Recent reviews by Spector

I have been following this game for years and hopping to see this launch.

Even if the publisher didn't ask me to make a video about it, I would have been here writing this early review to tell more RTS players how this is the "New and Unique" game they have been asking for years now.

With 4 game modes, two of which are admittedly very similar (arena and survival) and so far 4 campaign singleplayer missions this isn't a lot of content but it is a very strong start of a game that plays so different than anything I have played before. And I have played hundreds if not thousands of RTS games by now.

The graphics are good, music and sounds too. There are actual FMV sequences, meaning live action movies with real actors like the RTS games in the 90's had.

The gameplay is so cool because your base building is on the move and your HQ (Modu's heart) grows new units attached to your HQ which you can split off from it at any point and in any configuration with other organs.

You basically grow custom units and reshape them as you go to fit current challenges.

With such a low price and unique new way of playing I recommend everyone try it out.

When you keep in mind that this is made by one person and yet it looks good, works and is updated daily with a full singleplayer campaign, skirmish and two more game modes you realise it is an incredible achievement.

What I most love about it :
1. Super weapons and super powers
2. Has a singleplayer campaign
3. Skirmish AI is competent
4. One click formations & same speed toggle for units
5. Base building with defences and walls
6. Three factions with different units
7. Upgradable units
8. Rare unit abilities

What I wish it had:
1. Cinematics
2. Voice actors
3. Multiplayer
4. More super weapons
5. Save and load option
6. Maps with better borders

For now it is working great and plays good, and that is what counts the most.

This demo is better then most full games I have played over the years. Because it is 100% good where it counts the most: Gameplay. Not to mention that it works perfectly and has no artificial limit to the amount of units you can recruit.

These developers know what they are doing and have started with a simple setup of two factions and a few units, but have added several gameplay features that enrich the gameplay and make it feel fresh and interesting even in a demo that only has one game mode for Skirmish and one for Multiplayer.

Buildings can be occupied and have fights on them, neutral creeps will attack you at night, and resources are not limitless.

The multiplyer works well even with 6 players free for all matches with few issues even during an almost 2 hour match.

The AI is well made and gives a challenge while you can chose to have it help you by constructing buildings, recruiting units and leaving you free to fight.

Why are you still reading reviews and not playing???

This is a great sequel but not only does it bring back almost all the content from the original game and all its expansions but it also improves the whole experience with a new engine, upgrades to combat, UI, management, diplomacy and minor factions.

True the price is high, there is some reused content from previous games, and some AI work that is quite obvious but considering the serious drop in game development and publishing standards this is above them all.

The perfect mix of RTS style combat which even allows for some micro of units, with the macro 4X elements of expansion and empire building make it a unique sci-fi game which could really benefit from a campaign mode which it lacks now for a second time. It offsets this lack with great support for custom games, multiplayer, even LAN.

And there is one feature which makes it incredible versatile to play which is taking over another AI faction when you load up a save instead of continuing to play with your faction. This way you can jump into your own save from another perspective, go from a losing side to the wining one or test out other factions in a fully developed empire instead of starting over.

The new engine makes the game run incredibly well with hundreds of ships in combat and dozens of planets to control and build up. The minor factions and the influence mechanics necessary to interact with them give you a wild card to play in every match and spice things up.

Using CTRL+SHIFT+Z key turns off the UI and lets you enjoy battles like you are watching a sci-fi TV show or movie that you can direct and set up. The future mods will make this into any kind of sci-fi you like from Star Wars and Star Trek to Star Gate and Halo.

If I didn't get it for free, I would buy it 100% then and now after playing it.

I have been playing this game for a very long time, since the start of Early Access, and it just keeps on improving and getting more fun to play.

Art designs and graphics are a beauty to look at, sound design and music are great and fitting and gameplay is complex but never unfair or too hard. If you aren't wining it is only because you didn't plan well, didn't see something in time or don't yet understand all the game mechanics. Of which there is a large number which are masterfully interwoven into each other and make each new settlement building just as fun as the first time.

Unlocks and upgrades follow you as you play and keep the game fresh, while new modifiers inside each settlement prevent you from getting bored when having to start over.

Developers have been adding features non stop, new content is free, and good, while players help with their suggestions which developers read and incorporate in updates.

City building and settlement management has never been more fun! You won't regret buying it.

I have played several versions of Tavern Master as the development was on going and I must say it got better and better with each updated.

I love the progression, the balance of income and expenses is well done and sending adventurers for ingredients is a really cool idea.

+Lot's of decorations and furniture for my tavern
+Sandbox mode with lot's of room and levels to build on
+Flawless gameplay flow
+Good music and background sounds in the tavern
+Hotel management is a great and very profitable side gig

-Could use a story mode, More maps, Random events besides thieves

The game runs great, no slowdown even in maxed out sandbox mode. Many different staff members to level up and customize their skill set, and guests to welcome and profit off of.

A really good start for this lone developer and I hope more content on the way.

It has been too long since I have played a game like this. So excuse me if I am not very objective in saying how much I have missed this gaming experience and how much Nebuchadnezzar has scratched this itch.

I loved the art style and music after the first trailer and after building a few cities I adore them.

I just wish the UI was a bit larger on 1440p since I don't play on 4K and can't use the option for 4K UI.

As for the gameplay it's totally addictive and gave be just the right mix of complexity, provided by the 3 different citizen classes and the 35+ resources / goods, 6 services to manage, and simplicity because production chains are just two goods long.

The manual monument building, section by section, and prop by prop is a true novelty in this genre and makes sure that each new city is crowned by a unique monument I built.

Trade is a puzzle of imports and exports, different but always fun to solve on each new map.

The campaign is the only way to play in the current version of the game, and while there is no dedicated sandbox the last few missions are on huge maps, with lots of money so they feel like a sandbox game.

Some will argued that there is no challenge because there is no plague, fire, destruction, armies, angry Gods or whatever else but I didn't miss those gameplay mechanics one bit as I was too busy enjoying the process of city building, monument building, production and consumption balancing, upgrading 3 citizens classes homes, which all required different goods and services to level up.

The overlays for each of these where a big help and the manual placement of distribution paths gave me total control which made the cities success completely dependent on my own skill. This can get tidious in a major city as there are hundreds of these to place and replace but to me that is the definition of fun in a game like this.

I just can't wait to see all the mods people will make for this game and add new campaigns, scenarios, maps, monuments, goods, production chains, buildings and who knows maybe even more services and game mechanics. Oh endless joy !

The game is totally stable btw not one CTD or any game breaking bug so far.

For what the game offers the price is just right. Fast RTS experience just like C&C Generals was.

The three factions offer interesting gameplay as they are not just cosmetically different but also in their gameplay mechanics. Resources are plentiful and you can make quite a large force in no time.

There are no super powers but units will upgrade and get stronger with additional cool effects like getting a laser point defense system or refund their cost.

Graphics are not AAA level but are close to them. Sound and music are well done for an Indie game. I had no crashes or problems playing.

There is no singleplayer or multiplayer so do take not that you will be playing against and with the AI in this game. There are a lot of maps and two game modes.

At this price the game is quite good.

I played for a while, competitive matches.

In the match that broke my will to ever play this game again, a player on my team sabotaged our team from wining two last round in which we could have won the match.

In the last round he team killed our best player in front of me deliberately. One round before that he blocked me with his character from going after a planted bomb and enemy players while not trying to attack enemy players.

This sickens me to my core. I will NEVER play this game again.