7: namely the in-game store. TheThis game is wonderful in so many ways. The amazing art style, a combat system with actual depth and an interesting progression system for each individual character. Sure, the game might suffer from some bugs and lag issues but that will be fixed in due time. There is, however, one major flaw of the game that drags the score down from a strong 9 to a 7: namely the in-game store. The primary thing you buy from the store is renown which is used as a "currency" in the game to buy levels for your party making your characters stronger and additional skins. The problem lies with the buying of levels though. This means you're essentially buying power which should be considered as a universally bad thing. Now, there is a system within the game to match you to an opponent with similar combat experience and a party with a similar amount of levels but let me give you a hypothetical scenario to point to the problem: a beginner start up the game one year from now with no experience whatsoever. The popularity of the game has cooled off and left are the hardcore players who have invested a lot of time and maybe money into the game. Now the beginner search for an opponent at his lever but since there are no such players the search algorithm has to go further and pick an opponent from the pool of hardcore players. He will become utterly crushed, both because of his inexperience but also because of his strictly inferior party to that of the opponent's. See the problem? The game is amazing in so very ways so I hope Stoic will resolve this problem as soon as possible.… Expand
  3. eff
    Feb 28, 2013
    6
    I've followed this game since contributing to the beta funding campaign. Stoic has an incredible game on their hands that I love playing. Now if they could just sort out their server issues so that I might be able to play a full match in under an hour or even at all without being disconnected with little to no warning, I'm sure I'd be playing it at this very moment instead of writing aI've followed this game since contributing to the beta funding campaign. Stoic has an incredible game on their hands that I love playing. Now if they could just sort out their server issues so that I might be able to play a full match in under an hour or even at all without being disconnected with little to no warning, I'm sure I'd be playing it at this very moment instead of writing a lukewarm review out of frustration. I can only imagine how many potential fans they've alienated in the past few days since launching. If it hadn't been for my previous familiarity and awareness of just how much fun this game CAN be I would have ragequit and not looked back five prematurely disconnected matches ago.

    C'mon Stoic. Sort it out.    … Expand
  4. rapturjesus
    Jul 3, 2013
    6
    While having a neat art style, the game has some fatal flaws.

    1. Paying makes you level up faster. I know this is a FTP game and they have to make money. However the whole micro-transaction and just straight purchasing of renown makes the game a rich man poor man type of deal. 2. Not many units to choose from and not many options to customize those units. 3. Random misses. It    While having a neat art style, the game has some fatal flaws.

    1. Paying makes you level up faster. I know this is a FTP game and they have to make money. However the whole micro-transaction and just straight purchasing of renown makes the game a rich man poor man type of deal.

    2. Not many units to choose from and not many options to customize those units.

    3. Random misses. It seems like the game randomly throws you a cooked grenade to hold to help the other player. Chance to hit percentages seem completely off sometimes and don't make much sense.

    4. A few balancing issues with archers and some units dealing one shots with simple attacks when you're at full armor and full health.

    Despite this it is still a fun game. For a FTP its worth checking out so long as you can deal with some flaws.    … Expand
  5. danlatoo
    Aug 28, 2013
    5
    Beautiful game, but to be honest, it got boring fast. On one hand, some of the mechanics are incredibly interesting; you can actually set up some very interesting combos. The main issue, which I question greatly, is the designer's decision to tie the hp stat to the damage stat. While it works for some games, this is a huge hindrance to the traditional tactical RPG gameplay. HalfwayBeautiful game, but to be honest, it got boring fast. On one hand, some of the mechanics are incredibly interesting; you can actually set up some very interesting combos. The main issue, which I question greatly, is the designer's decision to tie the hp stat to the damage stat. While it works for some games, this is a huge hindrance to the traditional tactical RPG gameplay. Halfway through the game, most units are dealing little damage, or even missing, due to low health pools. Especially when games are matched evenly, it becomes all about who misses the least.

    Those being said, it definitely has it's perks. The synergy between classes is phenomenal, and the the growth system is engaging enough. Many will complain about the boosts/currency store, but to be honest it's to be expected with the f2p model, and there's nothing in the store you can't get in other albeit slower ways. The artwork and animation are simply beautiful.

    Really, I would have enjoyed playing this a lot, but it's just too repetitive. The lack of stalemates and ability to turn the tables makes the combat system one sided, and frankly boring. And unfortunately, for a tactical RPG, gameplay is important.    … Expand
  6. Rodick90
    Sep 20, 2013
    7
    This game is awesome if u ask me. Simply let me put it like this:
    “You can’t sell advantage. That’s rule number one. You can’t buy advantage in Factions. You can speed up progression and you can buy vanity items. We made the decision to make it not pay-to-win.” That is said by Watson. I LOVE THIS GAME!!!
  7. armoredchimp
    Feb 11, 2014
    6
    Not as good as the singleplayer iteration, but a pretty solid game nonetheless. The combat system, which is the same as the singleplayer, is very good and is of the "easy to pick up, difficult to master" variety. However there are far less classes than the singleplayer and also no option to equip items, apparently these will be added eventually but the options in the game are pretty bareNot as good as the singleplayer iteration, but a pretty solid game nonetheless. The combat system, which is the same as the singleplayer, is very good and is of the "easy to pick up, difficult to master" variety. However there are far less classes than the singleplayer and also no option to equip items, apparently these will be added eventually but the options in the game are pretty bare right now. As of now though I have to attempt to open the game anywhere from 3-15 times because it almost always crashes on starting, many other users have this issue too. I would rate this game 2 points higher and give it an 8(and will change my score once they fix this) if I could reliably open it but until then I can only give it a 6.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
67

Mixed or average reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. CD-Action
    May 13, 2013
    60
    Factions is a teaser of a bigger game and does a rather lousy job at encouraging to check out the main dish. It’s simply boring. [CD-Action 06/2013, p.81]
  2. Thunderbolt
    Apr 15, 2013
    60
    The Banner Saga: Factions’ slower pace and current lack of class variety will be enough to discourage many from trying this particular brand of turn-based strategy. But those who can look past these flaws will find a somewhat deep combat system that necessitates tactical awareness and forethought, and a rewarding experience for those who invest the time needed to learn its intricacies.
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  3. PC Gamer
    Apr 1, 2013
    59
    An accomplished and pretty strategy game, sadly hindered by a handful of questionable design choices.
    Read full review
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