Shieldwall Chronicles: Swords of the North
- December 16, 2018
- Wave Light Games Inc.
Get on SteamShieldwall 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
Reviews
- The game features enjoyable turn-based combat with a variety of character classes and tactical options.
- Graphics are decent and not cartoony, providing a visually appealing experience.
- The game offers good replayability with the ability to customize difficulty and mix different team compositions.
- There is a lack of character customization and the story is minimal, primarily consisting of text between battles.
- Gameplay can feel repetitive and shallow, with limited exploration and no real RPG elements.
- The interface and controls are clunky, and there are several bugs and balance issues that detract from the overall experience.
- story158 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 84 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely considered minimal and lackluster, primarily serving as a backdrop to the combat rather than a driving force. Players noted that the narrative consists mainly of brief text pop-ups before and after battles, with little character development or immersion, making it feel repetitive and uninspired. 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 elements are little text pieces shown along the way and there are some decisions to be made (take the left fork of the road or the right) but the main parts of the game are the battles.”
“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.”
“1) it's kind of boring; 6 random heroes fight battle after battle, bare story presented in text and trying to give some poor excuse to justify why you are fighting the next set of monsters.”
“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 Age.”
- graphics58 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative 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 character customization and gear representation during gameplay. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered good for the genre, there are calls for improvements in character visuals and more modern graphical fidelity.
“The graphics, animations, and special effects are well above average, especially for a game at this price point.”
“Graphics are much nicer in-game than what they appear on the preview here.”
“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.”
“These include terrible graphics and view controls.”
“Graphics are mediocre, animations and sound feel somewhat off.”
- gameplay32 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by solid mechanics and engaging tactical turn-based combat, which many players find enjoyable and well-executed. However, the lack of a compelling story and character development detracts from the overall experience, leaving some players feeling disconnected and bored during non-combat segments. While the game is recommended for fans of combat-focused RPGs, there is a desire for more narrative depth and RPG elements to elevate it further.
“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.”
“Shieldwall Chronicles is not open world exploration or big budget production value, but it is fun and recommended to anyone who enjoys strong tactical turn-based gameplay.”
“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).”
“- 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.”
“B) gameplay only feels ... meh.”
- replayability22 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse roster of 15 classes, each with unique abilities, and the ability to mix and match team members for varied tactical play. Players can explore different combinations, difficulty settings, and alternative paths, ensuring that each playthrough offers a fresh experience. Overall, the game's design encourages experimentation and strategic planning, making it a compelling choice for those seeking longevity in gameplay.
“Tactical play is interesting and there is some replay value in mixing up different combinations of team members.”
“Your squad of six can be mixed and matched from a variety of class types, and at any time change the members therein, to build an unstoppable party following through the replayable battle chapters, which do have some path choice.”
“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.”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some users finding it adequate while others criticize its poor sound balance and overwhelming volume. Many noted that the music can be excessively loud and chaotic, detracting from the overall experience.
“The sound balance is terrible; the music booms very loudly at only 50% of total, and the sound is all over the place.”
“5 minutes on a screen where a gold-armored elf/human figure kills a dull silver orc/goblin type figure with bad music.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative 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 in battles. To fully enjoy the game, significant grinding through repeated battles is necessary, reminiscent of 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”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been widely criticized for its poor stability, with numerous bugs and glitches reported, including significant freezing issues and noticeable spelling errors. Players have described it as one of the most poorly executed games they've encountered, detracting from an otherwise enjoyable experience.
“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 lag out and freeze when you try to circle his nest.”
- character development4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game lacks significant character development and storytelling, focusing primarily on battles instead. Players expected a traditional RPG experience but found the narrative and character growth to be minimal.
“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.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is subjective, with players noting that its effectiveness largely depends on individual taste. While some find it amusing, others may not resonate with the comedic elements.
