Thorne - Death Merchants
- March 26, 2016
- Thorne Games
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Thorne - Death Merchants" is an episodic RPG centered around the infamous mercenary, Thorne, who has been falsely accused of a crime. Set in a dark and corrupt world, players must navigate Hollow Lake, uncovering the truth behind Thorne's arrest while battling magical creatures and making moral choices. The game features a variety of character progression options and encourages players to evaluate the intentions of the ambiguous characters they encounter.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a well-crafted story with interesting characters and a dark fantasy setting reminiscent of The Witcher.
- Exploration is rewarding, with numerous side quests and hidden achievements that encourage players to engage with the world.
- The real-time combat system offers a unique twist compared to traditional turn-based RPGs, making battles feel more dynamic.
- The game is quite short, typically taking only 3-6 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more.
- Combat can feel clunky and unbalanced, with issues like poor collision detection and the potential for players to be easily overwhelmed by enemies.
- The English translation contains numerous grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, which can detract from the overall immersion.
- story66 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, characterized as engaging and well-written, with some players appreciating its dark themes and plot twists. However, many reviews note that the narrative is relatively short, often taking only a few hours to complete, and some criticize it for being generic or suffering from low-budget production values. Despite these drawbacks, the inclusion of side quests and interesting characters adds depth to the experience, making it a solid choice for those seeking a compelling storyline in a compact format.
“The story was engaging and well written, in my opinion.”
“The characters and dialogue are well done, and the plot is interesting, although the spelling and grammar are bad at times.”
“The plot is intriguing and the characters are believable.”
“While the story/lore has some potential, it suffers from low budget production.”
“The story is fine, the dialogue suffers a bit from ESL woes but the point comes across, and there are smirkable moments.”
“But I was surprised by the story being all it was, which was a bit generic sadly, and I know this is probably partially the fault of the translation, but it comes off as quite cringe-worthy at certain key moments.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Thorne: Death Merchants" features unique mechanics that set it apart from typical RPG Maker games, though it suffers from poor balance and a lack of key rebinding options. While the combat is simple and could benefit from more responsive controls, the game offers an interesting adventure with a decent storyline and enjoyable soundtrack, despite its short length and superfluous RPG elements. Overall, players may find the gameplay satisfactory if they prioritize story over mechanics.
“Some quests/events can be experienced before certain obligatory quests, some might require revisiting certain places, but all in all they add up to the gameplay and to understanding what happens in the location of the adventure.”
“Good gameplay and easy controls, decent storyline.”
“The game mechanics are very unique, as we do not have the regular leveling, or armors, etc.”
“The gameplay features unique mechanics, but it suffers from poor balance and lacks an option to rebind keys.”
“If all you want is a cool story and are willing to slog through mediocre gameplay for it, maybe try Thorne.”
“The game mechanics are very unique, as it does not follow the regular leveling system or include traditional armor.”
- music8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it unique and well-suited to the gaming experience, while others describe it as mediocre or merely okay. Overall, the soundtrack is noted for creating a dark atmosphere that enhances the gameplay, despite some issues with volume levels.
“The music: the creator's choices were unique and complemented the gaming experience very beautifully.”
“The soundtrack is also nice; the main character is a badass.”
“Music is great, and a dark atmosphere is a relief from dull fantasy games like this.”
“Meh mood music, better than bad that's for sure.”
“Mediocre music throughout.”
“Music is okay for the most part, though auto settings have it turned up way too loud.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their charming pixel art style, effectively blending a medieval theme with a balance of seriousness and cuteness. Many users appreciate the nostalgic simplicity reminiscent of 1990s games, likening it to classic titles like Zelda, while also noting the excellent atmosphere it creates. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's appeal.
“Excellent atmosphere with nice, simple graphics that find an interesting balance between serious and cute.”
“The graphics and character art are nice.”
“Had good graphics, and it reminded me of Zelda.”
“The graphics feel like they are straight out of the 1990s, which is a bit disappointing.”
“The art style is charming, but the overall graphics lack detail and polish.”
“While I appreciate the simplicity, the graphics could use a modern update to enhance the experience.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its excellent balance between serious and cute elements, enhanced by simple yet effective graphics, mist, and lighting effects. The music contributes to a dark ambiance that stands out from typical fantasy games, creating an engaging and immersive experience.
“Excellent atmosphere with nice, simple graphics that find an interesting balance between serious and cute.”
“Nice, simple atmospheric mist and lighting effects.”
“Music is great, and the dark atmosphere is a relief from dull fantasy games like this.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that side quests enhance the game's length and provide opportunities for exploration, effectively reducing the sense of grinding typically associated with repetitive tasks.
“The side quests add to the length and allow us to explore a little more without the grinding feeling.”
“Grinding feels repetitive and tedious, making the game less enjoyable over time.”
“I found myself spending hours on grinding instead of actually progressing in the story.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for lacking replayability, with users noting that it offers little incentive to play through again.
“There is no replay value as a result.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
“The lack of meaningful choices means that replaying the game feels redundant.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the thoughtful character design and the cohesive world-building, noting that it evokes a grim fantasy atmosphere reminiscent of "The Witcher."
“You can see that real effort and thought went into character design and a coherent world that reminds me of a grim fantasy setting in the style of The Witcher.”
“The character development is incredibly rich, with each character having their own unique backstory and motivations that make them feel real and relatable.”
“I love how the choices I make impact the characters' growth and relationships, making every decision feel meaningful and engaging.”
