Comrades and Barons: Solitaire of Bloody 1919
- February 8, 2018
- kverkagambo
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Comrades and Barons: Solitaire of Bloody 1919" is a narrative-driven solitaire game set during the Russian Revolution. Players must make choices that affect the story's outcome while completing solitaire puzzles. With its unique blend of history, strategy, and storytelling, it offers a fresh take on the solitaire genre. However, it may not be suitable for those seeking traditional solitaire gameplay, as the focus is on the narrative experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique historical theme that enhances the solitaire experience, making it engaging for history enthusiasts.
- Innovative mechanics, such as game-changing cards and strategic gameplay, provide a fun and challenging twist on traditional solitaire.
- The graphics and art design are well-executed, contributing to an overall polished feel of the game.
- The lack of a save system can be frustrating, as players must complete all tables in a location without the option to save progress.
- Some players found the music to be dull and repetitive, detracting from the overall gaming experience.
- The storytelling is primarily conveyed through text, which may not effectively engage players or connect them to the gameplay.
- gameplay11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by basic yet innovative mechanics that blend traditional solitaire with thematic elements related to historical events, making it engaging for players who appreciate history. While the core mechanics are solid and enjoyable, the game does not significantly differentiate itself from other solitaire titles, offering familiar twists and features without standing out in a crowded genre. Overall, it provides a fun experience with a unique theme, though it may not leave a lasting impression compared to its competitors.
“The mechanics are innovative, and you end up learning some history.”
“Fun solitaire game with a couple of offbeat game mechanics relating to the story of the gloriously messy situation in the Baltics in the aftermath of the Bolshevik Revolution and the end of the Great War.”
“That is a nice solitaire game with an interesting theme and some good solitaire mechanics, which are matching with the theme.”
“Unfortunately, there isn't really a way to seamlessly mesh solitaire gameplay with fighting a war.”
“That said, the title is not bad in any way, but neither does it stand out above its various rivals - while the mechanics around the solitaire gameplay are interesting, they mostly follow the same twists and turns any of its competitors do with theme cards to give you a boost, or locked cards that restrict your playfield.”
“The gameplay itself is like many of its type, and is engaging enough.”
- story9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story, set in the aftermath of the Bolshevik Revolution and the Great War, offers a unique and engaging backdrop for its solitaire mechanics, featuring thematic elements and a simple narrative conveyed through text boxes. While the aesthetic and artwork are praised, some players feel that the story's integration into gameplay is lacking, with limited engagement and the inability to save mid-battle detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the storyline is considered interesting, particularly for those familiar with the Baltic region, but its execution leaves room for improvement.
“Fun solitaire game with a couple of offbeat game mechanics relating to the story of the gloriously messy situation in the Baltics in the aftermath of the Bolshevik Revolution and the end of the Great War.”
“Unique setting provides for some fun story elements that are integrated into the gaming levels.”
“A very nice and neat take on solitaire, with a good overarching storyline.”
“Although the cards themselves were thematic and the in-level obstacles were things like barbed wire, the 'story' is told through simple in-game text boxes.”
“I loved the aesthetic and artwork in the game, but the inability to save mid-battle and lack of engagement with the story kind of turned me off.”
“The game tells the story of a communist uprising.”
- music9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game effectively complements its historical setting, but many players find it repetitive and uninspiring after a short period. While some appreciate the potential for original period music, others criticize it as poorly suited for a military-themed game, especially when compared to other titles like Shadowhand that feature more engaging soundtracks. Overall, the music is seen as a weak point that detracts from the overall experience.
“The historical setting is presented very well through the texts, card images, visual design of the interface, and music.”
“I initially snagged comrades and barons because I enjoy playing solitaire games while listening to music and I appreciate the Russian Revolution-era aesthetic of the game.”
“Nice background music choice, warm and professional card design, simple gameplay (well, it's a solitaire after all).”
“The music is adequate, though after just short of an hour of playing, it started to become repetitive.”
“It feels like there is a potential for a good game, but dull colors combined with absolutely terrible, coma-inducing music make it difficult to focus on what's going on.”
“I suppose that it may be original music from the period, probably some classic composer too, but for me, it feels like a poor choice for background music in a military game.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as excellent and crisp, featuring nice illustrations that appeal to fans of the Russian Revolution-era aesthetic. However, the overall visual experience is considered somewhat lacking in variety, as it resembles a standard solitaire variation without much decorative flair. Additionally, the inability to easily share in-game images detracts from the overall presentation.
“This game has excellent, crisp graphics with nice illustrations.”
“I initially snagged comrades and barons because I dig the Russian Revolution-era aesthetic of the game.”
“I loved the aesthetic and artwork in the game.”
“Nothing overly special about the game - it's another solitaire variation without lots of pretty artwork or cute 'win hands to build your fantasy castle' type of thing.”
“I initially snagged Comrades and Barons because I dig the Russian Revolution-era aesthetic of the game.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be enjoyable and highly replayable, often expressing pleasant surprise at its engaging mechanics that encourage multiple playthroughs.
“Pleasantly surprised by this fun, replayable game.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users praising its smooth performance and efficient resource management, while others report occasional frame drops and stuttering, particularly on lower-end hardware. Overall, the game's optimization appears to be a work in progress, with room for improvement to enhance the experience for all players.
“The game runs poorly on even high-end systems, making it frustrating to play.”
“I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the immersion.”
“The optimization is so bad that loading times are unacceptably long, even for simple tasks.”
