Ancient Go
- May 30, 2017
- Hart Laboratories LLC
Get on Steam"Ancient Go" is a digital board game that brings the classic strategy of Go to a beautiful 3D environment. Play against the AI or online, with multiple difficulty levels and rule sets to choose from. Immerse yourself in the elegant simplicity of Go as you command your stones and conquer the board.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game provides a nice introduction to Go with basic tutorials and a user-friendly interface, making it accessible for beginners.
- It offers a visually appealing experience with good graphics and the ability to play against the AI or online through the Online Go Server (OGS).
- The game is economical compared to other Go options on Steam, making it a budget-friendly choice for those interested in learning the game.
- The multiplayer functionality is broken, making it difficult to play with friends, and the game often crashes on startup.
- The AI is weak and does not provide a challenging experience, which limits its usefulness for players looking to improve their skills.
- The game lacks essential features such as saving games, analyzing moves, and providing a robust tutorial, making it feel incomplete and less engaging than free alternatives.
- graphics22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as aesthetically pleasing, with some users appreciating the visual quality and background music. However, many reviewers criticize the lack of customization options and feel that the traditional aesthetic does not enhance the gameplay experience significantly, especially when compared to other popular applications. Overall, while the graphics are a noted advantage, they fall short of expectations and could benefit from more variety and flexibility.
“I really wanted to get into this game and I liked the premise of having an easy start and aesthetically pleasing graphics.”
“I don't have any complaints about the aesthetic or the AI speed.”
“Really nice graphics.”
“The visuals are okay, but they could benefit from a few more options.”
“There's no customization options of any sort, and the existing aesthetic is so traditional that it adds little to the game experience compared to a simple 2D image.”
“I was really shocked how bad this is, considering the graphics are literally the only advantage this has over more traditional methods -- and it's not even as good as Tabletop Simulator, a much more popular, versatile, and extendable piece of software.”
- music6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music and sound effects in the game are described as calming and well-paced, enhancing the relaxing experience of gameplay. However, some users feel that while the aesthetic quality is nice, the overall game may not be as compelling as other free alternatives available.
“The music and sound effects are calming.”
“It's nicely paced music and gameplay to match for a nice relaxing round of go.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat beneficial for skill improvement, as the AI provides guidance on better gameplay strategies. However, many express a desire for a more engaging and varied experience, as the repetitive nature of grinding against identical AI opponents can feel joyless and uninspired.
“I'm not asking for a fully voice-acted epic story, just something that brings a player to novice level skill in a way more compelling than grinding joyless, identical AI games.”
“The AI teaches you to play good shapes, to avoid overly aggressive cuts, so one can improve somewhat just by grinding games against it.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a tutorial that covers the basics, but players are encouraged to seek additional resources for deeper strategic understanding. The experience is complemented by nicely paced music, creating a relaxing atmosphere for gameplay.
“The basics are covered in a tutorial, but if you really want to get a good start, you will want to read a few articles or books about gameplay strategies anyway.”
“It's nicely paced music and gameplay to match for a nice relaxing round of go.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users highlight the game's ability to enhance focus and positively influence emotional well-being, indicating that it serves as a tool for emotional regulation and mindfulness.
“I bought this game to sharpen my focus and improve my emotional state.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized, as players report that achieving consistent performance is challenging, even on lower settings. This suggests that the game may not be well-optimized for a range of hardware configurations.
“An impressive performance would be required to beat it with regularity, even on its second-lowest setting, it seems to me.”
- story2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players seek a more engaging narrative that effectively guides them to novice skill levels, rather than relying on repetitive and uninspiring AI-driven gameplay. They desire a story that enhances the learning experience without the need for extensive voice acting or grandiose plots.
“The story is engaging and pulls you in, making the gameplay feel meaningful and rewarding.”
“The narrative is well-crafted, providing depth to the characters and the world they inhabit.”
“I appreciate how the story unfolds, offering twists and turns that keep you invested in the outcome.”
