Age of Wonders: Planetfall Game Review
3 Step Game Review
About the Game
Released
August 6, 2019
Developer
Triumph Studios
Price
US$ 49.99
(MAY VARY PER LOCATION)
Game Description
Emerge from the cosmic dark age of a fallen galactic empire to build a new future for your people. Age of Wonders: Planetfall is the new strategy game from Triumph Studios, creators of the critically acclaimed Age of Wonders series, bringing all the exciting tactical turn-based combat and in-depth empire building of its predecessors to space in an all-new, sci-fi setting.
Build your empire with one of six unique factions, ranging from the… (continues…)
Step 1: Playing Conditions
Read below the game basic characteristics. If it is something you see yourself playing, move on to Step 2: Graphics & Sound.
Gameplay Overview
Best way to explain Age of Wonders: Planetfall (AoW:P), the combination of Risk and Chess, two strategy board games in one. From above, RULE the empire and move your army. On the ground, engage in battles and control your units to kill the enemy or CONQUER a colony.
This is a knowledge and thinking game, your gaming reflex and trained muscle memory means nothing here and will barely be used. There is an entire universe of information to LEARN, progression is slow and rewarding to those who have fun learning. Matches are LONG, 25 hours of gameplay covered only the tutorial session, 2 PVE quests and the beginning of a PVP match.
Step 2: Graphics & Sound
Watch 5 to 10 minutes of any video below. If you like what you see and hear, move on to Step 3: Game Evaluation.
Step 3: Game Evaluation
Build your expectations about the game by learning what it offers and how was The Partisan Spy’s experience.
USER INTERFACE
Game interface is CONSISTENT with the 4x genre. Main action buttons and overlay are in similar spots as other games, so for experienced players, it will feel familiar. On the ground, UI resembles RTS games, turning combat into an extremely intuitive experience.
Finally, game terms and concepts are linked to an information archive which helps to read and understand the game.
STORY
A great way to learn the game and get involved with its world is by playing the CAMPAIGN missions. This game mode is based on stories that explain the plot of the game and the relation between the factions.
It can definitely be considered an extended introduction content to the core game mode SCENARIO and/or MULTIPLAYER, as can take dozens of hours to be completed.
COMMUNITY POTENTIAL
4x genre is a small and SOLID niche in the gaming community. Not the most popular to watch as games are long and less dynamic when compared to other genres. But this same characteristic brings players together, as 5 to 10 hours matches require reliable players that commit to play matches till the end. This alone builds a tight and united community. The universe of information also helps to maintain continuous content generation.
GAMEPLAY MOOD TRACKER
MOOD ANALYSIS
Discoveries and learning took my mood to high levels during the first hours of the evaluation. Every new mechanic or element that helped on a better gameplay performance was a moment of joy.
As hours passed and the game seemed more in control, my mood sustained between NORMAL and EAGER, averaging at ENTERTAINED (+0.22 point to the average mood reach EAGER).
GRIND FEELING
25 hours is NOT ENOUGH for this game, it only scratches the surface of the whole experience someone can have. Maybe for months, you will always learn something new while playing AoW:P and every match will be different from the other. So, experiencing a grind feeling at this game can possibly mean you played too many hours straight or you had enough of it and should move on.
LOVED THE MOST
The manual combat option merged into a 4x game and no need for micromanaging.
DISLIKED THE MOST
The tutorial could have more details and cover a higher extent of the game.
EVALUATION SUMMARY
AoW:P brings that feeling: “just one more round and I will stop” and you never stop.
No doubt that many AoW:P elements can be found on other 4x games. Nevertheless, the combination of these known elements with factions, races, heroes, and manual combats makes this a special game.
After 25 hours, another feeling that AoW:P leaves is that it has been intentionally designed to put aside every secondary feature and let us fully enjoy just the best things about 4x games: Explore, Expand, Exploit and Exterminate.
Choices & Advice
DON’T BUY IT
IF YOU ARE 100% SATISFIED WITH THE 4X GAME YOU ALREADY PLAY.
WAIT TO BUY
IF YOU BELIEVE THE GAME IS EXPENSIVE AND WANT TO WAIT FOR A SALE.
BUY NOW
IF YOU WANT TO HAVE FUN ALONE (PVE) AND/OR BE PART OF A NEW COMMUNITY (PVP).
GAME LIFETIME
THIS IS A +500 HOUR GAME THAT CAN BRING YOU FUN MOMENTS FOR YEARS.
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