Songs of Steel: Hispania
- July 11, 2024
- Meteorbyte Studios
Get on Steam"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.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a clever turn-based combat system that emphasizes tactical planning and unit placement, making battles engaging and strategic.
- The story is well-written and provides a unique perspective on historical events, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
- The visuals and art style are appealing, with beautiful 2D animations that contribute to the game's atmosphere.
- The game imposes restrictive battle conditions that limit player freedom in tactical decision-making, which can be frustrating for some players.
- There are reports of game-breaking bugs that can disrupt gameplay, requiring players to replay missions.
- Some battles feel scripted and predictable, reducing the overall challenge and replayability of the game.
- story22 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as sparse yet well-written, effectively supporting the gameplay with a mix of historical events and original characters. Players appreciate the engaging narrative, which includes decision-making elements that influence gameplay, though some feel these choices lack significant impact on the overall story. Overall, the story is seen as a strong aspect of the game, providing a captivating backdrop to the tactical battles.
“The story is sparse, but well written and more than enough to paint the picture.”
“This is a clever turn-based war game with a lot of fun story events.”
“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 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.”
“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.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its variety and well-designed mechanics, featuring two campaigns with 32 missions each, interesting unit types, and upgrade systems that enhance tactical depth. Players appreciate the straightforward mechanics and excellent tutorials that keep the experience engaging, while the distinctive 2D art and animation contribute to the overall enjoyment. However, some users suggest waiting to purchase the game due to potential balance issues with overpowered units.
“The gameplay is well-designed, with interesting unit variety and systems that are involved but not over-complicated.”
“I love the distinctive art style and the music, but for me the best part is that the game actually manages to be fun and has a nice tactical gameplay while also being 'deterministic' without percentages to hit attacks or stuff like that.”
“Gameplay got 2 campaigns and each has 32 missions.”
“The mechanics are straightforward, and the game provides excellent tutorials that introduce new concepts seamlessly.”
“As you progress, the game introduces more unit types and increasingly challenging scenarios, ensuring that the gameplay remains fresh and stimulating.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally well-received, with a distinctive art style and effective use of music that enhances the experience. However, some users note that the visuals exhibit signs of resource limitations, resulting in sparse terrain and textures compared to the game's overall richness. Despite these shortcomings, the graphics effectively support gameplay by clearly delineating elevation and terrain types.
“The graphics and music get the attention; they are cool.”
“I love the distinctive art style and the music, but for me the best part is that the game actually manages to be fun and has a nice tactical gameplay while also being 'deterministic' without percentages to hit attacks or stuff like that.”
“Visuals show plenty of evidence of resource limitations, but the art style is effective if a bit spare, and the distinct terrain hexagons make it easy to keep track of elevation and terrain type.”
“Visuals show plenty of evidence of resource limitations, but the art style is effective if a bit spare, and the distinct terrain hexagons make it easy to keep track of elevation and terrain type.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in "Songs of Steel: Hispania" has received positive feedback for its coolness and distinctiveness, complementing the game's beautiful 2D art and animations. Players appreciate how the soundtrack enhances the cozy yet engaging atmosphere of the turn-based strategy gameplay, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.
“The graphics and music get the attention; they are cool.”
“I love the distinctive art style and the music, but for me the best part is that the game actually manages to be fun and has a nice tactical gameplay while also being 'deterministic' without percentages to hit attacks or stuff like that.”
“With 27 hours into Songs of Steel: Hispania, as a beta tester and now playing the finished product, I find it to be a cozy yet engaging game, with beautiful 2D art and animations.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
While the handcrafted maps may limit overall replayability, players appreciate the depth added by decision-making that influences historical outcomes, enhancing the game's replay value.
“Your decisions can influence the outcome of these historical events, adding a layer of depth and replayability to the game.”
“The maps are handcrafted, so while the game may lack some replayability, I find handcrafted maps to be more interesting than random ones.”
“The maps are handcrafted, so the game lacks some replayability, but I think handcrafted maps are more interesting than random maps.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's 2D art and animation are highly praised for their distinctive style, drawing comparisons to The Banner Saga, which significantly enhances the overall atmosphere and immersion of the experience.
“The 2D art and animation are standout features, reminiscent of The Banner Saga, with a distinct style that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.”
