Planet Stronghold: Colonial Defense
- March 9, 2016
- Winter Wolves
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"Planet Stronghold: Colonial Defense" is a sci-fi strategy game with card-collectible gameplay, where you lead a team of settlers on a dangerous planet. Choose to play as Alex or Diana Nelson, and uncover the mysteries of the planet while building up your colony and forming relationships with other characters. The game offers a visual novel mode for those more interested in the story and dating sim aspects, with eight characters to befriend and romance, including same-sex options.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features a unique combination of visual novel and card game mechanics, providing a diverse gameplay experience.
- The art style is visually appealing, offering both realistic and manga-inspired options that enhance the overall presentation.
- There is a high level of replayability due to multiple endings, romance options, and the influence of player choices on the story.
- The character interactions and dialogue can be overwhelming and confusing, with too many characters introduced at once and a lack of clear identification during conversations.
- The plot lacks structure and depth, with no clear goals or character progression, making the story feel aimless and unengaging.
- Romantic relationships are underdeveloped, often feeling rushed and lacking emotional depth, which detracts from the overall experience.
- story62 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story in "Planet Stronghold: Colonial Defense" is criticized for lacking a clear villain, mission, or stakes, resulting in a disjointed narrative where characters lack development and engaging arcs. While players appreciate the high replayability due to impactful choices and the sci-fi setting, many find the dialogue-heavy approach tedious and the overall plot directionless. Despite these issues, some players enjoy the blend of visual novel and card game mechanics, noting that the story serves its purpose but does not stand out as exceptional.
“Also, some of the decisions made along with the story influence directly on the card game, altering the cards, objectives, or even your resources.”
“I really felt a lot of agency as the main character, more than I expected, with a lot of choices changing the plot of the story and also the actions of other characters.”
“Replayability is very high because of the number of choices to make throughout the storyline which will have long-lasting effects on current events as well as the story's ending depending on the decisions that you make.”
“There is no villain, no mission, and no stakes here; things just happen.”
“The plot doesn't follow a structure of acts but a pattern of characters jabbering on like they're high schoolers before an alien attacks.”
“It appears the writer did not know the age-old rule of 'show, don't tell.' Instead of subtly letting us know the characters' feelings and backstory through written movements, facial expressions, and various other hints, they opted to fill the game with dialogue and coincidences.”
- music16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received positive feedback, with many users highlighting the standout quality of the soundtrack, particularly the bar theme. An exclusive OST featuring 10 tracks is available for purchase as DLC, and players appreciate the options for adjusting sound and music volume. Overall, the soundtrack is noted as a significant highlight, even for those who typically overlook music in games.
“As with all Winter Wolves titles, the music is stellar and really a highlight.”
“The soundtrack was surprisingly good.”
“I usually don't pay attention to the music in these kinds of games, but I did notice it in this one, so this is a good sign.”
“An exclusive OST of 10 tracks, and can be downloaded with a paid DLC.”
“Options for sound/music volume and text speed as well as a CG.”
“In the form of a soundtrack, a set of wallpapers, and some 'free' DLC.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay spans approximately 5-6 hours, primarily in visual novel mode, with a card game component that some players may find lacking in depth and diversity. While the learning curve is quick and engaging for those who enjoy card mechanics, the absence of ongoing content updates or new cards may disappoint players seeking more dynamic gameplay. Overall, fans of the card game aspect may enjoy the balanced battles, but others might prefer the story mode instead.
“The gameplay for me was a quick learning curve, where you could easily get by just doing the NPC side missions to build your deck.”
“I say all this with the understanding this is a single purchase game, no booster packs, no seasons, just one complete package which means if you're a fan of card game gameplay you'll have a blast; however, if you're a fan of getting new cards or seeing suboptimal decks get new support, I'm afraid this isn't for you.”
“It takes around 5-6 hours of gameplay in visual novel mode, which skips the card game.”
“Even with a DLC that guarantees the +18 patch, no genital parts are shown in the whole gameplay... better call it +16.”
“I'd hoped I had found a diverse visual novel with some actual game mechanics; instead, I have uninstalled.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their beauty, featuring impressive character graphics and a distinctive art style. Players appreciate the option to choose between two different artwork styles, enhancing the overall presentation of the visual novel.
“Great CGs and art style.”
“It offers two distinct styles of artwork to choose from.”
“The fact that the developers give you the choice of what type of art style you would prefer to enjoy the visual novel with greatly enhances the overall presentation.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its numerous choices that significantly impact the storyline and endings, as well as the inclusion of multiple romances. Additionally, the availability of two different sets of illustrations further enhances the replay value, encouraging players to explore different paths and outcomes.
“Also, don't forget about the two different sets of illustrations available, so that alone increases the replay value immensely.”
“Along with the decisions and the multiple endings and romances, this game offers great replayability.”
“Replayability is very high because of the number of choices to make throughout the storyline, which will have long-lasting effects on current events as well as the story's ending depending on the decisions that you make.”
“Also, don't forget about the two different sets of illustrations available; that alone increases the replay value immensely.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is hit-or-miss, with some funny stories and alternate choices, but much of the dialogue feels excessive and meandering, often straying into random conversations that may not land as intended.
“It has funny stories sometimes, featuring alternate choices.”
“Most of the dialogue is actually unneeded; there are so many times the characters go off on some random conversation that attempts to be funny.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Users have reported significant stability issues, particularly in later missions where battles appear buggy and the AI seems to have an unfair advantage, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience. This sentiment is echoed by multiple players who have shared similar concerns online.
“I experienced battles in the later missions that seemed to be buggy and heavily stacked the odds in the AI's favor, despite what cards you have in yours. I researched this on Google and found that others complained about similar experiences.”
“I encountered numerous bugs during gameplay that disrupted my experience and made it frustrating to progress.”
“The game frequently crashes during critical moments, making it nearly impossible to enjoy the experience.”
