Bannermen

About

"Bannermen is a warfare-focused real-time strategy game with both single-player and multiplayer modes. In the single-player campaign, play as a fallen lord on a journey to regain power. In skirmish mode, test your skills against AI opponents. With a focus on unit control and map strategy, Bannermen offers a competitive experience for new and experienced RTS players alike."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+13

52%

Audience ScoreBased on 157 reviews

story16 positive mentions

stability7 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic RTS titles like Warcraft 3 and Age of Empires.
The voice acting and soundtrack are generally well-received, adding to the overall atmosphere of the game.
The gameplay mechanics are straightforward and easy to understand, making it accessible for new players.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, including mission-breaking issues that prevent progress.
There is a lack of depth in gameplay, with only one faction and limited unit variety, leading to repetitive strategies.
The absence of a save feature during missions is frustrating, forcing players to restart if they need to leave mid-game.

story
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
68%
9%
The game's story is generally viewed as interesting but lacks depth and originality, often feeling generic and reminiscent of classic titles like Warcraft. While some players appreciate the campaign's length and the engaging hero mechanics, many criticize the writing quality, plot holes, and repetitive mission structure. Additionally, technical issues such as bugs and the inability to save mid-mission detract from the overall experience, leaving players frustrated despite some enjoyable elements.
- “Overall, I enjoy this game; it's like Warcraft 3 but with a Game of Thrones inspiration. The story is, in my opinion, interesting, and the voice acting is alright. Some moments are good, while other moments make me laugh. I don't care for graphics, so my opinion on that doesn't matter. The units are okay, and the base building is classical. I'm just sad that they lost multiplayer support, so don't get it to play with friends, but I do occasionally binge on the single-player experience for a bit.”
- “I can see where they are coming from, and they have some nice ideas. The story is nice, if generic, but I wanted to get to the end of the tale, so it kept my interest.”
- “The game was good, the story was good, the graphics were decent—nothing crazy there, though you do see flames added to your arrows, etc., after you get the upgrades.”
- “Don't expect old Blizzard levels of story writing or voice acting; it is not that.”
- “The campaign story is horribly generic, and maps get reused left and right.”
- “However, with a single faction, a small, uninspired roster, bland story and writing, and very few options in terms of tactics and strategy, it’s tough to recommend.”
gameplay
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
67%
14%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its simplicity and lack of depth, often comparing it unfavorably to classic RTS titles like Warcraft and Age of Empires. While some appreciate the intuitive mechanics and nostalgic elements, others criticize the repetitive nature, limited unit variety, and numerous bugs that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers enjoyable moments but falls short in providing a robust and engaging gameplay experience.
- “In diplomacy is not an option, there are so many settings and condition options that you can play pretty much any way you want, and the gameplay is highly enjoyable in my opinion.”
- “With a historical Age of Empires II/III feel, Bannermen brings amazing combat-driven RTS medieval gameplay that places you back in the old days of gaming.”
- “The product is a very unique game that has been inspired by the greatest RTS of all time (AOE, Warcraft, Starcraft, C&C and probably a lot more than I know of), but still distinguishes itself in gameplay, game mechanics, and flair.”
- “It has zero depth to its gameplay.”
- “On top of the very simple gameplay, it still has quite a few bugs, very dumb AI, and lacks a lot of 'quality of life' options.”
- “Terrible combat mechanics, units having trouble pathing, getting stuck in houses, etc.”
graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
56%
13%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the old-school art style and decent textures, while others criticize them as dated and underwhelming, likening them to 90s graphics. Although there are mentions of smooth performance and enjoyable cutscenes, many users express disappointment in the lack of modern graphical fidelity and the presence of glitches. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the graphics are serviceable, they do not stand out in today's gaming landscape.
- “Cool voice acting, neat graphics and music.”
- “I have no regrets about this purchase other than people don't fully appreciate it enough yet... this game has amazing graphics and amazing rendering, if you have a good graphics card you will see it.”
- “The textures are nice without being over the top, the story seems pretty interesting and overall you get a very nice looking experience for your money with an art style that doesn't really set anyone up for displeasure.”
- “The graphics are not very impressive, even at the highest settings.”
- “This plays, and looks, more like an alpha that would hopefully get many updates improving gameplay and graphics, but sadly this appears to be the full version.”
- “90s graphics and 90s gameplay lots of bugs and the game isn't very fun, very repetitive.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
15%
23%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the soundtrack as memorable and excellent, while others find it average or uninspired, describing it as droning and lacking variety. Notably, the use of live instruments and a folk feel is appreciated by some, but overall, the music's impact on the gameplay experience varies significantly among players.
- “The game soundtrack was excellent, probably one of the most memorable things about this game honestly.”
- “Excellent sound and music.”
- “The music is excellent and really carries the game.”
- “The music follows the sound effects in being a constant, droning white noise of nothingness, unoriginal and uninspired, just depressing.”
- “I'd say 2 out of 5 stars; game mechanics were okay, hero was okay, music was okay... the single player campaign lacks any substance or soul, super predictable.”
- “As is the music.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players experienced only minor glitches and no crashes during gameplay, others reported more significant issues, including annoying bugs and game-breaking glitches. The stability seems to vary, with some users enjoying a smooth experience while others faced frequent interruptions and a lack of basic RTS features.
- “Graphics are okay, voice acting is bad, glitches while trying to build and game-breaking glitches.”
- “Annoying bugs, glitches, and crashes; ugly, dated graphics; imbecilic story; no unit or faction variety; and, most importantly, a lack of basic RTS features (e.g., setting rally points for archers leaving towers, inadequate tooltips, 3 unit queue, the game infinitely repeats messages ['your ally is under attack'] ad nauseam with no cooldown, no mounted units).”
- “Cool game, but full of bugs and glitches.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's optimization has been criticized for inconsistent edge scrolling and significant performance issues on certain maps, indicating a need for further polish and refinement. Many users feel that the game shows potential, but its lackluster performance detracts from the overall experience.
- “The game needed 2-3 more months of polish and optimization, especially in areas like buildings in fog of war.”
- “They seem to not be optimized at all.”
- “This game has potential, which is unfortunately very apparent and makes its lackluster performance all the more frustrating.”
- “Certain maps have simply terrible optimization.”
- “The game needed 2-3 more months of polish, optimization, and in some areas even basic features (e.g., buildings in fog of war).”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with players noting that the map creates a vibrant, immersive world rather than a confined space. The engaging environment contributes significantly to the overall experience, enhancing the game's appeal from the outset.
- “The map atmosphere was amazing in my opinion; it didn't just feel like a box you were playing in, but a living world.”
- “Nice game with a great atmosphere right from the beginning.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is described as hit-or-miss, with some moments eliciting genuine laughter while others fall flat. Overall, players find the game's story engaging and appreciate the voice acting, though the humor does not consistently enhance the experience.
- “Overall, I enjoy this game; it's like Warcraft 3 but with a Game of Thrones inspiration. The story is interesting, and the voice acting is alright. Some moments are good, and other moments have me laughing.”
- “The humor in this game is surprisingly delightful, with witty dialogue and funny character interactions that keep the experience light-hearted.”
- “I love how the game balances serious moments with humor, making it a fun experience that doesn't take itself too seriously.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players feel that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring an unrealistic amount of effort akin to needing a second life to complete it.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers appreciate the stylized illustrations and character designs, highlighting their appeal and contribution to the overall character development in the game.
- “I loved the stylized illustrations and the character designs.”
- “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form a genuine connection with each character.”
- “Each character's backstory is rich and well-crafted, making their growth throughout the game feel meaningful.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a wholesome community that fosters positive interactions, though it is somewhat undermined by a perception of a lazy and self-centered development team.