Lichdom: Battlemage

About

"Lichdom: Battlemage" is a single-player shooter game with splendid graphics and a good soundtrack, but it's poorly optimized and very grinding with lots of bugs. As a first-person caster, players have limitless magical power, with a vast array of customizable spells to craft, based on enemy loot and components, creating a unique playstyle. The spell crafting system offers a range of elements, including Fire, Ice, Lightning, and more, with rarity levels and various spell categories.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+15

54%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,066 reviews

story187 positive mentions

grinding108 negative mentions

The spell creation system is complex and allows for a wide variety of spell combinations.
The game features beautiful graphics and impressive visual effects.
Voice acting is strong, with notable performances from well-known actors.

The gameplay becomes repetitive and tedious, with limited enemy variety.
The story is generic and poorly executed, lacking depth and engagement.
The crafting system is convoluted and not well explained, making it difficult for players to understand.

story
838 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
60%
18%
The story in "Lichdom: Battlemage" is widely criticized for being generic, thin, and unengaging, often described as a cliché revenge narrative with little depth or character development. Many players found the storytelling to be disjointed and forgettable, with a linear progression that detracts from immersion, while the voice acting received some praise despite the lackluster script. Overall, while the game offers an interesting spell-crafting system and visually appealing environments, the narrative fails to captivate or motivate players throughout their experience.
- “The story is intriguing enough for me to keep playing.”
- “The story flows at a good pace and it is not totally distracting from the main crux of the game - the combat.”
- “The story is well presented and I think that characters are very thoughtfully formed, however I think some character customization like the Elder Scrolls would not go astray.”
- “The story felt thin and didn’t really pull me in.”
- “The story is as paper-thin as you would expect from an FPS: bad guys, magic, vengeance.”
- “The story is shallow to non-existent.”
gameplay
711 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
57%
16%
The gameplay of "Lichdom: Battlemage" is characterized by a unique spell crafting system that allows for experimentation and customization, which many players find engaging. However, the overall experience is marred by repetitive combat, sluggish mechanics, and a lack of enemy variety, leading to a sense of monotony over time. While the visuals and core mechanics have their merits, the gameplay often feels linear and unbalanced, detracting from the potential enjoyment of the game's magical combat.
- “The gameplay is fun, and stays pretty engaging (it helps that you can have skeleton hordes, ngl xd).”
- “The gameplay is the most exciting element, thanks to the spell creation system that invites experimentation.”
- “The gameplay is fluid and a bit carefree as you don't have a mana to worry about.”
- “A neat spell creation system, nice visuals, and great voice acting can't mask the dull story, sluggish combat, and off-feeling game mechanics.”
- “Came for cool magic, left disappointed by monotonous and forgettable gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is incredibly repetitive and tires before you even get to find the good spells.”
graphics
518 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
35%
4%
The graphics of "Lichdom: Battlemage" are widely praised for their quality, particularly given the game's age, with many reviewers noting the impressive visuals and spell effects powered by CryEngine 3. While some players find the graphics stunning and comparable to modern titles, others point out occasional glitches and a lack of detail in certain areas. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point of the game, often overshadowing its less favorable gameplay and story elements.
- “Graphically speaking, the game still holds up; it looks decent for a game released 10 years ago, and the spell particle effects are still nice and provide good visual feedback during combat.”
- “The graphics are jaw-dropping in this game, and I really don't know about these people rating this game as 'bad'; yes, the levels are dragged out and even though the level designs are amazing, they'll get boring at some point because of how long and dragged out a level can be.”
- “The combination of great visuals and sound make everything feel extremely meaty and impactful and for me, the game ran butter smooth.”
- “The visuals are derivative and devoid of style.”
- “The game is a technical mess; I had glitching graphics with objects popping in and out constantly, and some that didn't show at all, like the stairs you need to go up to move forward in the story.”
- “The graphics are generic and lazy, and while they may have been decent at release, they have not aged well.”
grinding
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, with many players expressing frustration over the lack of variety in combat and enemy design. While some appreciate the potential for crafting and upgrading spells, the overall experience is marred by long, monotonous battles and a progression system that feels unrewarding. Many reviewers suggest that the game's initial appeal quickly diminishes as the grind becomes a chore, leading to a sense of resentment rather than enjoyment.
- “The acquisition of more spell shapes and augments is grindy as hell too, which wouldn't be a problem if the combat had more variety.”
- “But it being as repetitive as it is, all the grinding does is make you resentful of the fact you don't have access to the stuff you want already.”
- “The spell crafting system, which is basically the cornerstone of the game, becomes tedious very quickly and is not at all intuitive or fun.”
optimization
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
49%
37%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including frame drops and stuttering, particularly on lower-end systems. While some users with high-end rigs experience smooth gameplay, others note that the game is poorly optimized, especially for NVIDIA graphics cards, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the optimization appears to be a major drawback, impacting the enjoyment of the game for a substantial number of players.
- “But the performance on PC, at least in my configuration, is great: GTX 1070 = 1080p max settings with a stable 144fps.”
- “Performance: with every setting on max, you'll have a constant 60 fps (if you framelock/use vsync like I do) with almost no stuttering, so long as you're not playing it on a potato.”
- “I adjusted my graphics preset to medium and am happy to report that there seems to be very little loss of visual fidelity while at the same time a noticeable increase in performance.”
- “I remember battle mage being poorly ported on consoles with scaled down graphics and poor optimization.”
- “Not to mention dirt poor optimization that even my rig that plows through any other game I throw at it on max settings at a smooth 60fps can't run this game on 'very high' settings and even gets effect lag still on 'high' settings when a lot of stuff is going on.”
- “Unfortunately there isn't a computer on the planet capable of handling how poorly the game is optimized, and thusly, if you are intending on playing this game on maximum graphics with your rift, you'd better get ready for an fps that's measured in decimal numbers.”
stability
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various bugs, glitches, and framerate issues, particularly during quiet moments rather than intense gameplay. While some users experienced minimal problems and praised the overall performance, others noted significant issues such as freezing, graphical anomalies, and erratic enemy AI. Overall, the game appears to be a mix of solid gameplay and frustrating technical shortcomings, especially in its early access and alpha stages.
- “Graphics are good and seem generally bug-free, although as it's still in beta, you will occasionally encounter floating wigs or spawn with your head in the snow.”
- “Has lots of glitches and despite running the game on a PC designed and made years after the game's release, the game suffers from framerate issues at odd times (for example, it begins to chug in quiet moments rather than in the heat of battle).”
- “Worst of all though, occasionally the game freezes even though I'm running a pretty decent gaming PC.”
- “The problems come with the framerate drops and random glitches that take you out of the experience.”
music
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
50%
8%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players describing it as generic and forgettable, while others appreciate its ability to fit the game's atmosphere and enhance the experience. Some reviewers noted that the soundtrack is decent but not impressive, often going unnoticed amidst the gameplay. Overall, while the sound effects and voice acting are generally well-received, the music lacks distinctiveness and could benefit from a more engaging composition.
- “The music fits well with the mood of the game.”
- “The graphics are outstanding, the music fits the mood of the game, and the combat difficulty is nearly Dark Souls level.”
- “The background music is subtle yet enticing.”
- “The music is generic and somewhat grating.”
- “The music is bland, generic, so are the 'arenas'.”
- “The graphics are superb, the gameplay is repetitive, the music is forgettable, and the writing is downright painful.”
humor
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
14%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny and enjoyable, particularly appreciating the voice acting and quirky character interactions. However, others criticize the dialogue as trying too hard to be cool and failing to deliver consistent humor, leading to a perception of the game as dull or repetitive. Overall, while there are moments of humor and charm, the execution varies significantly among players, with some feeling it detracts from the overall experience.
- “It looks all fantasy, but when they start talking, I think more about Archer: a humorous shark-jumping over-the-top fest of infantile humor.”
- “Depending on your choice, the opposite gender joins you as a companion who pops up now and then to be sarcastic, which I actually found hilarious.”
- “It's very funny and feels badass!”
- “The humor in this game falls flat, making the experience feel more tedious than entertaining.”
- “The jokes are so forced and unoriginal that they detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “Instead of being funny, the attempts at humor often come off as cringeworthy and awkward.”
replayability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
70%
15%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while players appreciate the opportunity to experiment with different spells and character choices, some find the linearity and lack of character development limit long-term engagement. Multiple playthroughs are encouraged to explore various builds and gender options, but issues like gear scaling and a lack of significant replay value in certain modes have left some players disappointed. Overall, the potential for replayability exists, particularly for those who enjoy experimenting with magic and builds, but it may not satisfy all players seeking extensive replay value.
- “There's some replay value, as you'll need multiple playthroughs to fully use all the available spells and combinations, plus killing enemies in this game is pretty enjoyable, especially with a broken build.”
- “Plus replay value by choosing boy or girl for the first playthrough and then going back and choosing the gender you didn't pick the first time.”
- “As a spellcaster, the possibilities the game offers great replayability.”
- “The post game had some issues with gear not scaling past level 13, so replayability was kind of destroyed, but I'm definitely hoping for a sequel or similar games from this studio.”
- “I don't really think there is much of a replay value, and to 100% the game would take a while.”
- “There are some cons: the game is extremely linear and has very little replay value, and runs at very low framerates due to poor optimization.”
emotional
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
53%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some players expressing frustration over its linear gameplay and clichéd storyline, which detracts from the overall experience. However, a few users reported feeling deeply invested, even moved to tears by the narrative despite its predictability. Overall, while the game has moments that resonate emotionally, many find it overshadowed by its mechanical shortcomings and lack of engaging storytelling.
- “The story seems pretty corny, but I ended up getting so invested that I cried near the end.”
- “I'm not going to lie, this game made me cry deep inside and externally.”
- “Good graphics and fantastic concept, but long and not really touching story as well as low action and complicated inventory and items system.”
- “An interesting concept severely hampered by linear gameplay, a boring story, and an overly complex mechanical system.”
- “The story has been quite lame so far, but not much worse than any other game with a predictable boring story.”
- “If you enjoy crafting, you'll enjoy this game; if not, then sit tight for a boring story and annoying voice acting.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
50%
19%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its impressive graphics and level design, effectively creating a charming dark fantasy environment reminiscent of classic titles. The use of varied themes, weather effects, and lighting enhances immersion, while the combat system complements the overall experience. However, some critiques note that the humor and modern dialogue can detract from the intended dark atmosphere, though the overall ambiance remains engaging and well-executed.
- “It has good level design, excellent graphics (thanks to CryEngine 3) and a charming dark fantasy atmosphere, which reminded me a little of the glorious 'Dark Messiah of Might & Magic.'”
- “Also, the different level themes (like harbor city, ice world, or swamp) implement the corresponding atmosphere very well by using different weather schemes, color saturation, and so on.”
- “However, its atmosphere, powered by the CryEngine's mathematical lighting, paired with the impressive combat system, definitely makes it a great experience and worth the money.”
- “Voice acting is done well enough with a dash of humor that you will find it funny, but overall the immersion in the reality is never broken, making the game come off as one big joke. The slapstick misplaced humor doesn't belong in a dark atmosphere, and the dread of the situation isn't lost.”
- “It's clear the intent was to make the characters relatable by their voice acting, but placing actors, phrases, and terminology from this day and age in a game designed to provide a fantasy atmosphere is borderline stupid.”
- “The crumbling rubble and rocks from the ceiling throughout the cave really do add to the atmosphere.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate its unique approach and engaging character design reminiscent of the 'Dishonored' series, others criticize the lack of depth in side character interactions and meaningful dialogues. Overall, the game struggles with inconsistent character growth, leaving some players feeling disconnected from the characters and their stories.
- “Its unique character development is its trump card, and no other game I know of comes close to this.”
- “It had some really great character development.”
- “Great character design, but it is repetitive with copies of the same enemies and lacks diversity.”
- “The game could have used deeper encounters with side characters, more meaningful dialogues, and more fruitful character development outside of turning from jewelry blacksmith to ultimate warlock.”
- “They have zero worthwhile character development that gets me to care about anyone.”
- “There is no strong storyline, no character development, no sensible balance between physical and magical abilities, and no items.”
monetization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
14%
71%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism for its past failures and perceived cash grab tactics, with players expressing a desire for a more straightforward purchase model that offers all content without additional costs or artificial grind. Many feel that the current monetization strategy detracts from the gameplay experience, which is further compounded by misleading advertising that does not align with the actual game mechanics.
- “Pay the price once, own the game and all the content forever, no paywall, no artificial grind to sell microtransactions, no BS... just a game.”
- “This studio is in for hard times... 'The Culling', their 2017 debut game, was dead on arrival and a cash grab too.”
- “If these changes were made, Lichdom would live up to its advertising, but right now it's just a slog.”
- “What’s even odder is how all of the advertisements tried making the game look more like some sort of open brawler instead of the narrow linear experience it is.”