Broken Banners
- March 31, 2022
- Eirik Wiklund
Get on Steam"Broken Banners" is a narrative-driven, open-world simulation game set in a medieval fantasy world. Players take on the role of a mercenary leader, managing their band of warriors and navigating political alliances while completing missions and uncovering the truth behind a war-torn kingdom. The game features tactical combat, strategic resource management, and a rich, dynamic world with meaningful choices and consequences.
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and unique blend of tower defense and autobattler mechanics, providing an engaging gameplay experience.
- The graphics and sound design are well-executed, contributing to an enjoyable atmosphere while playing.
- There is a good variety of towers and strategies to explore, making the gameplay addictive and rewarding for those who enjoy experimenting with different combinations.
- The game suffers from significant RNG elements, which can lead to frustrating experiences where players may not receive the necessary tower cards to succeed.
- There is a lack of meta progression and unlocks, making the gameplay feel repetitive and limiting long-term engagement.
- Some design choices, such as the tower upgrade system and limited inventory space, can create unnecessary challenges that detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- gameplay10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay combines tower defense and auto battler mechanics, creating an engaging experience centered around strategic tower combinations and resource management. While the deck-building aspect adds depth and excitement, it can also lead to frustration due to randomness in tower selection. Overall, the gameplay loop is addictive in short bursts, though some balance issues may detract from the overall experience.
“The challenge and fun of it comes from figuring out what tower combos are the best, learning the meta mechanics (cash management, wave makeups, etc.), and trying to craft a winning build from the random towers you're dealt.”
“The added mechanics from auto battlers make it feel very exciting!”
“Though the deck building mechanic can be a little infuriating from time to time as it doesn't always give you the towers you want or those that work with your strategy, it gives the developers plenty of room to add new mechanics to give you more control over the draw in the future.”
“In tower defense games, usually attack speed is more of a premium over other stats because overkill damage is pointless unless there is a mechanic that states otherwise.”
“Yes, it does make gameplay random, and it can be a factor in your success... but what makes this game so worthwhile is the fact that it's that constant risk/reward every round... do I save my money to add another tower, or do I spend it trying to get the towers I want?”
- graphics5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their fantastic quality and unique art style, with detailed visuals that enhance the gameplay experience. While some reviews note simplistic elements, they are considered effective and pleasing overall. However, a few design decisions have been criticized, impacting the overall impression of the visuals.
“The graphics are fantastic, the sound effects and music are good, and though there are possibly some balance issues, it's definitely worth the price of admission.”
“The art style is nice, and there are some great roguelite concepts implemented to keep the rounds flowing.”
“The artwork is detailed and unique, which is reflected in the game's design. Though it appears as a classic tower defense game, the developers have added the lovely mechanic of deck building.”
- story2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game lacks a compelling story or lore, with players noting the absence of narrative elements such as character backgrounds, mission context, or side quests. Enhancing the game with meta progression and additional lore could significantly improve its engagement and depth.
“The story is rich and immersive, drawing players into a world filled with intriguing characters and unexpected twists.”
“The narrative is well-crafted, with each mission revealing more about the lore and enhancing the overall experience.”
“The character development is exceptional, making players feel emotionally invested in their journeys and choices.”
“There is no story or lore at all.”
“Meta progression with usable spells and heroes, as well as more 'identity' (adding some text/lore to each monster, mission, and additional side quests) would really make this game more interesting.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that the game's atmosphere is meticulously crafted, yet some find it lacking in depth or substance, suggesting a disconnect between the effort invested in creating the environment and the overall experience it delivers.
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the world with every detail.”
“The game's ambiance is hauntingly beautiful, creating a sense of tension and wonder.”
“Every sound and visual element contributes to an atmosphere that feels alive and engaging.”
“For example, there is no depth to the atmosphere, which is odd given the amount of effort that went into it.”
“The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, lacking the immersive qualities that one would expect.”
“Despite the visuals, the atmosphere fails to engage, leaving the player feeling disconnected from the game world.”
- music1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, complementing the fantastic graphics and sound effects, contributing positively to the overall experience despite some potential balance issues.
“The graphics are fantastic, the sound effects and music are good, and though there are possibly some balance issues, it's definitely worth the price of admission.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often leading to frustration and a sense of monotony.
“Grinding in this game is incredibly tedious.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes it feel like a chore.”
“I find the grinding mechanics to be excessively monotonous.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users feel that while permanent item buffs gained every five turns contribute slightly to the game's replayability, they do not significantly enhance the overall experience.
“The permanent item buffs you gain every 5 turns add a bit to the replayability value, but not enough for me.”
“I found the game lacks significant changes in each playthrough, making it feel repetitive after a while.”
“Once you've experienced the main story, there's little incentive to replay the game.”
