There is nothing like sitting back with a cosy book, listening to the rain, and planning how to expand my undead army. Is that just me?
It is nice to be more active lately, isn’t it? In today’s double bill I’m covering The Necromancer’s Tale and Alpha Response. I’ve spent a decent amount of time on both and while they are completely different games, they make an interesting pairing. If you have played these games before, let us know what you think! No need for any big introduction rambles from me today, so let us kick things off. This will be a shorter piece as I work on some bigger projects, but hope you enjoy!
The Necromancer’s Tale
The Necromancer’s Tale is developed by Psychic Software, and it is pretty impressive in the scope of its story. Quite often on Steam we see a ton of game tags that are inaccurate, but story-rich is definitely a tag that holds up. There is an excellent atmosphere on display with full voice acting, and great writing to back that up.
This is one of those old school games that prioritize story and worldbuilding over gameplay, and the latter is unfortunately something this game struggles with. Fortunately, The Necromancer’s Tale’s strengths far outweigh the drawbacks for me, and I won’t be surprised if it makes my Top 10 in December. I have yet to play enough for a full review (a single run can take over 40 hours) so consider this my usual early impressions. So far however, I am impressed!
The story and overall atmosphere are excellent, drawing you into a richly developed world with tons of characters with every one having their ambitions and personalities. One of the most enjoyable aspects is the way you can develop your necromantic powers and watch as NPCs react to your growing influence. The soundtrack is another highlight with some gorgeous tracks. The amount of dialogue is mind boggling with over 400,000 words total between the conversations and lore.
Gameplay is a little shaky at times with the basic combat system being a little basic for my liking. Making an army of skeletons and shambling undead is a lot of fun, but feels a bit tedious during the actual combat. Some of the bigger battles take ages to complete. Like many classic RPGs, combat is something that’s a little abandoned in favor of atmosphere and characters. Fortunately, combat isn’t too big a focus and you have an option to skip them entirely.
This is a great game so far, especially for fans of story heavy RPGs. Combat is a bit of a chore and I’ve found a couple of navigation bugs, but this is a great game for its modest 25$ price tag. If you are unsure whether to stump up the cash, The Necromancer’s Tale comes with a sizable demo that gives a good impression of what’s on offer. I like how demos are returning to the limelight, and they are vital for a game like this.
Alpha Response
I had my eye on Alpha Response for a while. Developed by the original creator of the first Counterstrike, Alpha Response is one of those SWAT police simulators that puts players into brutal combat situations. It launched in Early Access last October, and the publishers through PressEngine were very kind to offer us a review code to see how the game is shaping up.
This is a hard game to rate because Alpha Response is both one of the most engaging experiences I’ve had this year and the most frustrating. Early Access is often exhausting for players to deal with as it is like throwing money into a gambling machine, but there are many successes within it. The failures often get remembered more however, so there has long been a cloud of concern with Early Access games. That is understandable, especially with an ambitious title like this one. This is a game that’s brimming with ambition and an enjoyable experience, but it suffers from a ton of performance gremlins that hold it back from being more.
The potential for brilliance is everywhere in Alpha Response. It is an unorthodox team based sim that’s similar to games like SWAT 4, Payday, and Ready or Not. While the game is still a bit thin on content, there are multiple maps and missions to mess around with but more like a hodgepodge of playable yet unpolished pieces. I know that sounds worse than it is, but I’ve found a ton of fun amongst all the different missions. Between the diverse range of objectives to the expansive open ended maps, I rarely found myself bored.
As said however, the game is still pretty rough around the edges especially on the technical side. The game is as optimised as a hog in molasses and I found navigating the larger maps to be a pain. It will stutter a lot even on high end hardware and I had a tendency to crash during heavy fire sessions. Despite these ongoing problems, I feel Alpha Response is in a decent state and it has a reasonable 20$ price tag to match.
This post offers a unique perspective on two very different games, and it’s great to see such enthusiasm for gaming. The cozy imagery really adds to the vibe of the discussion.
I agree, the cozy imagery makes the experience feel relatable. It’s interesting how contrasting games can still evoke similar emotions, especially when it comes to immersive storytelling in different genres.
Absolutely, the cozy imagery really draws you into the narrative. It’s fascinating how the contrast between the serene environment and the game’s darker themes can enhance the overall experience.
I completely agree! The cozy setting really enhances the experience of diving into a fantastical tale. It’s interesting how that contrast between the warmth of home and the darker themes of a necromancer’s world adds depth to the story. It makes you appreciate the characters’ journeys even more!
Absolutely! The ambiance can truly transform how we connect with the story. Plus, the rich world-building in “The Necromancer’s Tale” makes it even more immersive, especially when paired with that cozy vibe. It’s like a perfect escape!
I completely agree! The atmosphere really does enhance the reading experience. The intricate world-building in “The Necromancer’s Tale” adds layers to the narrative that make it even more immersive. It’s fascinating how a well-crafted setting can draw us in and make the characters’ journeys feel even more real.
Absolutely! The detailed world-building in “The Necromancer’s Tale” really pulls you in, making the cozy atmosphere even more immersive. It’s fascinating how setting can influence our connection to the story and characters.
I completely agree! The intricate world-building truly enriches the story. It’s fascinating how the author weaves in elements of magic and lore that deepen the reader’s connection to the characters and their struggles.
I completely agree! The intricate world-building truly enriches the story. It’s fascinating how the author weaves in historical elements that add depth to the characters and their motivations. It really draws you in even more!
Absolutely! The way the author weaves in the mythology really adds depth to the characters and their motivations. It makes you feel fully immersed in their journey.
I completely agree! The incorporation of mythology not only enriches the characters but also enhances the overall atmosphere of the story. It really makes you feel more connected to the world the author has created.
Absolutely! The blend of mythology really adds depth to the narrative, making it feel more immersive. It’s fascinating how these elements can shape the characters’ motivations and conflicts throughout the story.
I completely agree! The way the author weaves different mythological elements into the story not only enriches the plot but also invites readers to explore deeper themes of life and death. It’s fascinating how these layers can elevate a simple tale into something truly thought-provoking.
Absolutely! The blend of mythological elements really adds depth to the characters and plot. It’s fascinating how these influences can shape the narrative and create a richer reading experience. What was your favorite mythological reference in the book?
I completely agree! The incorporation of mythological elements not only enriches the story but also allows for unique character development. It’s fascinating to see how these influences shape their motivations and conflicts throughout the tale.
I completely agree! The incorporation of mythological elements not only enriches the story but also adds layers of depth to the characters. It’s fascinating how these elements can create connections to real-world beliefs and traditions, making the narrative even more engaging.
adds layers of depth to the characters’ motivations. It’s fascinating how these elements can intertwine with the plot, making the reading experience even more immersive. Do you have a favorite mythological reference in the story?
Absolutely, the way the author weaves in character backstories really enhances the overall narrative. It makes the plot twists even more impactful, especially when you see how past choices shape their current actions. It’s a great reminder of how every detail matters in storytelling!
I completely agree! The depth of the character backstories adds so much richness to the plot. It really makes you feel connected to their journeys, especially in a fantasy setting like this one.
Absolutely! Character backstories really do enhance the overall experience. It’s fascinating how they can create so many layers and motivations that keep us engaged throughout the story. Plus, a good backstory often makes the twists even more impactful!
Absolutely, character backstories really do enhance the overall experience. It’s fascinating how the author weaves those details into the plot, making the characters feel more relatable and multi-dimensional. It adds depth to the story and keeps readers engaged!
I completely agree! Character backstories add so much depth to the narrative. It’s interesting to see how they can shape a character’s motivations and decisions throughout the story, making the plot even more engaging.
Absolutely! Character backstories really enrich the plot and help readers connect with the characters on a deeper level. It’s fascinating how these details can influence their decisions and relationships throughout the story.
I completely agree! Well-developed character backstories can definitely add depth and emotional investment to the story. It’s interesting how a character’s past can shape their choices and motivations throughout the plot.
Absolutely! It’s interesting how a rich backstory not only enhances character development but also makes the plot more engaging. When we understand a character’s motivations, it really pulls us into their journey.
I completely agree! A well-crafted backstory can really draw readers in and make the characters feel more relatable. It’s fascinating how the setting, like a rainy day, can complement the mood of the story and deepen the reader’s experience.
Absolutely! A rich backstory not only enhances character depth but also sets the stage for their development throughout the story. It’s fascinating how these elements can create emotional connections with readers, making the experience even more immersive.