FLAMBERGE
- March 25, 2015
- hydezeke
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Flamberge" is a tactics RPG with free movement and simultaneous turns, where players command a party of heroes in combat missions across the kingdom of Abbol. Currently in early access, the game offers 3 chapters of a 6-chapter campaign, with each chapter lasting approximately 3-4 hours. The soundtrack is composed by the talented Ben Cohn, and multiplayer is planned for future release.
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Reviews
- The game features a unique combat system that combines turn-based and real-time mechanics, providing a fresh and engaging gameplay experience.
- The pixel art and soundtrack are charming and well-executed, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
- Despite being unfinished, the game shows great potential with interesting mechanics and a solid foundation for future content.
- The game has been abandoned by the developer, with no updates or communication for several years, leading to concerns about its future.
- Currently, the game offers very little content, with only a few hours of gameplay available, making it hard to justify the price.
- Many players have encountered bugs and issues that hinder the experience, further contributing to the feeling of an incomplete product.
- gameplay45 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its unique mechanics, combining real-time strategy elements with turn-based tactics, which keeps players engaged and encourages strategic thinking. While the game is still in development, it offers a charming aesthetic, fluid controls, and a variety of interesting combat features, though some users note issues with glitches and a lack of new mechanics as the game progresses. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its simplicity, depth, and potential for future content.
“The gameplay is intuitive and fun, and surprisingly fluid for a turn-based tactics game.”
“Its charming setting, amazing soundtrack, and 'looks simple but hard to master' real-time strategic battle mechanic is a fresh take on the genre.”
“The mechanics are simple and the difficulty is ramped up in a really intuitive way that slowly offers the player new ways to see situations and learn the mechanics.”
“Short story, nasty glitches and hard to execute mechanics.”
“The combat system has some cool ideas, but the game does very little with them; battles just increase in scale slightly, no new mechanics are added.”
“The gameplay itself was clean and simple but not shallow.”
- story37 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as intriguing and set in an interesting world, but many players feel it is incomplete and lacks depth due to its early access status. While some appreciate the character development and engaging scenarios, others note that the campaign is short and linear, leaving them wanting more side quests and narrative content. Overall, the foundation for a compelling story exists, but it requires further development to fully realize its potential.
“An interesting setting with a fun story about invasion by an unknown force.”
“The story is cool and I'm already incredibly attached to all the characters.”
“And the story, though somewhat vague, is engaging and makes you want to see how it ends.”
“I've only played for around 8 hours and it feels like I've barely made a dent in the broader story, but I guess I won't be finding out any more since the game hasn't had an update since May 2019 (3 years ago at the time of this review).”
“The entirety of the game currently consists of a very short campaign (less than 10 levels, I think), and four class preview showcases (each is a single pre-made encounter with no story; for testing unit types).”
“The story isn't there, there's no customization and you'll probably finish all the single player missions in under an hour.”
- music33 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its charming and nostalgic qualities, reminiscent of classic JRPGs from the GBA era, such as Pokémon and Final Fantasy Tactics. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, praising its blend of old and new styles that enhance the overall experience, though some express a desire for a downloadable version. Overall, the music complements the game's delightful pixel art and engaging gameplay, contributing significantly to its appeal.
“Music and art: each song brings me back to old school JRPGs and Pokémon, specifically from the old GBA era, which meshes with the art style extremely well.”
“The soundtrack is amazing... a perfect blend of old and new, with undertones of pixel noises and an explosion of gushing fantasy adventure melodies that really speaks to the game's nature without you even seeing it.”
“The pixel art is gorgeous and the music is pleasing to the ear, which is nice.”
“My only complaint as of right now is the lack of a soundtrack people can download and listen to, as there is a music player in-client.”
“Mp3 files for these music tracks would be a privilege and a luxury.”
“But guess what -- if you're like me and you don't like the music, you can just turn it off, of course!”
- graphics27 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, which combines minimalist designs with vibrant animations and beautifully rendered environments. Many reviewers appreciate the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic JRPGs, enhanced by a delightful soundtrack that complements the visuals. While the art style is generally well-received, some note that it may clash with the game's more elaborate elements, but overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal.
“The game has charm and great visuals.”
“The art style is cool pixel things that look minimalist at first, but then there's explosive art and really flashy little animations that pop around.”
“The visual aesthetics and music in this game are top-notch.”
“Quite unfortunate since the premise and art style was promising...”
“Art style, graphics...? ... well, we couldn't win them all!”
“It's very retro-style and clashes a little with the game's smooth, but elaborate art style.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the game does not require any farming or grinding, making it feel more accessible and less tedious compared to similar titles like Fire Emblem. This design choice contributes to a more open and enjoyable gameplay experience.
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, users have mixed feelings about replayability; while some find it enjoyable and conducive to multiple playthroughs, others feel that the current content limits the potential for replay value.
“This game offers great replayability with its diverse choices and outcomes.”
“The replayability factor is impressive, as each playthrough feels unique.”
“I love how the game encourages multiple runs with different strategies and paths.”
“There isn't a whole lot of replayability as of now.”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted to be somewhat slow, which some players view positively. The pixel-art aesthetic enhances the experience, featuring beautifully rendered environments and character designs that blend eastern and western influences.
“The character development is somewhat slow, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.”
“The characters are a nice mix of eastern and western influences, adding depth to their development.”
“The beautifully rendered environments and character designs enhance the overall experience of character growth.”
“The character development feels stagnant and lacks meaningful progression.”
“I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired.”
“There is a noticeable lack of depth in the characters, making it hard to connect with them.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is well-received, with players noting that the witty writing and engaging characters effectively draw them in, creating a relatable and entertaining experience.
“The game is funny, and the characters pull you in!”
“You'll feel what they say; it's funny and well-written.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been criticized for frequent glitches and challenging mechanics that are difficult to execute, leading to a frustrating experience for players.
“The game is plagued by nasty glitches that disrupt the experience.”
“I encountered numerous hard-to-execute mechanics that made gameplay frustrating.”
“Overall, the stability issues really detracted from what could have been an enjoyable experience.”
