Cultures: Northland
- March 25, 2015
- Funatics Software
Get on Steam"Cultures - Northland" is a real-time strategy game that transports players to the Viking age. You will lead the Norsemen in their quest for new lands, resources, and glory. Manage resources, build and expand your settlements, and engage in battles using historical Norse weaponry. The game offers a single-player campaign, free game, and multiplayer mode for up to six players.
Reviews
- Cultures - Northland offers a rich historical setting that immerses players in the Viking era, with charming graphics and an atmospheric soundtrack.
- The city-building aspect is engaging and provides plenty of strategic depth, allowing players to manage resources and expand their settlements.
- The game is nostalgic for many players, evoking fond memories of childhood and providing a unique blend of RTS and city-building mechanics.
- The game suffers from a steep learning curve and dated mechanics, which may overwhelm new players and detract from the overall experience.
- Technical issues, such as bugs and glitches, can disrupt gameplay, and the lack of modern resolution support makes it difficult to play on current systems.
- Micromanagement can be excessive, leading to frustration as players must manage individual villagers' needs and actions, which can feel tedious over time.
- gameplay27 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of city-building, resource management, and adventure elements, providing a varied experience that many players find enjoyable. However, several reviews highlight dated mechanics and a steep learning curve that can detract from the overall enjoyment, with some players noting that the interface and controls feel clunky. While the attention to detail and atmospheric elements enhance the experience, the gameplay may not appeal to everyone due to its limitations and bugs.
“The attention to detail in recreating this period is impressive and adds depth to the gameplay.”
“The atmospheric soundtrack and varied gameplay further enhance the experience.”
“Gameplay involves managing the individually named units you control, harvesting resources, building your town up, and then building an army to crush your enemies.”
“I feel some of the game mechanics are dated.”
“However, the steep learning curve and dated mechanics might reduce its appeal for some players.”
“While I kind of enjoyed the experience, mostly due to the nostalgia factor, if I am to be objective, I cannot really recommend the game due to its dated mechanics and numerous flaws.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as charming and nostalgic, with a distinctive art style that remains appealing even after many years. While some users appreciate the retro aesthetic and atmospheric quality, others note limitations such as a lack of customization options and dated visuals. Overall, the graphics are considered decent for their age, contributing to an enjoyable gaming experience despite not matching modern standards.
“The graphics are gorgeous, even for something nearly two decades old.”
“Nice retro graphics, an exciting campaign, and an atmospheric soundtrack.”
“Decent 2D/sprite graphics that still look great today; despite being over ten years old, you can still use 1080p resolution and the UI scales well.”
“There's no options to change the resolution for the game or customize the graphics settings.”
“There's no way for gamers to try to improve the heavily dated, low-quality graphics.”
“While yes this game doesn't have the graphics like most modern games, nor the most competent AI.”
- story17 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as engaging and chill, with a focus on a heavily story-driven campaign that features various missions and objectives. While some players find the narrative simple and the gameplay repetitive, others appreciate the customization and micromanagement aspects that enhance the overall experience. Overall, the story is considered decent enough to maintain player interest, though it may lack challenge for some.
“It is very chill with an engaging story.”
“This game was fun, beautiful, and nice with a great story.”
“The campaign is really good and heavily story-driven.”
“The micromanagement is just exhausting, so when after four hours of grinding through the first mission a critical event just doesn't trigger, I am eager to abandon this game forever.”
“Later, there are fixed-force missions which tend to have even more boredom and even less challenge.”
“- can get a little repetitive if you don't care about storylines.”
- music9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the Viking theme and overall immersion. However, some users find it repetitive and annoying, indicating a divide in opinions on its quality. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the gaming experience, despite some criticisms.
“The music and sound effects are well-done, adding to the overall immersion.”
“The atmospheric soundtrack and varied gameplay further enhance the experience.”
“Nice retro graphics, an exciting campaign, and an atmospheric soundtrack.”
“There is no game settings, the music is bad and repetitive so it's annoying.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is significantly enhanced by its atmospheric soundtrack, which complements the Viking theme and overall gameplay experience. Additionally, the retro graphics contribute to a campy yet immersive ambiance, making for an engaging campaign.
“The atmospheric soundtrack and varied gameplay further enhance the experience.”
“Nice retro graphics, an exciting campaign, and an atmospheric soundtrack.”
“The graphics are definitely quite good for their age, allowing for a nice atmospheric, if campy experience.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game; while some find the micromanagement and repetitive tasks exhausting and tedious, others enjoy the depth and complexity it offers. The balance between engaging gameplay and overwhelming micromanagement seems to be a significant point of contention, with some players feeling that added complications detract from the overall experience.
“The micromanagement is just exhausting, so after four hours of grinding through the first mission, when a critical event just doesn't trigger, I am eager to abandon this game forever.”
“It can get tedious real quick, and the AI is boring most of the time. Sometimes it feels like there's way too much micromanaging in this game to even relax for a moment.”
“Adding complications doesn't make a game interesting; it makes it tedious.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report experiencing minor technical issues related to stability, including occasional bugs, glitches, and crashes, particularly when closing the game. These problems can disrupt gameplay and affect the overall experience.
“Personally, I encountered some minor technical issues, such as occasional bugs and glitches.”
“Buggy mess took my computer hostage every time I play just because it crashes every time I close the game and Steam can't handle that conundrum.”
“Only problem I have is the screen sometimes glitches.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its funny voice acting and lighthearted simplicity, providing a relaxed atmosphere that complements the management and combat elements. While not overly complex, the comedic moments are enjoyable and add to the overall experience.
“The voice acting is hilarious and adds a lot to the experience.”
“It's simple yet incredibly funny.”
“The game features enjoyable humor amidst relaxed combat and management.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers high replayability and great value, while Northland is criticized for its lack of engaging content and frustrating entry, resulting in limited replayability.
“Very replayable, great value.”
“Northland is just an exercise in frustration to get into and does not offer much in the way of replayability.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the character designs are noted for their cuteness and the environments are visually appealing, there is little emphasis on character development, suggesting that the focus may be more on aesthetics than on deepening character arcs or growth.
“The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
“The backstories and growth of each character are thoughtfully crafted, adding layers to the overall narrative.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game suffers from poor optimization, as it is locked to a 4:3 aspect ratio and lacks support for modern display resolutions, resulting in a subpar experience on contemporary gaming PCs.
