An insider tip for fans of strategic RPGs. The positives are the interesting battles, game mechanics, characters and multiple approaches. OnAn insider tip for fans of strategic RPGs. The positives are the interesting battles, game mechanics, characters and multiple approaches. On the negative side the game feels a bit like an expansion and it is a bit short for a RPG with approx 20-25 hours (but it were fun hours). Lets start at the beginning. It is based on the German tabletop RPG “The Dark Eye” (Das schwarze Auge) which is different to Dungeons & Dragons and quite successful on the German market. You have to adapt to other rule systems but it is not overly complicated. It is the story of former noble woman Cassia Corapia wife of Marwan the ruler of Mengbilla who was thrown into a prison infested with poisonous spiders and could escape after 4 horrifying years. From there on she wants to claim the Shark Thrown to rule over Mengbilla overthrowing her former husband Marwan and thanking him personally for the imprisonment. It depends on your choices if it will be a liberation or tyrannical usurpation. It is a standard turn based tactical RPG. After the beginning battles you are on the map of Mengbilla and can chose your battles. All have a different difficulty which is displayed as number (The higher the more difficult). Different approaches are possible and some locations have additional benefits as for example gaining better stock of (buy able) equipment or additional heroes. Also except of your main 4 heroes which you can develop as you seem fit you have only access to soldiers. These can be recruited and develop the more locations you have liberated / conquered (Their leader is stronger but not developable by yourself). So the additional heroes are a really valuable asset. Also keep in mind that Marwan will not sit idle on his throne and will counterattack from time to time (Slight spoiler: After each 3 battles if I remember correctly. End of small spoilers). When this happens you have to defend the locations but with your soldiers (if your heroes are not present). What I like are the multiple approaches. You can get intel or information on your target locations. Some enemies can even be interrogated. These can range from just good advice up to game changing tactical advantages. Often you can sabotage or outmaneuver enemies with a secondary team (= 2 phase battles. Warning if you assign heroes you cant use them for the other phase). This makes the battles far more interesting. Another interesting element is on the maps. You can use the surrounding for your advantage like collapsing stuff on your enemies or setting oil pools on fire to just name a few. It was enjoyable to have options available. The battles were always interesting and I say there were only 1 or 2 missteps for me (not that critical as it could just be me). Another strength are the characters. Depending on your choices there are many outcomes affecting the ending the faith of the characters or maybe even some other stuff in the game. The story while not inventing the wheel is engaging and has its strong moments. I especially like the cunning of Cassia who is a remarkable protagonist and some of the good twists. Presentation wise the game looks good and the maps are interestingly designed. My nitpicks are that it is a game I will not replay because I know to much and the style while being good is not fully my cup of tea. A mayor misstep is that the game feels sometimes like an expansion and not like a full game. I clarify here that it is not buggy, unfinished or something comparable in this regard. It is more that it feels limited and I would pay a lot of money for a successor in this style. The other complain is that it is a bit short for an RPG with slightly over 20 hours. I am divided here a bit as I am not sure if the concept could work for a 60 hour game (twice / trice the playtime). Overall this was a surprisingly good experience. The game has it faults but the game mechanics are praiseworthy and kept me entertained. Take it as an insider recommendation.… Expand
