Shields of Loyalty
- March 18, 2021
- Mosaic Mask Studio
Get on Steam"Shields of Loyalty" is a turn-based dark fantasy strategy game set in the thematic world of Mantaria. Command your army, customize your units, and utilize distinct auras and formations to gain the upper hand in battle. Collect artifacts, manage troops, and experience high replayability value with challenging missions and specialized unit abilities. * 2D dark fantasy strategy game * Customizable army and units * Tactical gameplay with distinct auras and formations
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game captures the essence of classic turn-based strategy games like Fantasy General, offering a nostalgic experience with modernized mechanics.
- The tactical combat system is engaging, with varied unit interactions and terrain effects that encourage strategic planning.
- The developers are active and responsive, frequently updating the game and showing promise for future content and improvements.
- The game currently lacks essential features such as dynamic campaigns and random maps, which may disappoint fans of the genre.
- Balancing issues exist, with players reporting low income and high costs for unit upgrades, making progression challenging.
- Some gameplay elements, like unit naming and artifact management, are not fully implemented, leading to a rough experience in its early access state.
- graphics11 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their dark fantasy aesthetic, blending elements of historical and fantasy themes while maintaining a medieval feel. Reviewers highlight the impressive quality of animations, varied unit designs, and overall visual beauty, which contribute to an immersive experience. The art style and ambient sounds further enhance the game's atmosphere, making it visually appealing and engaging.
“Animated by magnificent graphical beauty, both elegant and blood-soaked fearsome!”
“I was immediately surprised by the quality of animations, the overall aesthetics, and sound quality; all are on point!”
“The graphics are lovely, the music is excellent and sets the tone, and the unit synergy encourages you to make your moves carefully.”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
“The character models are poorly designed and lack detail, making them feel lifeless.”
“The environments are bland and repetitive, failing to create an immersive experience.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its solid mechanics and potential, particularly the archer mechanics and strategic elements like ambushes and unit management. While the gameplay loop is simple yet effective, some players note the need for depth without unnecessary complexity. Overall, it is recommended for strategy fans looking for a fresh experience, despite being in early access with limited content.
“Pretty solid game even in the early access stage and shows high potential for future gameplay.”
“The gameplay loop is simple in a sense that it is good.”
“There are ambushes, clearing out settlements, looting said settlements, deploying and redeploying units with your general gameplay revolving around keeping your lynchpin hero alive throughout the missions and succeeding at the current task.”
“Most strategy players absolutely crave depth, but developers tend to mistake clunkiness and bloat for depth, leading to a ton of gameplay choices by the player that ultimately result in not much happening in terms of the outcome.”
“There are ambushes, clearing out settlements, looting said settlements, deploying and redeploying units, with your general gameplay revolving around keeping your lynchpin hero alive throughout the missions and succeeding at the current task.”
“Note that as of January 2022, this game is very early access with very limited content, but enough to demo the gameplay.”
- story9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The story of "Shields of Loyalty" has captivated some players, who appreciate its engaging narrative and the anticipation of new heroes, while others find it lacking depth and not particularly convincing. The gameplay focuses on strategic missions involving ambushes and unit management, with a balance of challenge that players hope will improve as the game develops. Overall, while the story may not be the standout feature for everyone, the game offers a solid foundation for strategy enthusiasts.
“Shields of Loyalty's story gripped me, but the promise of new heroes (hopefully soon and please be rogue) has me itching to dive back in.”
“I've played through the first mission and it looks and plays great.”
“While story and text do not convince me yet, not a single bit, to be quite frank, map strategy and hex grid tactics do so very well.”
“If you're looking for a story-driven strategy game that won't need your commitment for 700 turns to get a conclusion out of it and just kill a bunch of skeletons, the skeleton of a pretty decent game (get it?) is here and it is pretty playable right now.”
“The game is tops, just only one island to play so far, with missions and things.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its majestic and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience with a blend of classical influences. While it sets a compelling tone for battles and exploration, some players find it somewhat monotonous, longing for more variety. Additionally, the inclusion of heroic voice acting complements the soundtrack, adding to the game's immersive feel.
“Battlefields enchanted by the majestic music of the classical ages, both inspiring and menacing, flowing like a mysterious fog across haunted forests and villager towns.”
“The graphics are lovely, the music is excellent and sets the tone, and the unit synergy encourages you to make your moves carefully.”
“What I like is the heroic voice acting and, of course, the music.”
“The soundtrack is definitely carrying the atmosphere, if somewhat monotonous (or am I simply longing for those parts of J. S. Bach's music!? Wink wink).”
“And yes, with Chad Kroeger singing his hero song in the background, the heroes are returning to Mantaria to defeat the undead once and for all!!!”
“What I like is the heroic voice acting and of course the music.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game shows potential for significant enhancement, with the soundtrack playing a crucial role in creating an immersive experience, though it may feel repetitive to some players.
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world.”
“The game's ambiance creates a hauntingly beautiful experience that lingers long after playing.”
“Every detail contributes to a rich atmosphere that enhances the overall gameplay.”
“Room for a lot of expansion, improvement, atmosphere, and balancing.”
“The soundtrack is definitely carrying the atmosphere, if somewhat monotonous (or am I simply longing for those parts of J.S. Bach's music!? Wink wink).”
