Northmark: Hour of the Wolf
- August 2, 2014
- Rake in Grass
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"Northmark: Hour of the Wolf" is a single-player fantasy role-playing game set in a medieval realm. The game offers a combination of card-based combat and decision-making, with a focus on character development and player choice. As a defendant facing false charges, players must navigate political intrigue and build their power to clear their name and protect their homeland from an ancient threat.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features good graphics and a charming art style that enhances the overall experience.
- The card battle mechanics are simple yet engaging, making it accessible for casual players.
- The writing includes humorous elements and light fantasy jokes, adding to the enjoyment of the story.
- The game is very short, with most players completing it in around 3-6 hours, leading to low replayability.
- Combat can feel unbalanced and overly simplistic, with many encounters lacking challenge.
- The story is predictable and linear, with some dialogue being lengthy and tedious to click through.
- story126 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as short, linear, and predictable, with many players noting its lack of replayability and engaging depth. While some appreciate the humor and charming art, others criticize the writing quality and clichéd plot elements, suggesting that the narrative feels generic and often fails to captivate. Overall, the story serves its purpose but leaves players wanting more complexity and challenge.
“A great hand-drawn game with story-rich missions and some puzzles.”
“The plot is intriguing, with humorous little twists.”
“The story is enjoyable enough to keep you playing.”
“The story overall was not too engaging, the setting a bit generic and the core formula has been done a lot elsewhere that you will not be missing anything by skipping here.”
“The story is basically on rails, there are at max 7-8 different enemies in the whole game, there is no challenge at all except the last fight that seems a bit random based about damage; I needed a grand total of 2 attempts to beat it.”
“Boring story that was easy to know what is going to happen, and how it ends.”
- gameplay54 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by simple and accessible mechanics, primarily revolving around card battles, which some players find entertaining but lacking in depth and variety. While the combat mechanics are solid, they can feel unbalanced and monotonous, leading to a short and somewhat repetitive experience, typically offering around 6 to 8 hours of playtime. Overall, it's recommended for those seeking a light, casual gaming experience rather than a challenging or complex strategy game.
“Fun game with simple yet well done gameplay.”
“Its not the most complicated game, yet possesses enough detailed mechanics to provide basic strategy and tactical challenges when conducting battles.”
“A lighthearted story-based RPG card adventure with simple mechanics that are easily learned through playing.”
“Card gameplay is pretty shallow and monotonous, though.”
“A very simple card battle game, very basic mechanics, short, gets boring halfway through.”
“If you like card-based RPG game mechanics, can put up with bad writing and a poor storyline with 'twists' you can see coming way before the game 'reveals' them, so-so graphics and generally a 'meh' feeling all the way through, you should buy this one.”
- replayability28 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its very low replayability, primarily due to a linear storyline that requires players to follow predetermined events. Many reviewers noted that the short playtime, often under three hours, further diminishes any incentive to replay, despite some enjoyment derived from the experience. Overall, while it may be fun for a single playthrough, the lack of content and replay value makes it less appealing for repeated sessions.
“Summary: this is a good, fun game, but short with not a whole lot of replay value.”
“Yes, it has balance issues (from zero to hero with one good card purchase) and minimal replayability, but I enjoyed it.”
“Replayability is very low, the storyline is quite linear; you have to follow a series of pre-determined events in order to progress in the game.”
“This is a fun game with almost no replayability and a distressingly short playtime--in less than 3 hours, I had completed the game.”
“I understand it's an indie title and it's only £5.50 (7 if not on sale), but there are indie titles around that price that have far more content than this one has and far more replayability.”
- humor24 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many players finding it genuinely funny and occasionally hilarious, though opinions vary on its effectiveness. Some appreciate the clever, albeit sometimes out-of-character, jokes and the homage to fantasy worlds, while others note issues with typos and poorly written passages that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the humor adds a light-hearted touch, though not all attempts at comedy land successfully.
“It can be quite hilarious.”
“The writing is at times genuinely funny, and the story isn't bad, but there are also some amusingly bad typos, and just horrendously written passages (you may actually enjoy the awful translation, as I did).”
“Actually hilarious”
- graphics16 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their good quality and appealing art style, effectively capturing the game's setting. Many players enjoyed the aesthetic and interface, although some noted that the graphics could be considered average in comparison to the overall experience. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, despite some criticisms regarding the writing and story.
“Loved the art style.”
“Graphics and artwork are pleasant enough to look at, capturing the setting adequately.”
“It's supported by very strong art... I really enjoyed the art style and the interface... and very good music/sound (yes, it could've used a couple more battle tracks for sure, but what's there is very good).”
“If you like card-based RPG game mechanics, can put up with bad writing and a poor storyline with 'twists' you can see coming way before the game 'reveals' them, so-so graphics and generally a meh feeling all the way through, you should buy this one.”
- music6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game features a solid basic soundtrack that complements the strong art and gameplay, with many users appreciating its quality. However, there is a consensus that the game could benefit from additional battle tracks to enhance the overall experience.
“The story, art, music, and gameplay are good.”
“It's supported by very strong art... I really enjoyed the art style and the interface... and very good music/sound (yes, it could've used a couple more battle tracks for sure, but what's there is very good).”
“The game features only one basic soundtrack.”
“The music is repetitive and lacks variety.”
“There is no engaging or memorable music to enhance the experience.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its cozy and inviting quality, creating a warm and comfortable environment for players.
“What I found most praiseworthy about this game is its cozy atmosphere.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for its predictable and unengaging storyline, leading to a lack of emotional investment from players.
“Boring story that was easy to predict, lacking emotional depth and engagement.”
“The narrative felt predictable and uninspired, failing to evoke any real emotions.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users have reported issues with quest stability, noting that some quests are buggy and may hinder gameplay.
“One of my quests is buggy.”
