Recent reviews by The Coffee

Expeditions: Viking, despite its generic and unassuming name, is anything but. "Viking" is instead a surprising, hidden gem with a simple, yet compelling and beautiful story buttressed by rather deep tactical combat and RPG mechanics. Any fan of classic CRPGs, new and old, such as Baldur's Gate or the more recent masterpiece Pillars of Eternity will fall in love with this underappreciated title. Disarming in its incredibly thoughtful writing and storytelling, as well as in its unique gameplay systems such as camping and injuries (instead of outright character death), I strongly recommend this little work of art, and I cannot wait to see what the developers do with the untapped potential that remains in a title such as this in their upcoming games.

Academagia is one of the most unique text-based RPGs out there. Let me share with you a few of my own brief comments about certain aspects of the game.

Worldbuilding:

At first glance, this seems like a mere reskin of the Harry Potter world. While you are bound to LOVE this game if you're a Harry Potter fan like me who has been wondering why on earth a serious RPG in that world has never been made, it is far from a mere re-presentation of Harry Potter. The inspiration is obviously there, but the world of Academagia is very much its own. I found myself constantly surprised at how unique and interesting the world is, especially for its sense of mystery. You're always uncovering new lore about the world you live in and always left wanting more, theorizing about the relationships between different peoples and the history of the world that might motivate the plot of various adventures as well as your own actions in this world. I crave further developments of this world in further iterations of the series.

Role-playing:

Academagia is an RPG all the way down. This sandbox allows about as much freedom as you could ever want in crafting an interesting character and a personal narrative with which to fuel your goals. In tandem with the worldbuilding, this makes for a highly satisfying experience for those who like to create and define their character, their background, their motivations, and so on, however they wish. If you find this degree of creative freedom daunting or unexciting, then you are unlikely to enjoy the game. The gameplay is entirely a vehicle by which your character's story may unfold.

Gameplay:

Speaking of gameplay, it is more than adequate, As many have said, many features are still missing and unfortunately many skills are rendered next to useless as a result. Other may find the game, particularly adventures, difficult. The game, however, encourages failure as a means of growth and accomplishment. You will find yourself struggling for much of about half the game, but this only makes the time when you actually begin to become competent far more satisfying. The journey from being practically useless and failing at everything to a young prodigy somehow able to perform astounding feats for his or her age and skill level is immensely rewarding. There are helpful gameplay guides out there which are worth a look, as they are going to help you familiarize yourself with the mechanics. However, I recommend playing the game however you like, without being to afraid of failure, and without being totally concerned with min-maxing your character and being 100% efficient with your time, as these latter approaches will leave you bored and frustrated; they detract from the real role-playing value of the game while leaving you wondering why the mechanics of this game seem so admittedly flawed.

Conclusion:

In brief, this is excellently written role-playing experience. Some aspects of the game feel incomplete or flawed, but this does not detract much from the real value of the game. If the magical school setting interests you and you are not put off by text-based RPGs, I HIGHLY recommend this game. It is an absolutely wonderful, relaxing, and joyous game to play.

Also, this game has absolutely not been abandoned. If the devs on their own forums are to be believed, work has been progressing gradually on the sequel over the past several years. Keep in mind that these are independent developers, and this is a passion project of theirs. It is not something they spend most of their time on, hence why progress has been so slow. I look forward to the day when they are ready to release year 2 of the game, and that day may very well be within the next couple years, again, if the devs are to be believed. I see no reason to disbelieve them, however. If you have been on the fence about trying this game, now would be a great time to give it a shot.

Excellent game for any fan of classic CRPGs or excellent writing. Be prepared to read the equivalent of an entire novel, though.

Likely the best strategy game out there that also offers a deep roleplaying experience. Highly recommend it, though beware there is a slight learning curve and it is up to you to make the experience interresting and worthwhile. Ultimately, it's a drama of strange characters centered around your own dynasty as opposed to just a game about expansion and war. The game offers amazing tools for you to tell a unique story in this quasi-historical sandbox world. Even when things don't go well for you it can make for a far more interesting story and a rewarding experience overall. So don't be afraid to die or take risks. Embrace the struggle.