Comments on: The Banner Saga

By: Anonymous Fairy

Anonymous Fairy — Sat, 18 Jan 2014 18:13:55 +0000

Agreed, the Japanese invented squares and the Westerners invented hexagons.

By: saluk

saluk — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 18:37:17 +0000

Yet another review that reads like someone has never played a japanese style strategy rpg before. It feels very similar to fire emblem to me, at least in the structure. All of those have usually very linear storylines with very light rpg elements in between the tactical battles which are the meat of the game. That said, if the banner saga were a little bit better, and had less annoying tactical combat (it’s not bad per se, just always feels like a slog), it might win over more people who hadn’t played this genre much.

By: Gray

Gray — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 06:14:25 +0000

If your battles end up in a mash up and characters are getting knocked out before they get a turn then you’re doing it wrong and no doubt lost quite a few encounters. Positioning is a huge part of the strategy in the combat. You need to use bigger units to block and defend others and keep range at the start by placing your units intelligently before combat begins. The combat system is simple, but surprisingly deep once you get your head around it.

I loved this game, it’s the most engrossing experience I’ve had in a while. The reviewer is right, if you’re looking for an rpg in the traditional sense you’re going to be disappointed. But I don’t know why you’d be looking for that here. It was never meant to be that kind of game. Seems a little unfair to criticise it for not being something it never set out to be in the first place.