Shieldwall Chronicles: Swords of the North

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 130 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Shieldwall Chronicles: Swords of the North Game Cover
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Shieldwall Chronicles: Swords of the North is a turn-based strategy RPG set in a fantasy world inspired by Norse mythology. Lead a group of mercenaries on a perilous journey, making decisions that impact the story and battle your way through hordes of enemies in tactical combat. Upgrade your characters, manage your resources, and make allies to survive in this challenging and immersive game.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 130 reviews
story7 positive mentions
music2 negative mentions
  • The game offers enjoyable turn-based combat with a variety of character classes and tactical options.
  • Graphics are decent and the game provides a casual experience with adjustable difficulty settings.
  • The developer is responsive to feedback and regularly updates the game, adding new content and improving gameplay.
  • The game lacks depth in character customization and story, feeling more like a series of battles with minimal narrative.
  • There are issues with the user interface and some mechanics, such as unclear hit chances and lack of visual representation for equipped items.
  • Gameplay can become repetitive, with limited exploration and a reliance on grinding for experience and loot.
  • story79 mentions

    The story in the game is generally considered minimal and lackluster, primarily serving as a backdrop to the combat rather than a driving force. Players note that the narrative consists mostly of brief text snippets before and after battles, with little character development or immersion, leading to a repetitive experience. While some appreciate the tactical gameplay, many express a desire for a more engaging and fleshed-out storyline to enhance the overall experience.

    • “I’ve done about 15 campaign missions and a bunch of random missions so far and I’ve run across probably 50 different types of characters; I loved the lizardmen and frog leaders, epic, same thing with the knights etc., this game is sensational.”
    • “The story and travel is text-based, so no long boring travel or time wasted in towns.”
    • “If you enjoy using your imagination when reading the story and translating it over to the battles, then this is for you.”
    • “The story is very shallow and if you want to feel attached to characters or a story, wave light games are not for you.”
    • “There's a bare bones story that is basically a text popup before a battle explaining why you're about to fight.”
    • “The story line has some choices and gives a background for each battle and its place in the story's progression, but don't get this game for an RPG experience like that of Baldur's Gate or Dragon's Age.”
  • graphics29 mentions

    The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the above-average visuals, animations, and special effects, especially for its price point. However, some users note that the graphics can feel outdated, lacking in character customization, and that gear changes do not visually reflect on characters. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered good for the genre, there are criticisms regarding their polish and the absence of certain visual features.

    • “The graphics, animations, and special effects are well above average, especially for a game at this price point.”
    • “I bought this game and Demon's Rise on sale, and I played both of them for a bit and decided to stick with this one because the graphics and sound were better.”
    • “The graphics are quite nice as well, a real step up!”
    • “The graphics are totally fine, but they are more C+ grade than B grade.”
    • “The only difference is the graphics look to be from 2012, instead of 2007 (despite both games coming out in 2018).”
    • “Graphics are mediocre; animations and sound feel somewhat off.”
  • gameplay16 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by solid tactical turn-based mechanics that many players find enjoyable, particularly for fans of combat-focused RPGs. However, the lack of character development and a compelling story detracts from the overall experience, leaving some players feeling bored with minimal engagement outside of battles. While the game is well-crafted for its genre, it may not satisfy those seeking a deeper narrative or exploration elements.

    • “Despite the above, the gameplay is very good and the maps are varied and quite fun.”
    • “Wasn't expecting a lot for the price, but it combines compelling tactical turn-based gameplay with 'choose-your-own-adventure' style interludes--and they're well written, yet concise in the style of fighting fantasy or other similar books.”
    • “I would certainly recommend this for those who are interested in a combat-focused party-based RPG; the combat mechanics are amongst the best I've seen.”
    • “Scratching my head over some of these positive reviews; some are perhaps based on the nostalgia for older, turn-based, hex-map style titles that this gameplay invokes...instead of reality.”
    • “- doesn't have any sort of gameplay in between matches, you don't even walk around anywhere, there's just a bunch of text in between fights that sort of tells a story and that's it.”
    • “Graphics are good for this genre, but I do miss the storyline; it is not a bad game for people who like this type, but the lack of the storyline made me bored after minimal gameplay.”
  • replayability11 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse character classes, tactical gameplay, and the ability to mix and match team members, allowing players to experiment with different strategies and combinations. With 15 classes, multiple difficulty settings, and alternative paths, players can enjoy numerous playthroughs without feeling repetitive. Overall, the variety and depth of gameplay ensure that replay value is a significant strength of the game.

    • “Tactical play is interesting and there is some replay value in mixing up different combinations of team members.”
    • “I love all the games by this dev; they are simple but fun. Turn-based strategy with many characters to choose from, all with unique abilities, making for great replayability.”
    • “There are 15 different classes, 2 game modes, 5 difficulty settings, and some choices that provide alternative paths to the end game, so replayability is not an issue.”
    • “Replayability mainly rests on composing a different warband (which makes the balancing of characters all the more important).”
    • “There are 15 different classes, 2 game modes, 5 difficulty settings and some choices that provide alternative paths to the end game, so replayability is not an issue.”
    • “Your squad of six can be mixed and matched from a variety of class types, and at any time change the members therein, (who enter at the same level as those replaced), to build an unstoppable party following through the replayable battle chapters, which do have some path choice.”
  • music3 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing the sound balance and quality, describing it as overly loud and poorly mixed. However, others find the music to be satisfactory, indicating a divide in player experience regarding this aspect.

    • “5 minutes on a screen where a gold-armored elf/human figure kills a dull silver orc/goblin type figure with bad music.”
    • “The sound balance is terrible; the music booms very loudly at only 50% of the total volume, and the sound is all over the place.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the early stages where character accuracy is low, leading to frequent misses. To fully enjoy the game, significant repetition of battles is necessary, similar to the developers' previous titles.

    • “The early game is incredibly tedious, because your characters' accuracy ranges from mediocre to pathetic, so you are constantly missing again and again.”
    • “Be warned though that, very much like their previous games, enjoying the game to its fullest requires quite a bit of grinding by repeating battles already fought.”
    • “Grinding simulator”
  • stability3 mentions

    The game has been criticized for its poor stability, with numerous bugs, glitches, and even spelling errors detracting from the overall experience. Players have reported significant issues, such as freezing during critical moments, which severely impacts gameplay.

    • “It was one of the most sloppy, buggy, and thrown-together games I have ever played, with noticeable spelling errors just icing the cake at every turn.”
    • “Shieldwall Chronicles is just as buggy and bad as Demons Rise.”
    • “Was a really fun game, but there's a giant glitch when you're running from the dragon that causes the game to freeze when you try to circle his nest.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the game lacks significant character development and storytelling, focusing primarily on battles instead. Players expected a deeper RPG experience but found the character progression to be minimal or non-existent.

    • “I thought this was an RPG with character development and a story, but it isn't... it's just battles.”
    • “Watch it though, because there isn't much story or character development going on.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is subjective, with some players finding it amusing while others may not resonate with it as much.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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