- September 22, 2020
- inkle Ltd
- 7h median play time
Pendragon
Pendragon is a game of both strategy and story, offering a different kind of gameplay experience while digging into historical mythos.
Platforms
About
"Pendragon" is a single-player, historical role-playing game that offers a good story and takes about 7 hours to complete. It is a turn-based strategy game where every move you make drives the narrative, and every story twist opens new gameplay opportunities. Conversations are as tense as battles, and there is not always a clear distinction between the two. Your characters' actions and decisions shape their relationships and impact the outcome of the game.
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- The game features a unique blend of tactical chess-like combat and narrative storytelling, allowing for engaging and varied playthroughs.
- The art style and atmosphere are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall experience with a melancholic tone that fits the Arthurian theme.
- The writing is well done, with interesting character interactions and campfire stories that add depth to the narrative.
- The combat mechanics can feel confusing and unbalanced, often leading to frustrating stalemates and a lack of meaningful choices.
- The game is relatively short, with playthroughs lasting around an hour, which may leave players wanting more content and variety.
- There are issues with repetitive dialogue and encounters, making the narrative feel less impactful over multiple runs.
- story92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
The story in Pendragon is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its engaging writing and character depth, while others find it shallow and repetitive, lacking the intricate storytelling expected from inkle games. The integration of tactical gameplay with narrative elements is praised, but many feel that the combat mechanics detract from the overall story experience, leading to a sense of disconnection. Overall, while the game offers a unique take on Arthurian lore with replayable narratives, it may not satisfy those seeking a robust and varied storyline.
“The writing is gorgeous, but the tiny snippets of writing interspersed throughout the combat are so brief and so common they become more distracting than welcome, because when I am engaged in the tactical decision making I no longer feel like I am part of the story.”
“Pendragon is a story-telling strategy game with a main focus on replayability.”
“If you enjoy getting story piece by piece, living through the legend of King Arthur and his knights, give it a go.”
“I can't put my finger on what is off about this game, but if I were to try to identify the most serious flaw, it would be that the story feels undeveloped. The fighting parts feel confusing with visual clues missing, and the ending is just so disappointing.”
“Finishing the story does not expand the story or the player's abilities, so it ends up becoming more like a melancholy chore than an adventure.”
“I encountered the same lines repeated at me through multiple playthroughs, sometimes by different characters, that ended up having no bearing on the story or the outcome of the game.”
Pendragon Review
Pendragon is a game of both strategy and story, offering a different kind of gameplay experience while digging into historical mythos.
80%Pendragon review
An accessible strategy game tied to a powerful, dynamic story generator.
78%Pendragon review — Tactical tales of Arthurian legend
Pendragon wants to help you tell a story of the last days of King Arthur, and how much that idea appeals to you is exactly how much you'll like it. Not every story works, but not every story has to.
80%