Hero Generations: ReGen
- August 19, 2016
- Heart Shaped Games LLC
- 3h median play time
Get on SteamIn Hero Generations: ReGen, every turn represents a year of your life as you explore, find a mate, build a home, and raise a child before you die. This remake of the original game features updated graphics, a larger overworld, new quests, and permadeath, providing a challenging and meaningful experience. With its unique blend of Roguelike and 4X Strategy elements, you'll make every choice count.
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and interesting concept with a roguelike element that encourages strategic thinking and replayability.
- Many players find the game addictive and enjoyable, often losing track of time while playing.
- The art style and graphics have been improved, making the game visually appealing and easy to pick up and play.
- The game suffers from repetitiveness and a lack of depth, leading to a feeling of pointlessness after initial playthroughs.
- There are significant issues with RNG in combat and mechanics that can frustrate players, making the game feel tedious and grindy.
- The developer's business practices have drawn criticism, with some players feeling misled about the game's value and updates.
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is described as unique and engaging, particularly due to its innovative use of generational mechanics in a roguelite format, though it suffers from broken core mechanics and bugs that detract from the experience. While the tutorial effectively introduces players to the game, some users express dissatisfaction with the lack of emergent gameplay and character diversity. Overall, the game appeals to fans of the original but is criticized for its shallow mechanics and unresolved issues.
“It is a unique and very simple game with a very interesting approach to using lifespan as a game mechanic.”
“Beyond simply being a clever roguelite/empire builder/puzzler, this game's central mechanic, living out several generations of the same dynasty line, means often right when you've finally got a winning hero kicking butt, you'll find yourself suddenly needing to make a mad dash to the nearest town to produce an heir, which means scrapping whatever quests you might have been in the middle of to restart with a new hero that might have complete crap stats and in no way can take up daddy/mommy's footsteps.”
“The tutorial really leads you into a full-fledged game and works out the mechanics well.”
“I hoped regen does at least something right, but no, it's the core mechanics and most of the design that are broken.”
“In April 2015, Heart Shaped Games released a crappy game called Hero Generations which was infested with game-breaking bugs and shallow gameplay mechanics.”
“Any responsible developer should release free updates to fix the bugs and to improve the gameplay mechanics, correct?”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have seen some improvements, offering a more polished look compared to the original, though they are described as somewhat buggy and repetitive. While there are minor enhancements and quality of life upgrades, the lack of extensive graphical options has been noted. Overall, the visual upgrades contribute positively to the experience, but they may not justify the price increase for all players.
“Graphics feel improved.”
“While most of the game is similar to the original release, graphics have been improved, interfaces have been improved, additional traits, items, etc. have been added, and the world map is much better streamlined.”
“The art style and gameplay keep me really entertained.”
“There is no graphics option, there are no real options to speak of.”
“I mean the graphics were upgraded, but it's rather buggy, I think even more than the Facebook 'beta' version of sorts, and gets repetitive very quickly.”
“Which is essentially the same game with some minor graphical and quality of life improvements.”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game is tied to the collector's edition of the original version, which includes the soundtrack but lacks modern quality of life upgrades. In contrast, the regen version offers improved graphics and features but does not provide a standalone soundtrack option, leading to a trade-off between audio content and gameplay enhancements. Players must choose between the collector's edition for the soundtrack or the regen version for a more polished experience.
“If you get the collector's edition of the original game (that must be played in windowed and lacks several quality of life upgrades), you will get the art book and the soundtrack.”
“If you get the regen version of the game, you will automatically get the art book (the exact same art book as is offered with the collector's edition of the original version of the game) and enjoy slightly better polished graphics, with lots of quality of life upgrades to the options, but you will not be able to get the soundtrack.”
“The only way to get the soundtrack (here on Steam) is to buy the original version of the game with the collector's edition.”
“There is no offering for the soundtrack on its own or with the regen version of the game.”
“If you get the regen version of the game, you will have a game that has slightly better polished graphics, with lots of quality of life upgrades to the options, but you will not be able to get the soundtrack, and you will pay $14.99 (assuming you pay full retail price) as opposed to $5.99.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs and an unfinished feel, suggesting that it is even more problematic than previous versions. Many players feel misled by the developer, accusing them of prioritizing profit over delivering a polished product. Overall, the game's stability is deemed unsatisfactory and disappointing.
“In other words, every player of the old game was ripped off by buying an unfinished and buggy product that will never be improved by the developer.”
“This revamped game is still buggy as hell.”
“Do not support this irresponsible and unethical developer called Heart Shaped Games who is trying to grab more cash again with a buggy product and false advertising.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, often involving repetitive tasks like farming gold over generations to build specific structures and optimize character development. This process can feel laborious as it requires careful planning and waiting for ideal conditions, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“And the rest of the game is tedious and grindy.”
“This is generally accomplished by spending a few generations farming gold and slowly using that gold to build the exact buildings and cities you want, probably wanting a training center area with tons of barracks so you can walk around and become godly in a minimal amount of turns, connecting the 6 sub-areas with train stations so you don't waste turns moving around the board, securing the two pieces of equipment you want, waiting until you have a hero that is born with an ideal set of bonus cards/perks (e.g., golden child and vampire), and finally taking that character around and clearing as many quest objectives in one sweep as you can, hoping that you don't roll 1s in combat.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability, akin to a rogue-like, with fresh maps generated for each playthrough, keeping the experience engaging and varied. Users express a strong appreciation for this aspect, enhancing their overall enjoyment.
“An interesting game with a high replay value.”
“I love this game - the replayability is just like a rogue-like, with fresh maps generated each playthrough.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making each playthrough feel repetitive and dull.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to replay the game.”
“The limited variety in gameplay mechanics means that replaying the game feels more like a chore than an adventure.”
- story2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around the generational legacy of a dynasty, where players must strategically build their empire and develop heroes while managing the inevitable transition to new heirs. This mechanic adds a layer of complexity, as players often have to abandon ongoing quests to ensure the continuation of their lineage, creating a dynamic and sometimes frustrating narrative experience. Overall, the intertwining of empire-building and character development enriches the storytelling, making each generation feel significant yet precarious.
“The story unfolds beautifully, allowing players to immerse themselves in a rich narrative filled with intriguing characters and unexpected twists.”
“Each quest feels meaningful and contributes to the overall lore, making every decision impactful and engaging.”
“The character development is exceptional, with backstories that resonate and evolve throughout the gameplay, enhancing the emotional connection to the story.”
“Beyond simply being a clever roguelite/empire builder/puzzler, this game's central mechanic, living out several generations of the same dynasty line, means often right when you've finally got a winning hero kicking butt, you'll find yourself suddenly needing to make a mad dash to the nearest town to produce an heir, which means scrapping whatever quests you might have been in the middle of to restart with a new hero that might have completely poor stats and in no way can take up their predecessor's footsteps.”
“This is generally accomplished by spending a few generations farming gold and slowly using that gold to build the exact buildings and cities you want, probably wanting a training center area with tons of barracks so you can walk around and become powerful in a minimal amount of turns, connecting the six sub-areas with train stations so you don't waste turns moving around the board, securing the two pieces of equipment you want, waiting until you have a hero that is born with an ideal set of bonus cards/perks (e.g., golden child and vampire), and finally taking that character around and clearing as many quest objectives in one sweep as you can while hoping that you don't roll ones in combat.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization practices of the game have been criticized for misleading marketing tactics that potentially violate federal advertising laws, leading players to feel deceived about the game's quality.
“This is just blatant false (and illegal) marketing from the developer to fool players into believing that this is a good game.”
“What the developer does in the trailers is actually in complete violation of marketing and advertising laws upheld by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be clever and unexpected, as illustrated by the amusing achievement unlocks that occur simply by interacting with the tutorial in a non-traditional way. This blend of absurdity and irony adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience.
“Let me give you a hilarious example: I've successfully unlocked the following 5 achievements simply by entering and quitting the tutorial in windowed mode: 1) Kill the End Boss; 2) 50 Generations; 3) 30 Generations; 4) 20 Generations; and 5) World Traveler.”
