Renowned Explorers: International Society
- September 2, 2013
- Abbey Games
- 26h median play time
Slightly above average or simply inoffensive. Fans of the genre should enjoy them a bit, but a fair few will be left unfulfilled.
Get on SteamRenowned Explorers is a strategic expedition simulation game. Lead a team of explorers through treacherous environments, solving mysteries, and interacting with natives using a unique expedition system. Manage your team's emotions, resources, and reputation to become the most Renowned Explorer in the International Society.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Unique and charming art style with humorous writing.
- Engaging turn-based combat system that incorporates a mood mechanic, allowing for multiple strategies.
- High replayability due to diverse character combinations and randomized events.
- Can feel repetitive after several playthroughs due to limited expedition locations.
- RNG elements can lead to frustrating moments, especially with skill checks and combat outcomes.
- Lacks a substantial permanent progression system, making the endgame feel less rewarding.
- gameplay627 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Renowned Explorers: International Society" is characterized by its unique blend of turn-based combat and exploration mechanics, incorporating a rock-paper-scissors system influenced by character moods and interactions. While the mechanics are initially simple and accessible, they reveal significant depth and complexity as players progress, offering a high degree of replayability through varied character combinations and strategic choices. However, some players find the reliance on RNG and the potential for repetitive encounters to detract from the overall experience, despite the charming art style and engaging narrative elements.
“The gameplay is engaging, highlighting the exploration of different areas.”
“The mechanics are clever, it's one of the first RPGs that tackles the concept of battling with 'words' and 'emotions'.”
“The combat system is fun, revolving around a mood mechanic.”
“The gameplay seemed tedious and uninteresting, and I didn't care for the art style, which I originally thought I was going to like quite a bit.”
“Suffers from the same problems as Reus, this dev's previous game: too many unnecessary mechanics, and demands the use of a wiki to get anything done past easy difficulty.”
“The gameplay is also very lackluster.”
- replayability497 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players highlighting the variety of team compositions, randomized expeditions, and numerous strategies that keep each playthrough fresh and engaging. While some reviewers note that replay value may diminish after several runs due to repetitive elements, many still find the game offers enough depth and content to warrant multiple playthroughs, especially with the addition of DLCs and community challenges. However, a few users express concerns about limited long-term replayability, suggesting that the game could benefit from more diverse content.
“The different team compositions and research paths make for an amazing amount of replayability.”
“This is a really fun and different game with tons of replayability, a charming and lighthearted storytelling style and a surprising amount of depth to be found in mechanics that are easy to pick up.”
“Each game takes only a couple of hours, but the game has massive replayability due to its large cast, many places to explore, and all the mechanics.”
“I do agree with other reviews that the replayability is somewhat limited.”
“In the end, I realized that there was not much replay value to the game when, after 3 games, I began seeing many of the same events.”
“I would recommend getting this on sale if possible, just because the game doesn't really have a ton of replay value; rounds tend to be too homogeneous.”
- graphics336 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming, colorful, and cartoonish art style, which enhances the overall experience and complements the game's lighthearted tone. Many reviewers appreciate the unique character designs and animations, noting that while the visuals may appear simplistic, they effectively convey depth and personality. However, some players have pointed out occasional graphical glitches and a lack of polish, which can detract from the otherwise engaging aesthetic.
“The hand-drawn art style is beautiful, the animations just ooze character, the sound and music design is spot-on... particularly the way the battle theme changes dynamically to reflect the current mood.”
“The graphics are charming, the gameplay is challenging, but never obscure, the humor is top-notch; I'm not sure I have anything negative to say about it.”
“The art style is fantastic and the characters are very well drawn and look great.”
“Graphics are primitive.”
“The graphical style makes it look like a cheap iPad game; the combat grid system looked completely average and generic.”
“The graphics don't do justice as it makes the game look like a flash game from ten years ago.”
- story297 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story in "Renowned Explorers: International Society" is characterized as lighthearted and whimsical, with a choose-your-own-adventure style that allows for varied experiences based on character selection and mission choices. While the overarching narrative is considered simple and somewhat repetitive after multiple playthroughs, the game compensates with charming character interactions, humorous writing, and engaging mini-stories that enhance replayability. Overall, the storytelling is enjoyable but not the game's primary focus, appealing more to those who appreciate character-driven narratives and strategic gameplay.
“The narratives in each expedition were entertaining and offered a bit of replayability to come across all the different story points.”
“The story of the game is simple enough, but thanks to the different adventures we can get into, it's varied and some are interesting and also funny.”
“The storytelling is fun and lighthearted, though it loses a bit of its luster after a dozen or so playthroughs.”
“The story overall is pretty bare bones, but the goals and the characters' motivations are presented fairly well. Overall decent, but not really meant to be a strong point.”
“Renowned Explorers: International Society is mostly a turn-based combat adventure with almost no main or sub plots; you just explore different islands or historical sites and find treasures to reach your goal, and that's it, so it is not strictly an RPG because there is not much story.”
“The game throws a lot of shiny options at you which seem like a lot of content at first, until you realize that in the end it's heavy rock-paper-scissors combat without further depth, packed in a short campaign with no meaningful story or incentive to be replayed, since the unlocks don't really make your next run that different.”
- humor202 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently praised for its charm and cleverness, with players enjoying the diverse and quirky characters, witty dialogue, and amusing scenarios that arise during gameplay. The cartoonish art style complements the lighthearted tone, making for a fun and engaging experience that remains entertaining even after multiple playthroughs. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with strategic depth, creating a delightful atmosphere that keeps players chuckling throughout their adventures.
“The characters are diverse and have their own personalities; the situations are cartoonish but have a nice consistent tone with some decent humor.”
“From treasures to events, to even the characters freaking talking to each other is fantastic; even at my 100+ hour mark, I was still chuckling at jokes and having a good time!”
“The game keeps a fairly lighthearted and humorous theme throughout, which is aided by its bright and colorful art style.”
- music103 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and fit the adventurous theme, while others find it repetitive or uninspired. Many appreciate the unique tracks for different locales, which contribute to the overall experience, though some feel the combat music can be less engaging. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally considered decent, it may not leave a lasting impression for all players.
“The hand-drawn art style is beautiful, the animations just ooze character, and the sound and music design is spot-on, particularly the way the battle theme changes dynamically to reflect the current mood.”
“Each of the exotic locales you'll be exploring has a unique song to help build on its atmosphere.”
“The music that accompanies you on your adventures makes you feel like a real explorer.”
“The music can be incredibly repetitive and uninspiring.”
“The music and encounters are extremely repetitive after a few playthroughs, with enemy types, map types, and win conditions having little to no variation.”
“The weakest point of presentation might be the soundtracks of the game; however, it's not actually bad, but comparing with all the amazing aspects of this game, the music feels a little off (it should be more upbeat and epic than this).”
- character development29 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with many praising the charming and clever character designs that enhance the overall experience, while others criticize the lack of meaningful narrative depth and long-term progression. The writing is noted for its humor and personality, contributing to the enjoyment of the characters, but some players feel that the gameplay can become repetitive and lacks substantial character growth. Overall, while the art and design are well-received, the depth of character development varies significantly, with some players finding it engaging and others feeling it falls short.
“There are little jokes peppered in the story everywhere, and obviously a great amount of care has been put into the writing and the character design.”
“While it's easy enough to get started, the gameplay is quite challenging, underpinned by its deep and complex encounter and character development systems.”
“This game has everything you'd want in a good roguelite: interesting combat that has depth to its mechanics, interesting art style and aesthetic, character development, customization, various ways of advancement, loads of meaningful choices... all in all, it's my best roguelite of 2015.”
“It feels a little repetitive already, there's no storyline or character development of any note, or anything to pull you in really.”
“The problem is that this is an RPG about collecting artifacts... in which there are no long-term benefits to character development or artifact collection.”
“Character development in the story sense, not in the game stats sense.”
- emotional25 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its unique combat mechanics that incorporate emotional states, allowing players to engage in "emotional warfare" through various strategies like friendly diplomacy or devious manipulation. While the game is described as wholesome and charming, the emotional dynamics can create a complex and sometimes punishing experience, requiring players to carefully navigate the emotional landscape of encounters. Overall, the integration of emotional elements adds depth and immersion, making choices feel significant and impactful.
“Lightweight, yet also interestingly deep 'emotion' based combat mechanic, where you have to pay attention to the emotional states of all the characters and enemies, and deal with them accordingly to get the best outcome.”
“I love the idea of using emotional warfare; that combined with the graphical polish and playful sense of fun and humor makes it very worthwhile.”
“At its core, it's a pretty simple system of trade-offs between resources and fights/encounters, but it's got some hidden depth that makes it stay fresh (emotional combat states/character skill progressions/etc).”
- atmosphere25 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its charming, whimsical, and light-hearted tone, enhanced by unique soundtracks for each locale and clever writing. Players appreciate the blend of exploration and humor, with a visually appealing art style that contributes to a positive and engaging experience. Despite some criticisms regarding complexity, the overall ambiance effectively supports both the adventurous spirit and the strategic elements of gameplay.
“There's so much atmosphere and character to the game.”
“The sound design is great, love the atmospheric sound in the stages and the goofy sounds that the characters make.”
“The atmosphere and story is lighthearted and fun.”
“However, the charming atmosphere and humorous dialogue will most likely win you over and have you embarking on your next adventure!”
“The art style and atmosphere are colorful, light-hearted, and varied.”
“The graphics and OST come together well, creating a happy-go-lucky atmosphere.”
- grinding24 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game is often perceived as tedious and repetitive, with many players finding the mechanics and combat systems lacking in engagement. While some enjoy the strategic elements and the potential for fun after extensive grinding, others feel that the reliance on RNG and multiple currencies detracts from the overall experience, leading to frustration and a lack of replayability. Overall, the grinding aspect is a significant point of contention, with opinions varying widely on its impact on enjoyment.
“Tactical combat is entertaining and not tedious.”
“It's good for a quick fix as you can finish your 5 expeditions in a couple of hours, but it isn't tedious and has endless replayability thanks to the crew combinations, allowing for long play sessions.”
“The gameplay seemed tedious and uninteresting, and I didn't care for the art style, which I originally thought I was going to like quite a bit.”
“The music is why I bought it; the achievements (after unlocking all cards which takes hours of brainless grinding) then the game is very fun if you like determined RNG, a good example being the many 'map's treasures' which shoves 20% chances on you to get the best treasure.”
“It's boring, has a nonsensical system (in which you perform friendly moves after beating the enemies, and for some reason, it not only works but it's the way it's meant to be played), tediously repetitive and has no replayability whatsoever, unless your standards are very low and you enjoy repetitive gameplay over and over.”
- optimization18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 28 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players noting significant performance issues, particularly on Windows and Mac platforms, leading to slower gameplay as encounters progress. While the game features a complex resource and crew optimization system that enhances replayability and strategic depth, it suffers from bugs and a lack of polish in its graphics engine. Overall, while it runs smoothly on most hardware, the optimization challenges detract from the experience for some users.
“An excellent turn-based strategy with a lot of careful sequence optimization.”
“Many of the things you can buy feed back into resource generation for future expeditions, so it's got a growth-optimization angle that reminds me a little of civilization and similar games (though the actual mechanics are thoroughly different).”
“A fun and engaging game that's enjoyable to pick up quickly, but has many more layers of depth to be optimized than is initially obvious.”
“As the encounter progresses, the game gets slower and slower, so there is some kind of performance issue there.”
“One other note I'd make is this game is not optimized well for Mac.”
“The only criticisms I could make against this game are a slightly clunky overworld map and a poor optimization of the graphic engine (a 2D game should be 100% smooth and polished, not 98%).”
- stability14 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marked by frequent micro-freezes and various graphical glitches, which can disrupt gameplay but are generally not game-breaking. While it runs well in window mode for some users, others report crashes and significant issues on Linux, leading to an inconsistent experience overall. Despite these technical problems, many players still find the game enjoyable.
“Runs great in window mode.”
“The cloud storage glitches on Origin and Steam, so pray it gets fixed.”
“Not many... I have encountered some glitches, and the game crashes on me about one session out of 20.”
“For a game that doesn't seem particularly complex, it sure is buggy.”
