Lost Technology
- May 26, 2014
- Studio 4D
- 20h median play time
Lost Technology is a post-apocalyptic, open-world survival game. Scavenge for resources, craft tools, and build shelters to survive in a harsh, radioactive wasteland. Fight or avoid mutated creatures and other survivors as you uncover the lost secrets of ancient technology.
Reviews
- Engaging writing and character development, with unique stories for each faction.
- Fun and addictive gameplay that combines real-time strategy with turn-based elements.
- Great value for the price, offering a lot of content and replayability.
- UI can be clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult to manage troops and navigate menus.
- Incomplete translation for many factions, limiting the story experience.
- Balancing issues with certain factions and characters, leading to frustrating gameplay at times.
- story157 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, featuring unique narratives for each faction that add depth and variety to the gameplay. While many players appreciate the engaging writing and character development, a significant number of factions lack fully translated story content, limiting access to their narratives. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a strong point, with potential for further expansion as translations progress.
“Each faction has a storyline (some are not yet translated, but the dev is working with the community to address this).”
“The game differs very little, with 1-2 added mission battles, but the story is really good at making you understand what your faction's hero units are all about and what they're actually fighting for.”
“The backstory to this world is also very well made; it actually made me want to play the game multiple times as other factions to get more story.”
“The number of factions without translated story content is slowly reducing but it's handled in a way that's a bit unwise - letting you choose any faction you wish, with no indication of any difference, and then giving you a pop up 'sorry no story content for this faction'.”
“This game set up the backstory so well, but when I played one of the factions 'musket', I was astonished to find that it didn't have any story or campaign.”
“Not all factions have story mode which sucks.”
- gameplay72 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as addictive and engaging, featuring a mix of real-time combat with pause mechanics and strategic troop management, reminiscent of titles like Total War and Brigandine. While the mechanics are initially complex and the user interface can be cumbersome, players find depth in the variety of factions and character designs, leading to a rewarding experience once mastered. However, issues such as unit balance, lag in command execution, and a lack of clear documentation detract from the overall enjoyment, suggesting that while the game has potential, it could benefit from further refinement and clarity.
“The gameplay will have you handling terrains, elemental properties, status effects, unit positioning, and strategy like a hawk in the frenetic chaos of battle, where a second can unravel or win you a fortress or doom your land to be exposed to enemy incursions.”
“I've never seen a project this ambitious be executed so well, and have so many nuances in gameplay that make each faction feel unique (at least at the start of each run).”
“An underrated masterpiece full of originality and really fun gameplay with perfect character artwork and good music; it even comes with a dungeon-like mode where you must go down defeating armies of enemies and earning new heroes or objects to equip every floor.”
“All attempts to use tactics in battle are offset by a combination of too fast gameplay, overpowered stats by your opposing nation, way too many command options for troops, and for some strange reason, your commands have lag.”
“The gameplay loop isn't bad and playable but lacks depth, and what truly annoys me is that combat plays in real time, but applying tactics or micro-managing is really frustrating as you can't even properly select, let's say, all cavalry and flank effectively.”
“I don't recommend this game as it is now; essentially, in my opinion, the game's overall gameplay in battles is very confusing and simplistic all at the same time.”
- graphics47 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as simplistic and pixelated, drawing inspiration from classic anime and retro aesthetics. While some players find the visuals charming and fitting for the game's style, others note that they are not particularly impressive and may detract from the overall experience. Despite the dated graphics, many reviewers appreciate the artwork, character designs, and the game's atmosphere, suggesting that the visuals may not be a dealbreaker for those who enjoy its gameplay and narrative depth.
“Good concept, good gameplay, wide range of varied character designs drawing from a lot of classic anime and game art styles.”
“Great artwork which gives an 'old school anime' vibe and all of them are voiced (well, the ones who can talk).”
“The premise, graphics, and music (music is an important one for me) are all amazing, though.”
“The graphics are either broken or too small to be playable.”
“The graphic is not that great and the art style is decent too, but it's quite cheap.”
“The odd UI choices, in-progress translation, and middling graphics.”
- music44 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many praising its catchy and well-composed soundtrack that includes a variety of themes, from orchestral to battle music. While some reviewers noted that certain tracks can feel generic or repetitive, others highlighted the music's ability to enhance the overall experience, making it a standout feature for fans of JRPG music. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant asset to the game, contributing to its charm and appeal.
“The music is fun but repetitive and I ended up turning it off after a while.”
“From a hauntingly beautiful music box theme song to a dueling violin and piano concert, the soundtrack will never disappoint you.”
“The real stand-out, however, is a surprisingly well-composed soundtrack which is mostly orchestral, save for battles, which go for a mixture of hard rock and orchestral arrangements.”
“The music is pretty generic.”
“Artstyle is ok I guess, music is generic but nothing out of the ordinary for this type of game (and price) and story as far as I got was... ok I guess as well.”
“There is simply the peaceful music and then there is the battle music.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its significant replayability, offering depth and flexibility at an affordable price. While some users note limitations such as a clunky UI and a lack of unique faction mechanics, the multiple endings and new modes enhance the replay value. However, the incomplete localization of factions in story mode may affect the experience for some players.
“Don't let a clunky UI, some missing QoL features, and some dated graphics hold you back from getting this; Lost Technology is an absolute labor of love, and I cannot think of a single game in this genre that offers as much depth, replayability, and flexibility as it does for just a measly five dollars.”
“Amazing RTS, loads of content, lots of replayability.”
“This is a great game for the price, a ton of replayability.”
“If this game had unique faction mechanics, then replayability would be proper, but then again, the game would cost more.”
“Only three factions have been translated for story mode; however, these three factions have multiple endings, which make the game replayable.”
“With the addition of the new modes, the game has become much more replayable compared to its previous state.”
- character development6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a diverse range of character designs inspired by classic anime and retro JRPG styles, contributing to its appeal. While the graphics are pixelated, the character development is engaging, with well-defined personalities and a variety of troops, though players express a desire for expanded story modes to enhance the narrative experience. Overall, the character development is appreciated, particularly for fans of strategy games with RPG elements.
“Good concept, good gameplay, wide range of varied character designs drawing from a lot of classic anime and game art styles.”
“It's not a graphically stunning masterpiece, but if you enjoy challenging strategy games with role-playing and character development, you'll enjoy this game once you get past the tutorial.”
“The art and character designs are great and have a retro JRPG feel to it (around Sega Saturn era).”
“The graphics of the game are pixel-styled, which feels inconsistent with the character designs.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unenjoyable, particularly in dungeon mode where progressing through levels and battles feels repetitive and laborious. While the anime art is praised, the overall gameplay experience is marred by the grind-heavy mechanics.
“The gameplay is tedious and difficult.”
“It's very grindy.”
“The battles that happen on the map are tedious and unpleasant to look at.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its overpowered dragon-riding faction and the amusing interactions that arise from stacking heroes together. Players find the writing surprisingly funny, complemented by a decent translation, making it enjoyable for casual gamers while still offering substantial content. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with engaging gameplay.
“The dragon-riding faction is hilariously overpowered.”
“First, it's a very funny game, suitable for casual players, while still having lots of content and fun.”
“Surprisingly funny writing and a decent translation are the capstone to this experience.”
- stability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game exhibits a mix of stability issues, with occasional freezes and crashes reported, though it is generally considered relatively bug-free overall. While the gameplay is engaging and strategic, the user interface lacks polish and can be unintuitive, particularly when selecting individual units.
“It's not the most polished of games, and the UI isn't very intuitive, but it's a working game that's relatively bug-free.”
“The game runs smoothly without major issues, providing a stable experience overall.”
“I've encountered very few bugs, which makes for a reliable and enjoyable gameplay experience.”
“The gameplay is good with some deep strategy, but the game is very buggy.”
“The game freezes and crashes occasionally.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted as its most compelling feature, with players expressing a deep connection to the story and the intense feelings evoked during battles, reminiscent of the Spartans' experiences against the Persians.
“Easily the most interesting and emotional story for any RTS game I've ever played.”
“He amasses the armies that made me feel what Spartans feel during battles with Persians.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game compensates for its lack of high-end graphics with a captivating atmosphere, well-developed characters, and imaginative worldbuilding, creating an engaging experience for players.
“What the game lacks in graphics, it makes up for with an amazing atmosphere, strong characters, and creative worldbuilding.”
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the world and making every moment feel significant.”
“The sound design and environmental details create a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that stays with you long after you finish playing.”