Age of Wonders: Planetfall for PC review — Civilization-style strategy meets XCOM-like tactics

Strategy games like the Sid Meier's Culture series and tactical combat-focused ones such as XCOM are both immensely popular in the PC gaming community. They've even won over the hearts of many console players in contempo years, too. However, these two genres rarely intersect with ane another, as they operate on different principles (though both share a focus on turn-based mechanics).

Age of Wonders: Planetfall, though, is a difference from the norm. In this sci-fi title, both the strategy and tactics genres are molded into i experience that works well. And while developer Triumph Studios hasn't gotten this formula downward to a science withal, Age of Wonders: Planetfall overall stands as a solid game you'll have a good time with.

Why non both?

Age of Wonders: Planetfall

$44

Lesser line: Age of Wonders: Planetfall's strategy attribute is lacking. Despite that, the incredible tactical combat gameplay makes upwardly for it, making the full experience enjoyable overall.

Pros:

• Incredible tactical gameplay
• Tons of customization depth
• Great presentation
• Replayable design

Cons:

• Strategy element is lacking
• Quests are mostly uninteresting

What you'll love about Historic period of Wonders: Planetfall

Without a doubt, the affair that stands out the about with Age of Wonders: Planetfall is its tactical combat organisation. Drawing inspiration from the likes of XCOM, the game operates on a plow-based system with all the staples of the tactics genre: individual unit control, accuracy based on range and embrace factors, and specialized abilities. Your forces are segmented into armies, which are vi-man squads led past commanders. In the strategy part of the game, you tin can control where these armies move to on your map, and if one (or more) of them run into an enemy army, a battle will begin. Then, information technology'due south up to you to effigy out how to use your wits and quick-thinking on the battlefield to accomplish victory.

The tactical gameplay is incredibly complex in all the best ways.

The amount of depth to the combat is crazy. With a complex set of rules that dictates how melee combatants interact with ranged opponents to a boundless corporeality of different abilities and skills units can learn, in that location's almost no terminate to the unlike approaches y'all can bring to fights. You tin fifty-fifty customize each unit in each army you have, giving you the flexibility to create specialized troops. For example, one of my armies is congenital effectually sniping, while some other is a mixture of hardy melee fighters and cover-hugging riflemen defended to holding a forepart line. Each of these armies are effective, but if you bring both of them into the same battle, their strengths encompass the other army'due south weaknesses. Being able to create cohesive battalions like this is an absolute blast. When you throw in the fact there are six different races to choose from, the fun never ends. The developers accept included a procedural generation mechanic for replay value when starting a new game, too, and they've fifty-fifty added mod back up.

In terms of presentation, Age of Wonders: Planetfall is also a treat. These types of games can sometimes have disappointing visuals, but this 1 looks incredible with its loftier-quality textures and vibrant, rich color-scheme. The score is excellent too, featuring a wide range of both energetic, action-focused tracks as well every bit calm, mellow ones that practice a lot to immerse you as y'all partake in the strategy half of the game.

What you'll dearest less about Historic period of Wonders: Planetfall

Age of Wonders: Planetfall's strategic side is lacking.

While the tactical side of Age of Wonders: Planetfall is fantastic, the strategic one-half of the game is where problems ascend. The core issue with it is that it'south just not that interesting. There isn't about as much depth in negotiating an brotherhood with foes instead of blasting them to smithereens. And there's a lack of diversity in your options when upgrading the bases y'all institute, which directly butts heads with the nuanced layers of the tactical combat. It'southward not awful, but it feels tacked on. Thankfully, it does at least experience more than fun if y'all cull a fashion that focuses on switching between tactics and strategy. Just don't wait to have a bang-up fourth dimension if yous try to avoid all combat actively and focus on being diplomatic.

Another problem is that the quests the game tasks you lot with during the campaign are banal in design. For the most part, the game sends y'all on fetch quests, which isn't that interesting. It's not a massive deal for me considering I honey the combat encounters these quests typically lead you to. Only be aware that in terms of writing, the game doesn't endeavor to do anything special.

Should you buy Historic period of Wonders: Planetfall?

In some ways, Age of Wonders: Planetfall fails to bring strategy and tactics together in a high-quality fashion. While the tactical side of the game is incredible, the strategic half is defective, and it feels similar that role of the game could take used "more time in the oven," so-to-speak. Even so, information technology'due south decent plenty that you'll like experiencing it in short bursts. The fact that the combat system is just so damn fun makes it hard to feel heavily critical about the game overall.

In the end, I think you'll love this game if yous're a tactics fan and you enjoy some casual strategy focus on the side. If you're a massive strategy fan, though, this game will likely disappoint you.

Historic period of Wonders: Planetfall is available now on Xbox Ane, PlayStation iv, and PC.

Why non both?

Age of Wonders: Planetfall

Strategy meets tactics

Historic period of Wonders: Planetfall's strategy aspect is defective, just the incredible tactical combat gameplay makes up for information technology, making the full experience enjoyable overall.

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more than.

Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/age-wonders-planetfall-pc-review-civilization-style-strategy-meets-xcom-tactics

Posted by: pondercosertrut1966.blogspot.com

Share this post