- July 11, 2024
- Meteorbyte Studios
Songs of Steel: Hispania
Platforms
About
"Songs of Steel: Hispania" is a turn-based strategy game that recreates the conflict between the Roman Republic and the Celtiberian people of Numantia from 153 BC to 133 BC. Players can choose their side and lead their people to victory using classic combat mechanics and decision-making in battles and cinematic sequences. The game features hand-drawn illustrations, challenging environments, and resource management, with every choice made affecting the narrative.









- The game features a clever turn-based combat system that emphasizes strategic planning and unit placement, making battles engaging and rewarding.
- The art style and music are attractive, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game, while the story is well-written and provides a unique historical context.
- There is a strong focus on deterministic gameplay, allowing players to predict outcomes based on unit stats and abilities, which adds to the tactical depth.
- The game imposes restrictive battle conditions, limiting player freedom in tactical decisions and unit selection, which can be frustrating for those seeking a more open strategy experience.
- Some battles are overly scripted, leading to predictable outcomes and reducing the challenge, while certain bugs can disrupt gameplay and require repetition of missions.
- The user interface and some gameplay mechanics could use improvement, such as inventory management and visibility of terrain, which can hinder the overall experience.
story
44 mentions Positive Neutral NegativeThe game's story, while sparse, is well-written and effectively supports the gameplay, focusing on historical events in Hispania from both Roman and local perspectives. Players appreciate the engaging narrative and decision-making elements, although some feel that choices have limited impact on the overall story. Overall, the story is described as warm yet serious, with a mix of humor and historical accuracy, making it a compelling aspect of the game despite some critiques regarding its depth and character portrayals.
“The story follows one of the most interesting campaigns in Hispania (modern-day Spain), from the perspective of the Romans and the locals, being very accurate to historical events.”
“The story is captivating because it's not limited to just the succession of documented battles.”
“That being said, this game is more about the story than tactics, and it fulfills its objective well enough to be bought even at full price.”
“I would caution, though, that thus far in my game, choices in lore sections are not the most impactful, usually getting one of two rewards as opposed to legitimately changing how the story or war unfolds.”
“Story is serviceable and often amusing, though consuls so far have just been negative caricatures.”
“The story on the Roman side is the traditional lions led by donkeys while using the major historical events to construct the battle scenarios and major campaign events.”