Shadow Council: The Puppeteers
- June 21, 2018
- Tap by Tap
Get on SteamIn "Shadow Council: The Puppeteers" , you enter the world of Zartaal, a parallel reality to Earth. This world is divided between the authoritarian Kharnat Empire and the Alangan Democratic Union. As a member of the Shadow Council, you must manipulate events from behind the scenes, using your espionage skills to influence the outcome of the conflict. Each decision you make will have far-reaching consequences, as you work to achieve your own mysterious goals.
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Reviews
- The game has a unique concept with potential for emergent narrative gameplay.
- The art design and soundtrack are well-received, adding to the overall atmosphere.
- There is a good amount of backstory for different provinces, which adds depth to the gameplay.
- The game lacks meaningful gameplay mechanics and feels repetitive, with little strategy involved.
- There is no fast forward option, making gameplay feel slow and tedious.
- Many parts of the game are not translated to English, which hinders understanding and immersion.
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for its lack of meaningful mechanics and narrative depth, with players feeling stuck due to the absence of features like fast-forwarding and pausing. While some appreciate the core concept and potential for emergent narratives, many believe the game remains underdeveloped and in need of significant improvements to enhance player experience.
“First of all, I want to say that although the game is still rough, I love the concept and the potential for emergent narrative gameplay.”
“The gameplay is there.”
“Overall, though, I think that the base idea is there and the base mechanics are there.”
“I bought this game two years ago and the game mechanics haven't changed at all. Yes, we have more options now, but none of them have unique consequences other than plot discovery chance. You can't fast forward at all, so you will be stuck for days after depleting your money.”
“Wow, there is barely anything resembling gameplay, and literally no narrative.”
“The game is a shell, a husk waiting to be filled by content like mechanics, game speeds, a pause option, and other valid criticisms made by the buyers of this.”
- story2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around a struggle for uprising against a government, with various provinces featuring some backstory. However, many players feel that the narrative is underdeveloped and serves merely as a backdrop for gameplay mechanics, lacking depth and engagement.
“The game is essentially a battle against a country, or more accurately, its various provinces, each with a rich backstory that adds depth to the experience as you fight to inspire the people to rise against their government.”
“The game feels like a shell, a husk waiting to be filled with content, lacking any meaningful story.”
“The narrative is shallow and fails to engage the player, leaving much to be desired.”
“There is a distinct absence of depth in the story, making it hard to connect with the characters or the plot.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, featuring a pretty good soundtrack that complements the gameplay effectively and is of satisfactory quality.
“The music fits well and sounds good enough.”
“Pretty good soundtrack.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game has been noted for having limited replay value, suggesting that players may not find enough incentive to revisit it after completing the main content.
“There is very little replay value.”
“The game lacks incentives for multiple playthroughs.”
“Once you finish the game, there's not much reason to go back.”
