Songs of Steel: Hispania
- July 11, 2024
- Meteorbyte Studios
Get on SteamLead your people to victory and make history: Relive the confrontation that took place, from 153 BC to 133 BC, between the relentless Roman Republic and the brave Celtiberian people of Numantia. Choose your side and immerse yourself in a system of classic combat strategy and tactics mechanics based on positioning, flanking, and covering, in-battle missions, and decision-making, through battles …
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a well-written story that effectively paints the historical context and engages players.
- Combat mechanics are innovative, with a focus on terrain and unit formations that enhance strategic depth.
- The game offers a unique experience with distinct playstyles for the Roman and Celtic factions, making it enjoyable for fans of tactical games.
- The game suffers from restrictive tactical decisions, limiting player freedom in unit selection and battle strategies.
- There are notable bugs that can disrupt gameplay, including game-breaking issues that may require players to repeat battles.
- Some battles feel overly scripted and lack difficulty, with certain scenarios being unwinnable by normal means.
- story33 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as sparse yet well-written, effectively setting the scene and enhancing the gameplay experience. While it features a visual novel format with original characters and decision-making elements, the impact of these choices on the overall narrative is limited. The historical context and clever integration of major events add depth, though some players wished for more prominent historical figures to appear.
“The story element supporting the game is warm yet serious, befitting the theme.”
“There is a visual novel plot featuring original named characters, and you will have to make decisions for them that will affect things like resources, morale, etc. There is also a light RPG element with leveling and perks, as well as slots for equipment.”
“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.”
“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.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its well-designed mechanics, offering a variety of unit types and engaging systems that strike a balance between complexity and accessibility. Players appreciate the interesting equipment and upgrade mechanics that allow for unit specialization, though some units may feel overpowered, leading to challenging battles. Overall, while the gameplay introduces fresh elements to the genre, some reviewers suggest waiting before purchasing the game.
“The gameplay is well-designed, with interesting unit variety and systems that are involved but not over-complicated.”
“The game mechanics introduce some fresh air in the genre.”
“Interesting equipment and upgrade mechanics to specialize your units (units can feel overpowered, but you will still struggle to win some battles).”
- graphics6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally well-received, with a cool art style that effectively utilizes distinct terrain hexagons for clarity in elevation and terrain type. However, there are noticeable resource limitations that result in a somewhat sparse visual presentation. Overall, the combination of graphics and music stands out positively.
“The graphics and music get the attention; they are cool.”
“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.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received positive feedback, with players noting its coolness and impressive quality. Overall, it contributes significantly to the game's appeal, alongside its graphics.
“The graphics and music get the attention; they are cool.”
“Overall, I am very impressed by this game, and hope that Songs of Steel will not end with Hispania.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's handcrafted maps limit its replayability, as players may exhaust the content more quickly compared to randomly generated maps. However, many users appreciate the uniqueness and depth of the handcrafted design, finding it more engaging despite the reduced replay value.
“The handcrafted maps add a unique touch to the game, making each playthrough feel special, even if it lacks some replayability.”
“I appreciate the handcrafted maps; they offer a level of detail and creativity that random maps just can't match, enhancing the overall experience.”
“The maps are handcrafted, so the game lacks replayability, but I think handcrafted maps are more interesting than random ones.”
