Epicinium
- January 25, 2018
- SLiV
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreEpicinium is a strategy game where nature is a finite resource. No need to wait for your move, thanks to fast, simultaneous turns. Your economy and troops are influenced by the environment and increasingly severe weather effects. Is it worth winning a war when you end up conquering dirt and ash?
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Reviews
- The game is fun and engaging, especially when played with friends, offering a unique twist on traditional strategy mechanics.
- It's free to play, making it accessible to a wide audience, and has a charming retro aesthetic.
- The gameplay encourages strategic thinking with limited actions per turn and environmental management, providing a fresh take on the genre.
- The game suffers from long wait times for animations and a lack of offline play options, which can detract from the overall experience.
- Global warming mechanics can feel oppressive and may ruin the enjoyment of the game as it progresses.
- There are complaints about the game's balance and the need for more content, such as additional units and gameplay modes.
- gameplay13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a unique mechanic that requires players to plan their moves strategically, limited to five orders per turn, which adds a layer of depth and charm. However, the oppressive global warming mechanic and lack of clear explanations for various features lead to frustration and trial-and-error gameplay. While the core strategy is enjoyable and can be fun with friends, many players find certain mechanics, particularly those related to environmental effects, detract from the overall experience.
“It has a unique mechanic where you have to plan most units' moves into the future, as you can give only 5 orders per turn (which also include creating units, upgrading cities, etc.).”
“The actual strategy game is fun and simplistic in all the right ways, with some changes appearing annoying which are really well thought out balancing mechanics.”
“I enjoy this game; playing with friends is a lot of fun. I like most of the mechanics, and capturing/destroying things is very satisfying.”
“A lot of mechanics aren't really explained in the game, though, so there's a lot of trial and error but there's definitely some fun to be had here!”
“The reason I am not recommending this game, though, is because of the global warming mechanic, which makes the map look hideous, destroys everything, including cover, buildings, and even your troops.”
“But in its current state, this game has many gameplay faults and annoying mechanics like global warming that just ruin the experience.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a simplistic pixel art style that some players find charming and fitting for its indie nature, despite being basic and lacking complexity. While the visuals may not be groundbreaking, they complement the straightforward gameplay and contribute to the overall unique experience, earning a mixed reception with scores around 7/10.
“This game, with its simplicity, artwork, and soundtrack is absolutely charming.”
“It is extremely unique, from the simple planning phase, simplistic pixel art style, and even the amazing music that plays.”
“This game focuses little on mass content or visuals, and only does the right stuff.”
“Simple graphics, simple game; it's more of a show and tell, which is fine for indie, but the game is not completed, nor complex, and is easy to win.”
“As I said, don't let its retro graphics fool you.”
- story2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story begins with an engaging tutorial mission that sets a promising tone for the game, despite a crash during the first mission. Players feel optimistic about the narrative's potential based on their initial experience.
“After playing the tutorial mission, I knew this was going to be a great game.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's music is praised for its charm and uniqueness, complementing the simplistic artwork and gameplay. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience.
“This game, with its simplicity, artwork, and soundtrack is absolutely charming.”
“It is extremely unique, from the simple planning phase, simplistic pixel art style, and even the amazing music that plays.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players highlight the challenge of balancing resource management and military strength in a game where environmental factors significantly impact gameplay. Effective grinding is essential to build a powerful army while maintaining a sustainable economy, as neglecting nature can lead to devastating consequences.
