Clans

About

"Clans" is a hack-and-slash action game set in a once-beautiful land overrun by the Demon's minions. Your goal is to confront and destroy the Demon, locate the lost Crown of Peace, and complete nine quests across seven levels and five sublevels. Choose from four unique characters, each with distinct skills and abilities, and use swords, axes, magic, and explosive weaponry to fight for your clan and your world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

56%

Audience ScoreBased on 82 reviews

music7 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

The game has a unique atmosphere with dark and moody aesthetics that some players find charming.
It offers a casual experience with simple puzzles and exploration, making it suitable for short play sessions.
Co-op mode works well, allowing players to enjoy the game together despite its flaws.

The combat system is clunky and lacks depth, often leading to frustrating encounters with enemies.
There is no music in the game unless players manually set it up, which detracts from the overall experience.
The game is heavily criticized for being a poor imitation of Diablo, with many players finding it boring and outdated.

music
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
71%
9%
The music aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the nostalgic use of CDDA tracks that allow the game disc to double as a music CD, while others criticize the lack of integrated music in the re-release. Many users find the absence of a proper soundtrack disappointing, as it detracts from the overall experience, and the workaround of using external music CDs is seen as cumbersome by modern standards. Overall, while the original music was well-received, the current implementation leaves much to be desired.
- “Every screen here looks like a little fantasy diorama, there's a cute CDDA soundtrack, and the best of all, the game comes with its own unique pace.”
- “Such a format allowed us to get both high-quality music in-game and a 'free' soundtrack CD as a bonus.”
- “The music and sound effects are brilliant, and you get the right atmosphere that some games simply cannot achieve.”
- “While it doesn't bother me personally as the music is probably awful, this may be a major turn-off for other players and doesn't start the 'epic adventure' out very well.”
- “Also take no effort to incorporate music into the base game when re-releasing it on Steam and just instead stick an instruction guide on how to play the game's music as the first screenshot on the store page.”
- “It was an odd game when it was released 15 years ago and it's an odd one now; you have to burn the music from the game folder onto a CD and have that CD inserted for the game to use the music.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it repetitive and lacking substance, comparing it unfavorably to titles like Dark Souls and Diablo. While some appreciate the casual approach that allows for immediate exploration and challenging encounters, others criticize the poor writing and graphics, suggesting that the overall experience can quickly become tiresome. However, certain classes, like the elf, are noted for adding a layer of difficulty that enhances the gameplay for some players.
- “The gameplay simplifies to a more casual level, allowing you to immediately explore without spending 30 minutes picking weapons or armor.”
- “The monsters can definitely be challenging at times, but the dialogue and general gameplay is awesome in my opinion.”
- “I really recommend the elf class; it ramps up the difficulty and changes the gameplay, as you have limited health and rare potions, making every health point count.”
- “But the picture is repetitive and the gameplay is not satisfying.”
- “Today, on launching the game, I was in the countryside and at least got to fight stuff and even received a quest, but the gameplay became quickly tiresome.”
- “Badly written gameplay with poor story!”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
22%
33%
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, with some praising the dark and moody aesthetics and the unique rendering of each room, while others criticize the overall visual design as bleak and outdated by modern standards. The pre-rendered isometric style is noted for its nostalgic charm, though it may not appeal to everyone, especially given the static nature of the environments. Despite the criticisms, some players appreciate the effort put into the graphics, particularly when enhanced with filters in re-releases.
- “The best part of this game is the dark and moody aesthetics it has.”
- “Clans has really pleasant graphics (pre-rendered isometric games almost don't age) and an amazing minimalistic rhythm-based soundtrack, which makes the game feel absolutely superb.”
- “Surprisingly, the graphics look nice because of the decent filter (scanlines), something that is rare nowadays when it comes to re-releases of old games.”
- “Yes, the graphics are bad by today's standards and the gameplay has next to no substance, but before we talk about that, let's remember that this game was made when I was born and quite honestly, it's a triumph.”
- “This game has no options menu, no real story, bad graphics, and overall appalling visual design.”
- “Clans got slaughtered by the press; they hated the non-scrolling, square rooms with clearly marked exits and the static, pre-rendered graphics.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The story has been criticized for being thin and unimaginative, with many reviewers finding it poorly written and lacking depth. While some players appreciate the quest items and puzzles, the overall narrative experience is deemed unsatisfactory, leading to a tiresome gameplay experience. Those seeking a serious and engaging storyline are advised to look for alternatives.
- “That's actually my favorite part of the story.”
- “You will find quest items and solve different kinds of puzzles to move on; some of them are necessary to finish the game, while others are optional.”
- “Today, on launching the game, I was in the countryside and at least got to fight enemies and even received a quest.”
- “The story is thin, unimaginative.”
- “Badly written gameplay with a poor story!”
- “If you're looking for a serious game where you can dive into a deep and intense storyline, look elsewhere.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its dark medieval fantasy aesthetic, which stands out among other titles in the genre. Reviewers commend the effective use of music and sound effects that enhance the immersive experience, despite some criticisms regarding combat mechanics. Overall, it is considered to have one of the best atmospheres in gaming.
- “In my opinion, it has the best dark medieval fantasy atmosphere of all the games ever.”
- “The music and sound effects are brilliant, creating an atmosphere that some games simply cannot achieve.”
- “The fact that there's no chance to avoid damage in melee combat only strengthens the disturbing atmosphere of clans.”
- “All this makes combat feel a bit idiotic (especially in the early stages of the game), but at the same time, the fact that there's no chance to avoid damage in melee combat only strengthens the disturbing atmosphere of the clans.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its laughable voice acting and amusing one-liners from characters, which contribute to an overall lighthearted experience. While the combat and puzzles are simple, players find enjoyment in the comedic elements, including a humorous PDF manual that adds to the fun. Overall, the game successfully elicits laughter, making it a worthwhile purchase for its price.
- “The combat is very simple, pick fighter every time. The voice acting is laughable; actually, this game made me laugh quite a bit. Definitely one of the best games I bought for less than 30 cents.”
- “Characters have a lot of funny one-liners. There are many puzzles, even if at the moment they are all really simple to solve and... *drumrolls*”
- “There is also a PDF manual included with the game (from your Steam library page, select 'clans' then click 'manual'). Read it for some useful hints and funny bits.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
Users note that the Baldur's Gate games offer significant replay value due to their distinct areas and engaging gameplay format, allowing players to experience the game in varied ways.
- “The replay value is incredible, with each playthrough offering new experiences and choices.”
- “Baldur's Gate games utilize separate areas in a way that enhances playability and encourages multiple runs.”
- “Every decision you make leads to different outcomes, making you want to replay the game to explore all the possibilities.”
- “The replay value is quite low, as the game doesn't offer enough variety in its quests and storylines.”
- “Once you've completed the main storyline, there isn't much incentive to go back and play again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
User reviews on stability are mixed; while some report a smooth experience with quick downloads and no noticeable bugs, others warn of significant issues and bugs that detract from gameplay. Overall, it appears that stability may vary widely among players.
- “Don't even bother scouring the discussions around getting this game to work, because even if you do get it to work, I hear it's nothing but buggy.”
- “The game downloaded quickly, had no problems getting it to run, and it ran smoothly with no obvious bugs or glitches; it seems this was a main focus of their time and it shows.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players appreciate that the game features predesigned, smaller locations, which contribute to a less grindy experience compared to typical hack-and-slash titles that often rely on large, randomly generated dungeons.
- “Forget big randomly generated dungeons; you have pre-designed places that are smaller but definitely less grindy than your average hack 'n' slash.”
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which really took away from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's fully voiced opening introduction effectively evokes a sense of nostalgia, generating excitement and emotional engagement for players right from the start.
- “The opening introduction is fully voiced and done quite well, giving a retro feel that made me excited to play this game.”