Qvadriga
- June 13, 2014
- Turnopia
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"Qvadriga" is a single-player, turn-based strategy game set in the Roman circus, where you manage your own chariot racing team. Train drivers, acquire equipment and horses, and employ cunning tactics to win races and avoid accidents or attacks from rival teams. The game offers masterful mechanics and takes about 10 hours to complete, providing a rich and challenging historical experience.
Reviews
- Unique subject matter as a chariot racing simulation, offering a fresh experience in gaming.
- Engaging turn-based mechanics that require strategic thinking and planning, making each race feel dynamic and challenging.
- Fun and addictive gameplay that keeps players coming back for more, with a sense of accomplishment when winning races.
- Heavy reliance on luck and RNG can make tactical choices feel irrelevant, leading to frustrating experiences.
- Campaign mode lacks depth and character development, making it feel barebones and repetitive over time.
- High price point for the amount of content available, with many players feeling it should be significantly cheaper.
- gameplay44 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its engaging turn-based mechanics that effectively translate the excitement of chariot racing into a strategic experience. While the mechanics are simple and easy to learn, mastering them presents a rewarding challenge, though some players feel the gameplay lacks depth and variety outside of racing. Overall, the game is praised for its originality and tactical elements, despite its minimalistic graphics and limited content.
“It convincingly translates a real-world activity to game mechanics.”
“The best part though is that these simple and easy to learn mechanics are rather hard to get perfect and take time to learn and master.”
“Just plain fun to play, the racing mechanics are great, immersive, and challenging.”
“All in all, the concept is great, but the gameplay is lacking. You must get in the top 3 places just to win some money to repair your chariots, or basically it's 3 tries and then you have to start from the beginning and try again.”
“There is very limited content, and the gameplay is lacking in flavor or complexity.”
“I normally don't really care about graphics if the gameplay is engrossing, but this game unfortunately lacks that quality, so all you keep thinking is, 'Damn, this would be cool if it actually had decent images of the action.'”
- graphics34 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are consistently described as simple, dated, and functional, often resembling those of a board game from the late 1970s. While some players appreciate the minimalistic style and find it allows for imaginative gameplay, others criticize the visuals as lacking polish and depth, suggesting that they detract from the overall experience. Despite the graphics being a common point of contention, many reviewers emphasize that the gameplay remains engaging and enjoyable.
“It recreates a vibrant historical frame with minimal graphics and text.”
“Qvadriga is a pristine example of how the imagination is of an infinitely higher definition than any type of ultra-detailed graphics.”
“Graphics are minimalistic, but the gameplay is fun and surprisingly tactical.”
“Graphics are not impressive at all.”
“The graphics are really simple, a top down view of chariots on a track.”
“Production quality is best described as 'functional' with no added polish (there is no fun commentary as was advertised in the video, and it lacks any graphic touches like cut-scenes of a win (or a tragedy).”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered fair, with some players finding it entertaining but ultimately repetitive over time. While there are calls for more customization and a better management system to enhance replay value, the lack of a multiplayer component and the turn-based mechanics have left some feeling that the game could become dull after a few hours.
“This is a very entertaining product and has fairly high replay value.”
“The replay value is good, but it could have been *great* with more customization and a better-developed management aspect.”
“This game is begging for a multiplayer component, which would significantly enhance its replayability.”
“It does become a tad bit repetitive over time, and that decreases the replayability for me.”
“Hmmm, I liked the look of this game and even went so far as to watch a few YouTube clips on it, but in all honesty, after 3 hours, I found the game rather dull and a little boring. Perhaps it would be more playable if it were real-time instead of turn-based, but hey ho, you get what you pay for.”
“Also, this game is begging for a multiplayer component, which would make it much more replayable.”
- story5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for lacking depth and progression, with no clear narrative or rivalries to engage players. While it offers a unique chariot racing management experience, the absence of a compelling storyline or character development diminishes its overall value. Players will face challenges from Rome's military, but this does not compensate for the lack of a meaningful story.
“Long story short, this is the only chariot racing management game you'll ever see, which is a huge plus.”
“But you will not be alone in your quest for the Maximus, Ludes - you'll have to deal with the full might of Rome's military as you confront the Russata!”
“The short story is that it's not worth anything close to the price.”
“The long story is that this is the only chariot racing management game you'll ever see, which is a huge plus.”
“It reminds me of the chariot race missions in Shadow of Rome.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is characterized as slow and tedious, appealing primarily to hardcore fans of RNG gameplay. Players find the lack of tactical insight before races and the randomness of outcomes frustrating, leading to a minimal sense of immersion, though it may still entice some to play "just one more time."
“Slow and tedious, only for absolute hardcore fans of RNG gameplay, with too little insight before races for tactical decisions, and too random results of your actions during races. In this barren, minimalistic game of grind, it can get you to play just one more time, but rarely with commitment or sense of immersion.”
“This game is grindy as hell.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its immersive atmosphere, highlighted by its detailed typography, clear icons, and striking visual elements like a blood smear on the track, which collectively enhance the overall experience.
“Despite this, the game oozes atmosphere, from the type fonts to the crisp, clear icons, to the blood smear on the sandy-tan track marking the death of a charioteer.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express that the emotional aspect of the game can create a sense of detachment, as it often feels like success or failure is influenced more by external factors than by the player's own strategies or decisions.
“The game often made me feel like success and failure wasn't really up to me or my tactics.”
“The emotional depth of the characters left a lasting impact on my experience.”
“I found myself deeply connected to the story, feeling every triumph and heartbreak.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The music in the game cannot be turned off entirely, as players can only mute the sound, which may limit their ability to customize their audio experience.
“The music is so captivating that you can't turn it off; you can only mute the sound.”
“The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.”
“Each track is beautifully composed, making every moment in the game feel immersive.”
“You can't turn off the music; you can only mute the sound.”
“The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it tedious to listen to.”
“The soundtrack feels out of place and doesn't match the game's atmosphere.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the game is enjoyable, players feel it lacks depth in character development and would improve with additional features to enhance this aspect.
“The character development in this game is incredibly rich and engaging, allowing players to form deep connections with their avatars.”
“I love how the character development evolves throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
“The depth of character development adds layers to the story, making every character feel unique and memorable.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is available for purchase on Android and iOS as a full version with no in-app purchases, providing a straightforward monetization model that avoids additional costs for players.
“The game can be purchased on Android and iOS, offering the full experience without any in-app purchases.”
“I appreciate that I can buy the game outright on mobile platforms, ensuring a complete experience without additional costs.”
“It's great to see a game that allows for a full purchase on mobile, eliminating the need for in-app purchases.”
“The game can also be bought on Android/iOS (full game with no in-app purchases).”
