BlackChain
- January 26, 2021
- Borington
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"BlackChain" is a real-time strategy game set in 2088, where corporations ruthlessly rule the Solar System. The game features a single-player campaign with 12 story missions, base building, land and air combat, and multiplayer mode for up to 8 players. It also includes a map editor and custom games, providing a rich and immersive experience for players who enjoy technobabble and strategy.
PC
Web Browser
Windows
Reviews
- Impressive effort for a game developed by a single person, capturing the nostalgic feel of classic RTS games like Starcraft.
- The game features engaging mechanics, such as a unique resource management system and a fully voiced campaign, which enhance the overall experience.
- Despite its limitations, the game is considered a great value for its low price, providing hours of fun for fans of the RTS genre.
- The game suffers from significant difficulty spikes and lacks a normal difficulty setting, making it frustrating for some players.
- There is a notable lack of faction diversity and unit variety, which limits the gameplay experience and replayability.
- Technical issues such as pathfinding problems, AI inconsistencies, and a lack of polish in the UI detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- story38 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, with players appreciating its intriguing narrative and well-structured missions that maintain interest. However, some critiques highlight a lack of creativity in mission objectives and unit design, drawing unfavorable comparisons to classic RTS games. While the campaign offers a nostalgic feel with fully voiced units and a rich atmosphere, players note significant difficulty spikes and a need for more engaging scenarios to enhance the overall experience.
“The story so far is intriguing and I'm interested to see where it goes next; the voice acting is actually really well done for an indie game and doesn't feel cringe at all.”
“The storyline and setting are interesting and pretty good so far.”
“The voice acting, the soundtrack, the visuals, the mission briefing... I really liked the game's atmosphere.”
“Went through the first 4 missions, can't figure it out but there is definitely something missing that the dev could've put in it.”
“It is not very inventive in terms of scenario objectives, or the storyline.”
“Certain missions are clearly remakes of ones from a very famous RTS.”
- gameplay23 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is reminiscent of classic RTS titles like Starcraft, featuring engaging mechanics such as heat and repair systems that encourage offensive strategies and discourage turtling. While it successfully evokes nostalgia and offers a smooth experience, some players feel it lacks mechanical depth and variety, particularly in faction options and creative elements. Overall, it provides a solid, casual RTS experience, appealing to fans of the genre despite some areas needing improvement.
“I particularly liked the heat and repair mechanics that create some interesting decision-making moments.”
“I've always been looking for a 'mechanics slug-fest' style RTS to replace Starcraft, and this game really itches that need perfectly.”
“The gameplay experience is smooth once you get the hang of it.”
“It's a neat little Starcraft 1-inspired game, it hits plenty of the same marks that Starcraft 1 hits, one of the only games to do that made in the past decade; however, I think it's really missing an extra mile somewhere, it's lacking in mechanical flair.”
“The rock-paper-scissors mechanic is poorly implemented.”
“I don't see any huge problems with the core gameplay, it just needs more content and faction variety, probably some balancing too.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players finding them acceptable for a low-budget title, while others describe them as underwhelming and in need of more polish. The art style and unit animations are appreciated, particularly for their clarity and comfort in distinguishing elements, but the overall visual quality is seen as lacking compared to higher-end titles like Starcraft 2. Despite these criticisms, the game's atmosphere and aesthetic elements, such as animated unit icons and voice acting, are positively noted.
“Graphics are nice and comfortable, very easy to distinguish between different units and buildings.”
“The Starcraft influence is palpable, but it takes a lot of inspiration from that game and turns it into its own thing, somehow making it all work aesthetically.”
“Less factions, less unit diversity, bad sound design, graphics are 'okay'.”
“The unit's movement, the overall HUD, and the art style itself look one lawsuit ahead, similar to Starcraft 2.”
“The graphics are a bit underwhelming, but it's acceptable for a $5 game.”
- music8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many noting its strong resemblance to classic titles like Command & Conquer. While the soundtrack is enjoyable and contributes positively to the overall experience, some players feel that it lacks variety and could benefit from a broader selection. Overall, the music is a standout feature, especially considering the game's indie development background.
“Music and sound are surprisingly good, and provide atmosphere for the game.”
“The music is also fantastic and the story is enough to generate some interest in the missions.”
“Well balanced, with attention to animations, dubbing, music.”
“The game seriously needs more music variety, even though what little is there right now is quite good.”
“It's not the most creative game, but it's solid work for a one-man indie dev; the music is very CNC-like.”
“Well balanced, with attention to animations, dubbing, and music.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its exceptional music, sound design, and lovingly crafted visuals, which create a cozy and nostalgic experience. Players appreciate the detailed unit models, engaging voice acting, and immersive mission briefings that enhance the overall ambiance. Despite some minor inconsistencies, the atmosphere effectively captivates and draws players into the game world.
“Music and sound are surprisingly good, and provide atmosphere for the game.”
“The presentation is so lovingly crafted in those all too familiar ways that it brings a tear to my eye - those briefings, those unit portraits, those absolutely cute unit and building models, the visual effects of gunfire and explosions. I love it all; it brings a very cozy and retro atmosphere that got my attention immediately.”
“The voice acting, the soundtrack, the visuals, the mission briefing... I really liked the game's atmosphere.”
“(But now that I think about it, due to its dense atmosphere, most likely Saturn wouldn't be visible in Titan's sky. But who cares, nice touch :D)”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted as a standout feature, with players appreciating its comedic elements intertwined with gory action. The missions often include amusing objectives, contributing to an overall entertaining experience.
“This is the second game created by Boringtoon, who enters the world of Steam with a pirate game filled with humor and gory glory.”
“Let's go to the game itself; it's pretty decent most of the time. The missions are different, and from time to time, you have to complete objectives that are funny.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for clumsy unit movement and poor pathfinding, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
“Unit movement is clumsy and pathfinding is unoptimized.”
“The game suffers from severe performance issues, making it frustrating to play.”
“Optimization is lacking, resulting in frequent frame drops and stuttering.”
