1428: Shadows over Silesia
- October 4, 2022
- KUBI Games
Get on Steam"1428: Shadows over Silesia" is a 2D pixel art game set in medieval Europe. As a former soldier, you must confront mysterious shadows threatening your homeland while uncovering a conspiracy. The game features tactical combat, character development, and exploration of a rich, historical world.
Reviews
- The game features an engaging story set in a unique historical context, blending real events with dark fantasy elements.
- Puzzles are creatively designed and provide a rewarding challenge, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- The game has a charming atmosphere with good voice acting and a distinctive art style that adds to its appeal.
- Combat mechanics are clunky and frustrating, often leading to tedious encounters and a lack of strategic depth.
- Controls can be difficult to master, resulting in a frustrating experience when navigating the game world and engaging in battles.
- The pacing of the story can feel slow, with a lot of directionless travel and lengthy dialogues that detract from the overall enjoyment.
- story58 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its engaging narrative, rich atmosphere, and historical setting, while others criticize it for being cliché, slow-paced, and marred by frustrating gameplay mechanics. Many appreciate the intriguing plot twists and character interactions, but the overall execution is often seen as hindered by clunky controls and tedious mission design. Despite its potential, the story's impact is diminished for some players due to these gameplay issues.
“It's one of the rare ones that captured my attention with its story.”
“The story resembles these 'old good days' as well: bold, a bit 'overboard', but only to drag the player through some interesting challenges, locations, and plot twists.”
“The story, the puzzles, the stealth, the level design, spot on.”
“A lot of empty directionless travel - the first hour of the game 'find where the smoke is coming from' I was literally holding down a button for two minutes as I casually ride in the direction indicated. The graphics are nowhere near nice enough to say 'just enjoy the ride'; that certainly gets tedious, and the story is just so flat and uninteresting, despite hopes.”
“The story progresses so slowly it's hard to get engaged with it - because clearing endless dull dungeons in between kills my interest for what's going on (and thus far there are no plot twists, it's all fairly basic 'devilish conspiracy').”
“What I cannot forgive is a bland and random story that could have taken place in any medieval times and region.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the combat system clunky and frustrating, particularly in its reliance on defensive stances and poor controls. While some appreciate the balance of exploration, puzzles, and stealth mechanics, others criticize the overcomplicated puzzles and the punishing stealth elements. Overall, the gameplay is seen as lacking depth and can feel tedious, despite the intriguing story and unique mechanics.
“Amazing story, rather good mechanics, and good combat.”
“Once I got a grip of the well-balanced game mechanics, which are few but completely sufficient to provide a unique challenge in each of the thirteen chapters, I could not put it down.”
“Gameplay is nicely balanced - mix of exploration, combat, puzzles, stealth, problem solving and more.”
“The combat is wonky and often hard to see even on a large screen, and gameplay-wise it feels a bit like a story-driven rail shooter rather than an RPG.”
“Starts off mildly annoying, but by the time you reach the final chapter, you will realize the level design utilizes the poor controls as a mechanic, and you will yell.”
“Overall, I can’t really recommend this title. Even though the setting is interesting and the plot has a lot of promise, it's all let down by clunky combat and camera controls. I found my enjoyment being sucked out during play because of the constant struggle against the game system mechanics.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many noting a simplistic style that may not impress in comparison to high-end titles, yet some appreciate its charming art direction and atmospheric qualities. While some players find the visuals lacking, others highlight the effective use of simplicity that enhances the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are described as adequate but not groundbreaking, with a unique art style that resonates well with certain players.
“Very atmospheric, the story has a good premise, the art style is simple but fits so well.”
“All that's very enjoyable and the graphics are charming with a deliberate angular simplicity which is complemented by ultra smooth and expressive actions.”
“The acting is bad, the sound design is a mess, and the graphics make RuneScape look like art.”
“Graphics are no Cyberpunk or The Last of Us 2, but oh boy what magic it has.”
“The graphics are simplistic, but the art style is excellent.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its dark and engaging qualities, complemented by strong storytelling and enjoyable dialogues. While the gameplay can be clunky and combat frustrating, many players find the immersive environment and unique setting to be compelling enough to overlook these issues. Overall, the atmosphere is described as fantastic and integral to the game's appeal.
“A bit clunky and unforgiving, but the story is top notch and the atmosphere extremely dark and engaging.”
“The storytelling is great, dialogues (whistling included!) are fun and the overall atmosphere is absolutely fantastic.”
“Very atmospheric, the story has a good premise, the art style is simple but fits so well.”
“It's a linear game, so you have to do everything in order and it's all-action. There's no extended walking or riding around to soak up the atmosphere, and no need to make the characters eat or sleep.”
“The game lacks a sense of immersion; the environments feel empty and uninspired, making it hard to get lost in the world.”
“Despite the visuals, the atmosphere feels flat and lifeless, failing to engage players or evoke any real emotions.”
- music5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality and seamless integration into the overall experience, enhancing the storytelling and atmosphere. Reviewers note its moody tones and engaging guitar riffs, which contribute to the game's energy, even if it sometimes goes unnoticed. Overall, the sound design complements the visuals and historical context effectively.
“The music is really great and the sound design is top-notch!”
“The art and music are great; the historic background and storytelling are mixed in an entertaining way.”
“The music is moody and features a nice guitar riff from time to time to keep the energy going.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features fully voiced dialogue rich in dark humor, appealing to players who appreciate clever wit and subtle references. Reviewers highlight its comedic moments, particularly praising the ending for its universal appeal across different belief systems. Overall, the humor is a standout aspect that enhances the gaming experience.
“Surprisingly, it has fully voiced dialogue full of dark humor.”
“I recommend this to everybody who likes to use their brains and can enjoy dark humor.”
“It's quite funny in places and there are some nice subtle references to another great game set in 15th century Bohemia.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players criticize the grinding aspect of the game for its excessive and directionless travel, which often feels tedious and unengaging. The lack of compelling graphics and a flat storyline further contribute to the repetitive nature of the gameplay, leading to frustration over the game's value.
“A lot of empty, directionless travel - in the first hour of the game, 'find where the smoke is coming from' had me literally holding down a button for two minutes as I casually rode in the indicated direction. The graphics are nowhere near nice enough to say 'just enjoy the ride.' It certainly gets tedious, and the story is just so flat and uninteresting, despite my hopes.”
“It is a repetitive, boring, tedious, bugged pile of garbage that is somehow priced at $30.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The emotional impact of the game is significantly undermined by frustrating controls, clunky combat, and a lackluster story that fails to engage players, ultimately leading to a disconnection from the narrative and characters.
“Horrible controls that lead to awful clunky combat, terrible stealth that feels like an afterthought, and a boring story that quickly devolves into demons and skeletons.”
