BlackChain
- January 26, 2021
- Borington
"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.
Reviews
- A nostalgic and fun RTS that captures the essence of classic games like Starcraft, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- Impressive effort for a one-man development team, showcasing solid gameplay mechanics and a unique resource management system.
- Great value for the price, with a decent campaign, intuitive controls, and a level editor that allows for future content creation.
- The game suffers from difficulty spikes and lacks a normal difficulty setting, making it frustrating for some players.
- Limited content with only one faction and a lack of unit diversity, which may leave experienced RTS players wanting more.
- Technical issues such as AI pathfinding problems, imprecise controls, and a lack of polish in graphics and sound design detract from the overall experience.
- story58 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, with players appreciating its intriguing narrative and atmospheric elements, including strong voice acting and a fitting soundtrack. However, some critiques highlight a lack of creativity in mission objectives and a steep difficulty curve, particularly in later stages. Overall, while the campaign offers a nostalgic RTS experience with engaging missions, it could benefit from more inventive scenarios and deeper storytelling.
“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.”
“As an astronomy fan, I really like the story and its relative realism.”
“So far so good, a nostalgic old-style RTS with a story-rich campaign.”
“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.”
- gameplay36 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is heavily inspired by classic RTS titles like Starcraft, offering a blend of familiar mechanics with some unique features, such as cryptocurrency integration and repair drones. While it provides a smooth and nostalgic experience, players note a lack of mechanical depth and variety, with the current content feeling limited to a single faction. Overall, it appeals to casual RTS fans but may leave those seeking more complexity wanting.
“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.”
“As others have said, it's pretty similar to Starcraft, but I would say it feels much more fluid gameplay-wise.”
“I think I still haven't grasped some of its core mechanics, and I'm still trying to use my 'classic RTS mindset', while I shouldn't.”
“As for the gameplay, the combat still feels like a weird hybrid of C&C and Starcraft; it's very spammy, but the units still have some active abilities.”
“I don't see any huge problems with the core gameplay, it just needs more content and faction variety, probably some balancing too.”
- graphics24 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as mediocre, with some players finding them acceptable for a low-budget title, while others feel they lack polish and diversity. Despite the underwhelming visuals, many appreciate the effort put into distinguishing units and buildings, and some elements, like animated icons and ability effects, are noted as enjoyable. Overall, the aesthetic draws inspiration from games like Starcraft, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
“Graphics are nice and comfortable, very easy to distinguish between different units and buildings.”
“The voice acting, the soundtrack, the visuals, the mission briefing... I really liked the game's atmosphere.”
“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.”
“The graphics are a bit underwhelming, but it's acceptable for a $5 game.”
“Less factions, less unit diversity, bad sound design, graphics are 'okay'.”
“As others have said, with other races, more graphical polish, etc.”
- music16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its energetic and engaging nature. While the soundtrack is described as fantastic and reminiscent of classic titles like Command & Conquer, there is a consensus that the game could benefit from greater musical variety. Overall, the sound design, including voice acting and dubbing, contributes positively to the game's immersive experience.
“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, and 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.”
“The music is quite good, but it lacks the variety that would enhance the overall experience.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its exceptional music, sound design, and lovingly crafted visuals, which create a cozy and retro feel. Players appreciate the detailed presentation, including unit portraits and mission briefings, that enhances the overall experience. The combination of voice acting, soundtrack, and visual effects contributes to a captivating and immersive environment.
“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 :)”