Banzo: Marks of Slavery
- June 18, 2018
- Uruca Game Studio
Get on Steam"Banzo: Marks of Slavery" is a turn-based strategy game set in Brazil's imperial age, where you play as Queen Zeferina, commanding the Vulture's Quilombo. Your mission is to organize production, protect your people, attack farms, and free enslaved individuals. Experience a unique story, choose a deity, deploy warriors, train farmers, and enjoy an original soundtrack. This game was a winner at App pra Cultura 2017 and a finalist at SBGames 2018.
Reviews
- Engaging storytelling that immerses players in Brazil's dark history of slavery, highlighting the strength and determination of the characters.
- Exceptional soundtrack that enhances the overall experience and complements the game's themes.
- Beautiful pixel art and customizable difficulty options make the game accessible and visually appealing.
- Clumsy translation and lack of clear guidance on mechanics can lead to confusion and frustration.
- Repetitive gameplay and a somewhat slow pace may not appeal to all players.
- Graphics are low quality, and some mechanics can result in instant failure without adequate explanation.
- story15 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its engaging and immersive narrative, particularly highlighting the historical context of resistance in Brazil's quilombos, led by the strong figure of Queen Zeferina. While the introduction is compelling and the soundtrack enhances the experience, some players find the strict campaign structure and lack of guidance frustrating, leading to unexpected failures. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a strong point, making the game appealing even to those who may not typically enjoy the genre.
“Despite the heavy subject matter, the game features restful and compelling music, an interesting and concise story introduction, and the ability to customize scenario difficulty.”
“Great soundtrack, great storytelling, which, by the way, is very immersive and we can learn more about this terrible era.”
“However, the engaging storytelling made me feel the chapters in a unique way, and I really could appreciate the strength and determination of the people represented in the plot, commanded by the strong figure of Queen Zeferina.”
“The strict story campaign can be a turn-off; it often misses voices with heavy cultural importance.”
“Bottom line up front: initially charming music and story intro cannot overcome hidden gameplay mechanics that can lead to surprise insta-loss.”
“There is a lack of clear guidance at the start of a mission regarding what qualifies as success.”
- music8 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised as a standout feature, described as restful, engaging, and exceptional, enhancing the overall narrative experience. Players appreciate the immersive storytelling complemented by a beautiful soundtrack, which is considered the game's strongest aspect despite some gameplay mechanics that may frustrate. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's charm and emotional depth.
“While the tactics-inspired art style and somewhat slow pace may not appeal to all players, the exceptional soundtrack is a particular highlight of this unique and meaningful narrative experience.”
“Great soundtrack, great storytelling, which, by the way, is very immersive and we can learn more about this terrible era.”
“The pixel art is beautiful, but the strongest point of the game is the marvelous soundtrack!”
“Initially charming music and story intro cannot overcome hidden gameplay mechanics which can lead to surprise insta-lose.”
“The soundtrack quickly becomes repetitive and fails to enhance the overall experience.”
“While the music starts off strong, it lacks variety and becomes forgettable as the game progresses.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of straightforward mechanics and hidden complexities that can lead to unexpected failures, which some players find frustrating. While the game offers a unique setting and engaging story, the lack of clear explanations for certain mechanics and repetitive elements detract from the overall experience. Despite its rough edges, the game is considered entertaining for its short runtime, especially for those who appreciate its artistic style and music.
“Overall, the game is quite rough around the edges, but worth the price for the cool setting and gameplay that's entertaining for its short runtime.”
“Mechanically, the experience is straightforward but unique and worth a look.”
“[b]Banzo - Marks of Slavery[/b] is a nice little game that tells the story of resistance in the quilombos in Brazil. The pixel art is very pretty, and the soundtrack is amazing. Its mechanics are pretty simple, and since I'm not a huge fan of turn-based strategy games, this one is very easy to get into.”
“The translation is clumsy, and quite a few mechanics aren't sufficiently explained (how does banzo work? how much defense do I need to repel the average attack on the quilombo?), but once you manage to get enough people in your community to turn things around, it's smooth sailing to the finish line.”
“Bottom line up front --> initially charming music and story intro cannot overcome hidden gameplay mechanics which can lead to surprise insta-lose.”
“-- repetitive gameplay”
- graphics6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered low quality, resembling slightly improved pixel art, which may not appeal to all players. However, the isometric view and tactics-inspired art style evoke nostalgia for classic titles like Final Fantasy Tactics, and some players appreciate the unique aesthetic despite its limitations.
“Pixel art is great and combined with the isometric view reminds me of Final Fantasy Tactics art style.”
“While the tactics-inspired art style and somewhat slow pace may not appeal to all players, the exceptional soundtrack is a particular highlight of this unique and meaningful narrative experience.”
“Graphics are low quality: slightly better than pixel graphics.”
“I do not consider myself hard to please; and the fact that a game does not challenge my computer's integrated graphics is not a turn-off.”
“Turn-based game with graphics that really remind me of Final Fantasy.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its engaging storytelling, which allows players to deeply connect with the characters, particularly the strong figure of Queen Zeferina. Reviewers find the narrative heart-touching, evoking feelings of appreciation for the strength and determination of the characters.
“However, the engaging storytelling made me feel the chapters in a unique way, and I really could appreciate the strength and determination of the people represented in the plot, commanded by the strong figure of Queen Zeferina.”
“It is really heart touching!”
