Recent reviews by Khorm

Grade B-
The Good: It is a slightly improved Shadow of Mordor
The Bad: It is a slightly improved Shadow of Mordor

If you like SoM and wanted more of the same this game delivers. But if you actually want a meaningful interesting story based in the world of Lord of the ring then.... this is not it. Characters are shallow one dimensional Mary Sues, plot makes no sense whatsoever and has less consistency than a Nazgul, but hey if you wanted to slaughter some orcs and dont care about sotry game has that a plenty

Game itself is pretty good, sadly it fails on a technical level. After sinking several hours into the Ark scenario it crashes as soon as I "win", but of course before game registers I did.

I may revisit this in few years, when it is maybe fixed, but at the moment that insta dropped the joy to -150 degrees with all coal depleted.

Game has severe a bug that erases your game system settings. The effect of this is that unlocked items like costumes get reset and locked and you cannot get the back. This also blocks you from achieving the true ending as that requires replaying this game with a special flag set during first clear and this also will reset.

As usual, KT is dead silent so maybe when Arland DX Mega Uber 16xHD, comes out in 20 years they will fix this.

Grade B-

Game runs well and controls feel good, but compared to something like Ys Origin where you had one character and relatively simple controls, it introduces you to larger party of characters with unique skills and play styles. You can have up to 3 in battle and switch between them, which would be all fine, except game introduces weakness system that forces you to keep switching the characters all the time.

By far the worst part are the bosses who now require you to bring a specific character to deal with some gimmick and you will have very frustrating time unless you are a prophet or read about the encounter ahead of time.... The bosses so far also seem to have a lot of those so enjoyable immune/unhittable/indestructible phases where you have nothing better to do than run in circles.

Grade: B+

If you want something with short with comfy atmosphere this may be it.

The puzzles can be sometimes confusing, the story while intriguing drops quality for convenience at times (a fully operational wheel replacing station just after you break a wheel...)

I really wanted to enjoy this game but the more I play the more I hate it....

AI is absolutely incompetent and RUINS everything by sending ridiculous doomstacks of units paralyzing every front you try to set up with an entrenched enemy.

The only reasonable way of playing is to not have allies at all which defeats the purpose of this game really...

While I enjoy this game story, lore and aesthetics greatly, I will give this game a "Not recommended" review.

I don't mind rewarding various cosmetic or extra items for folks who pre-order or support the game making via Kickstarter. Where I draw a line though, is locking characters with story sections and game enhancing abilities/titles behind these walls.

It is a scummy move that makes the game worse in every way, and frankly is disappointing.

Grade B+
Very intriguing world setting, lore and story. The game only gives subtle hints and what looks like unrelated conversations. It is up to you to piece it all together.

A shame that rather than a classical RPG this game is more of a tactical RPG with chapter-mission sections (There are optional sidequests as well but mostly generic).

The combat is unique but also I dont feel like it ever evolves. Need more battle mechanics/gun types/ party members.

Would really love a higher budget sequel where you could actually travel thorough Basel and see more of its amazing architecture up close (or the outside world).

Grade B+
This is more like Transport Fever 1 HD, than an actual sequel. Mechanically, the game is identical to 1 and just as solid, with some tweaks here and there but nothing that will really make you lose your hat. The biggest change is the graphics and that grass really makes a difference. Maps looks much better although now I am waiting for Transport Fever 3 to make the trees and grass sway with wind...

Biggest let down for me is probably campaign and general mechanics which does not really make you feel like you are an entrepreneur especially the bonus missions are still goffy and silly. It has its charm and some may like it but not my cup of tea personally. Mission also have bad tendecy to have poor goal descriptions making me google all the time. Man I miss Railroad Tycoon campaign where it really felt like you were running a business.

Grade: C-
The game works fine and is not outright terrible but I cannot recommend it as an enjoyable experience. It tries to be two different things at once and for me this does not work.

Take an average Compile Heart game, make it 70% VN / 30% gameplay, remove all customisation/cosmetics, reduce fanservice to absolute minimum. Instead put in an interesting mystery/horror story in (And its not too bad actually).

If you are into VN story you will be annoyed by generic and bland dungeon sections. If you enjoy dungeon sections you will be constantly interrupted by walls of text.

Extra annoying stuff worth mentioning:
- Zero navigation or directional help, or any feedback as to why you cannot progress. Game will block dungeon progress with visible or invisible walls, which have to be unlocked by going to the VN section and viewing an event... but it won't tell you that... or even hint it in any way..... Also if you happen to miss some key item somewhere good luck finding why are you unable to progress...

- Save deprivation - Save points are very rare and It lets you save during *most* conversations, but disables it during the after boss ones (because f** you, that's why) .At times game literary goes out of its way to not let you save after boss battles, and yes it will force you to go back across a dungeon sections before you can save.

- Combat "bounce" mechanic goes from interesting to tiresome really, really fast