Shining Plume
- September 15, 2016
- Warfare Studios
- 9h median play time
Get on Steam"Shining Plume: Warfare" is a real-time strategy game that transports players to the Great Plains of North America. As a Native American chief, lead your tribe to victory by managing resources, building structures, and training warriors. Engage in battles using traditional weapons like bows and tomahawks while employing tactical strategies to outsmart your enemies. Experience a unique blend of historical accuracy and thrilling gameplay.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features an interesting storyline with political intrigue and likable characters, making it engaging for players.
- The aesthetic and music of the game are well-received, contributing to an enjoyable atmosphere.
- Players appreciate the generous item distribution, which allows for a more relaxed gameplay experience.
- The game suffers from significant technical issues, including glitches that affect character movement and unresponsive controls.
- Many players find the dialogue and story progression to be overly lengthy and tedious, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- The game is criticized for its lack of depth in gameplay mechanics, with repetitive battles and poorly balanced combat systems.
- story26 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a mixed bag, featuring a conventional samurai hero narrative that is often bogged down by excessive dialogue and poorly developed characters, making it difficult for players to stay engaged. While some moments of political intrigue and humor shine through, the overall execution suffers from pacing issues and a lack of clarity, leaving players feeling overwhelmed by the number of characters and plot threads. Despite these flaws, some players appreciate the vibrant storytelling and find enjoyment in the unfolding narrative, particularly when the gameplay allows them to focus on the story rather than combat.
“Riveting storyline, vibrant characters, and even pop culture references!”
“I really liked the story surrounding the plot and especially the balanced battle system.”
“The story was interesting; the political intrigue in the story was intriguing.”
“The plot for this RPG Maker asset flip is a painfully generic samurai hero story, congealed with endless rambling, error-filled dialogue that makes paint drying seem breathtaking and thrilling.”
“A decent samurai-inspired plot crippled by dreary dialogue, poorly-developed, sometimes borderline intolerable characters, and sloppy controls.”
“The storyline has its moments where it gets interesting, but unfortunately there is so much unnecessary ramble included that it makes it hard to enjoy.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by stiff mechanics and balance issues, yet many players find it enjoyable and fun despite its flaws. While the low-quality retro pixel art detracts from the overall experience, the game offers a decent amount of playtime (7-9 hours) for its low price, making it a worthwhile investment for some. Overall, it seems to appeal to those who appreciate its charm despite the technical shortcomings.
“Plus, in spite of the balance issues, the gameplay is just plain fun.”
“This game is generally cheap (I got it for 50 cents), well worth the 7-9 hours of gameplay you can get out of it, and if you don't like it, there are trading cards that are worth 8-10 cents, so you would essentially only be out 25 cents if you really didn't like the game.”
“Like most RPG Maker shovelware and asset flips, the game features extremely low-quality copy-pasted 2D retro pixel art, looks awful, and has even worse gameplay.”
“Gameplay is a little stiff, but nothing that would ruin the game like other things.”
“At first, I ran into some problems with the mechanics.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its clever dialogue and pop culture references, reminiscent of mid-1990s translations, which often break the fourth wall. While the comedic elements can be uproarious, they coexist with darker themes, creating a unique contrast that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of humor with cultural references, though some may find the dialogue initially challenging to follow.
“The way the enemy talked the whole time was funny... even though he is a pretty disturbing guy.”
“Finally, the script evokes the working designs translations of the mid-1990s in its use of pop culture references, anachronisms, and breaking the fourth wall in the name of humor.”
“The humor is at times uproarious, but it doesn't stop you from feeling the somberness of the protagonist's fatalism, the menace of the assassin naga, or the warmth of Akira's compassion.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, described as atmospheric and decent, effectively complementing the gameplay and enhancing the overall experience. Sound effects are also noted to be good, contributing positively to the game's ambiance.
“The game also benefits from some beautiful character art, atmospheric music, and fast pacing (my first playthrough took just 6 hours).”
“Music and sound effects are good and complement the game well.”
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag; while the aesthetic and story show potential, the use of the RPG Maker engine results in poor fullscreen performance and a lack of HD support, which detracts from the experience for modern gamers. Some users appreciate the decent retro style, but overall, the graphical limitations are a significant drawback.
“It is a shame, because the aesthetic and story actually looked kind of neat.”
“As with all RPG Maker games, the poor quality engine displays badly in fullscreen and doesn't have full HD support or any graphics tweaking options, making this unacceptable for any dedicated modern PC gamer.”
“Decent graphics, old retro style.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for lacking replayability, with users expressing that they found no incentive to play it again after completing it.
“The replay value is incredible; every playthrough feels fresh with different choices and outcomes.”
“I love how each run can lead to completely different experiences, making me want to dive back in again and again.”
“The game offers so many branching paths and secrets that I find myself discovering something new every time I play.”
“Replay value: None.”
“There is no replay value at all for me.”
“The game lacks any incentive to play again.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates strong stability, with users reporting no instances of freezing or unexpected crashes.
“The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I experienced multiple instances of the game freezing during crucial moments.”
“Unexpected quitting happens way too often, disrupting the overall experience.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by beautiful character art and atmospheric music, contributing to an engaging experience that is further complemented by its fast pacing.
“The game features beautiful character art, atmospheric music, and fast pacing, making for an engaging experience.”
“The immersive atmosphere draws you in, creating a captivating world that feels alive.”
“The combination of stunning visuals and haunting sound design truly enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players often report feeling a strong sense of nostalgia when engaging with the game, highlighting its ability to evoke deep emotional connections and memories.
“It made me feel quite nostalgic.”
