Mirage: Arcane Warfare
- May 22, 2017
- Torn Banner Studios
- 605h median play time
Interesting classes, engaging melee gameplay, and an exciting arena mode have the wind taken out of their sails by deserted servers.
"Mirage: Arcane Warfare" is a fantasy hack and slash multiplayer game set in a beautiful Arabian and Persian-inspired world, where players can engage in skill-based combat using destructive magic and melee attacks as one of six diverse classes. Developed by the creators of Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, the game offers a unique and challenging FPS experience with an emphasis on magical control and tactical choices. With its stunning visuals and immersive gameplay, Mirage promises an unforgettable multiplayer experience for FPS and hack and slash fans alike.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features engaging melee combat that retains the fun aspects of Chivalry while introducing new mechanics and abilities.
- The graphics are visually appealing, with a unique art style that enhances the overall experience.
- The gameplay is chaotic and fun, allowing for a variety of playstyles and strategies with different classes and spells.
- The player base is extremely low, making it difficult to find matches and resulting in empty servers.
- There are significant server issues and bugs that hinder the gameplay experience, including problems with matchmaking and connectivity.
- Many players feel that the game lacks depth and content compared to its predecessor, Chivalry, leading to disappointment.
- gameplay83 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Mirage: Arcane Warfare" is generally praised for its engaging melee mechanics, unique class abilities, and a variety of game modes that offer a fun and competitive experience. However, many players express frustration with the low player base, which hampers matchmaking and overall enjoyment, alongside issues like bugs and a lack of quality control. While the game has potential and is seen as an improvement over its predecessor, "Chivalry," it struggles with repetitive combat and server population challenges.
“8/10 super fun gameplay; a player base increase would make this game a riot to play.”
“The gameplay is tight, fast, responsive, and a lot of fun.”
“Mirage: Arcane Warfare is a fun and unique game both in its gameplay and aesthetics.”
“It had potential to be a decently fun game with a unique setting, but they seem to be lacking in quality control and bug fixes, and you can tell there wasn't a strong sense of direction in terms of gameplay design.”
“Awkward gameplay, controls, matchmaking, etc. what looks like an interesting game is actually just a bland, dumbed-down version of every other FPS you've ever played.”
“Gameplay is tedious and no fun for me; it's strike-block-faint with occasional 'magic', which is just a projectile or strong attack.”
- graphics30 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant art style, attention to detail, and smooth performance, particularly on higher-end systems. However, some players note issues such as graphical bugs, a lack of crispness compared to other titles, and a cartoonish aesthetic that may not appeal to everyone. Overall, while the visuals are generally well-received, there are concerns about performance and consistency that detract from the experience.
“Mirage is a beautiful game, and its excellence goes beyond its visuals.”
“The graphics are amazing and the setting is not a very common one seen in games.”
“The level of attention and detail put into the art, the voice overs, the aesthetics of the particle effects and animations, and the smoothness of combat all attest to the love put into the years of developing the game.”
“The game would look quite nice if it actually loaded properly. I sometimes had bald characters at the start of the match; it's not as crisp as something like Overwatch, and the visuals are quite fussy.”
“Graphics are dumbed down and cartoonish.”
“Graphics is your modern kids' Overwatch-like BS with no textures, trying to make up for zero details with acid colors.”
- monetization8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for poor marketing and a lack of effective advertising, leading to low player engagement and empty servers shortly after release. Reviewers express disappointment over the reliance on influencers for promotion rather than a structured advertising campaign, which they believe contributed to the game's quick decline in popularity. Overall, the game's potential was overshadowed by inadequate promotional efforts, leaving players feeling that their investment was wasted.
“So, I was very excited for this game, but you failed to create a proper advertising structure for it, and no one got it, so the servers were empty. Now I come back to see you haven't even said anything about the game in the last 6 months. That is way more messed up than the empty servers... I wish I hadn't wasted the money.”
“It was enjoyable, in a lot of ways similar to its prequel with tons of new fixes, items, and gameplay mechanics, but (I'm assuming) bad marketing and a lack of interest in advertising or fleshing the game out in other ways besides just releasing it on Steam contributed to it being absolutely dead not 6 months after its release.”
“Relying on the Chivalry player base to be loyal, paired with Twitch streams and YouTubers being their advertisement, was not very effective in practice.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its gory yet comedic ragdoll physics and amusing character interactions, which contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere despite the intense gameplay. Players appreciate the funny voice lines and the absurdity of combat scenarios, although some feel it lacks the silliness of similar titles. Overall, the combination of hilarious deaths and entertaining gameplay mechanics enhances the comedic experience.
“Just buy the game, it's very nice, full of blood and funny gory ragdolls.”
“The game is great, gameplay is phenomenal and hilarious.”
“The deaths are hilarious and the ragdoll physics make them even more so.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, optimization feedback is mixed; some users experience significant performance drops in larger matches, particularly with setups like a GTX 1070, suggesting potential CPU bottlenecking. Conversely, others report smooth performance at high settings and resolutions, though some menu lag at 4K has been noted. Server-side performance issues also contribute to the optimization concerns.
“Turning down settings seems to make no difference, which causes me to suspect it is some type of CPU optimization issue, or bottlenecking on my end.”
“Performance is also very good; I am able to maintain 60+ fps at 4K, all epic settings with a Ryzen 1700 and a GTX 1080 Ti.”
“The only major issues I've had with it thus far are some server-side performance issues.”
“I experience significant performance issues in 10v10 matches. This might be related to my own setup (GTX 1070, Radeon 9590 4.7GHz, 16GB RAM), but I notice a huge performance drop when servers have more than 14 players.”
“Turning down settings seems to make no difference, which leads me to suspect it is some type of CPU optimization issue or bottlenecking on my end.”
“The only major issues I've encountered so far are some server-side performance problems.”
- stability5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with users reporting frequent bugs, control freezes, and fatal crashes after about twenty minutes of gameplay. Many feel the game is still in a beta state, indicating that it requires substantial fixes to improve its reliability.
“Runs great!”
“The game maintains a smooth performance without any noticeable lag.”
“I've experienced no crashes or bugs, making for a seamless gaming experience.”
“The game is currently buggy and feels as if it is still in beta - clearly there are a few issues that need to be ironed out.”
“Yet, the game always freezes after twenty minutes of gameplay.”
“The most damning feature, however, is the game's fatal freezes.”
- story3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Users express a desire for a single-player story mode in the Chivalry game series, appreciating its multiplayer aspects but feeling that a narrative-driven experience could enhance the overall offering. There is a suggestion that a more robust marketing strategy could have better showcased the game's potential, similar to past titles.
“I love chivalry, which does have players, and I am glad that they made this game too. However, I would love to see a single-player story-type Chivalry game from Torn Banner.”
“You guys could have made a nice single-player Aladdin-type story-based game with some PvP elements.”
“I love chivalry, which does have players, and I am glad that they made this game too. However, I would love to see a single-player story type chivalry game from Torn Banner.”
“However, if my memory doesn't deceive me, the same story was with Chivalry itself, where marketing was subdued to a mere word of mouth.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is praised for its exotic Persian environment, contributing to an immersive and captivating experience.
“I really enjoy the exotic Persian environment and atmosphere.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with certain gameplay mechanics, such as the tinkers orb trap and obelisk combo, which can lead to one-hit kills without direct player interaction. This has created a sense of imbalance and emotional distress, as it undermines the melee combat experience and can feel unfair to those without escape options.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and unenjoyable, often reduced to repetitive mechanics like strike-block-faint, with limited variety introduced through occasional special attacks.
“Gameplay is tedious and no fun for me; it's just strike-block-faint with occasional 'magic', which is merely a projectile or strong attack.”
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“I find myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which really takes away from the enjoyment.”
