Zoria: Prologue (2020)

About

Full game out now, grab your copy! Zoria Prologue 2020 is an introduction to the classic tactical RPG with fluid turn-based combat, outpost, and followers management. You will lead a diverse team through the various lands of an Uram continent and against challenges to countless groups of monsters and bosses. Zoria has now fallen prey to the sheer brutality of the hellspawn that roams its land. …

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 334 reviews

story48 positive mentions

character development3 negative mentions

Decent tactical combat that is engaging and reminiscent of classic RPGs.
Visually appealing with a charming art style and a well-crafted atmosphere.
Free to play, making it accessible for players to try without any financial commitment.

Boring loot and itemization that lacks excitement and variety.
Clunky UI elements and camera controls that can hinder gameplay experience.
Feels more like a demo than a complete experience, with limited content and features.

story
134 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
60%
4%
The story in *Zoria: Age of Shattering* is generally described as a classic, albeit somewhat clichéd, setup of a world in decline that players must navigate. While some reviewers find the narrative intriguing and appreciate its potential, others criticize it for being bland, generic, and lacking depth, particularly in dialogue and character development. Overall, the game shows promise with its story elements, but many players feel it needs more polish and originality to fully engage them.
- “Beautiful graphics, enthralling story line... I was hooked and actually finished the prologue in one sitting without taking a break... truly a fun game to play.”
- “The story is intriguing... so I look forward to its release as a finished product.”
- “It is a detailed game with a lot of thought and effort put into making an understandable storyline with plenty of side quests that are simple and easy to complete while going about your main mission.”
- “The story unfortunately is a bit of a snoozer for me; I don't enjoy 'we're soldiers in war' type stories, and the dialogue itself is generic and boring, but obviously the main center of the game is the combat, and that part is very good.”
- “The lore, story, and quests all feel like I've read them somewhere else; it's really cliché so far, but there are a lot of mechanics teased in the prologue that have not been implemented, so those remain to be seen.”
- “Zoria is a tactical turn-based RPG with real-time exploration; it attempts to both be a serious story of war, conquest, and insurmountable odds and fill itself with pop culture references. As a result, it struggles to find its own identity as either a serious story or a comedy hack.”
graphics
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
50%
6%
The graphics of the game are generally described as colorful and charming, with a clean art style that evokes nostalgia for classic RPGs. While some users note that the visuals are simplistic or dated, many appreciate their appeal and suitability for the game's mechanics, emphasizing that the graphics do not detract from the overall enjoyable gameplay experience. Overall, the graphics are considered solid for an indie title, with room for improvement but still contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “Beautiful graphics, enthralling storyline... I was hooked and actually finished the prologue in one sitting without taking a break... truly a fun game to play.”
- “Great sense of exploration, lovely visuals and believable environment.”
- “The graphics are impressive.”
- “Average graphics, boring dialogs, ordinary RPG and combat system.”
- “The overall graphics remind me of the early 90's single-player action.”
- “Many issues, like poor graphics, not much of a skill tree, no crafting yet, very little content, final boss fight almost impossible... just to name a few.”
gameplay
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
61%
7%
The gameplay of *Zoria: Age of Shattering* features classic isometric tactical RPG mechanics, with a focus on turn-based combat that is generally smooth and intuitive, though some players find it simplistic and lacking in depth. While the atmosphere and character progression are appreciated, there are criticisms regarding clunky UI, camera issues, and the need for clearer mechanics. Overall, the game shows potential, especially for fans of the genre, but may require further refinement before its full release.
- “The core gameplay is what you’d expect from a tactical RPG.”
- “The gameplay is decent, the atmosphere is solid, and if you’re into tactical RPGs, you’ll probably find something to like here.”
- “Gameplay is very intuitive and flows nicely mainly due to the flawless pathfinding of the point-and-click movement of the party, the functional camera, and a good UI, which features plenty of tooltips.”
- “I very much dislike the mechanic of having to build focus before you can use most of your skills.”
- “A bit too simple mechanics, some UI issues with camera, visibility, and being able to move the pointer to where you want it.”
- “The gameplay isn't great, nor is the performance - even set on low settings, the game stutters like crazy and after the first few levels, you quickly realize one major thing about the combat.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
43%
21%
The music in the game is generally described as fitting the mood and setting, with a mix of fast-paced tracks for action and slower tunes for exploration. However, some users find it repetitive and lacking depth, with a few noting that it can be overly prominent or reminiscent of older sound design. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated for its ambiance, it does not stand out as exceptional.
- “The music captures the mood.”
- “The music is appropriate for the setting of each location.”
- “Great music soundtrack...peaceful at times...tried this game to get away from my essential workplace.”
- “Music: 5/10”
- “Graphics are fine, music a little repetitive and weak, but that is just my opinion.”
- “No voice acting and rancorous music that demands your attention rather than falls into the background like normal games.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its bleak yet engaging quality, enhanced by polished visuals and strong sound design. Players appreciate the atmospheric environments, both in outdoor settings and dungeons, which contribute to an immersive experience, even if some find the camera controls a bit challenging. Overall, the game's charm and atmosphere stand out as key highlights.
- “The real draw is the atmosphere.”
- “I loved the atmosphere, and the sound quality.”
- “The prologue was quite enjoyable, great atmosphere, strong Divinity 2 vibes, very polished visuals.”
- “The camera is a little wonky; I would prefer to zoom out and tilt down more to better see where I am going, but it works and adds atmosphere.”
- “The gameplay is decent, the atmosphere is solid, and if you’re into tactical RPGs, you’ll probably find something to like here.”
- “That all being said, the atmosphere and charm of the game is there.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Character development in the game is generally described as simple and user-friendly, making it accessible for players. However, some users feel that the system lacks clarity, leading to confusion about optimal point allocation, which can result in unbalanced character performance during combat.
- “The character graphics are similar to Warcraft, the character/map interaction is similar to Diablo (but without being as dark or graphic). The combat is initiative-based and easy to use once you get used to it, and the character development is simple and easy to use too.”
- “Simple character development.”
- “Maybe I chose poorly on character development, but the boss pretty much two-shots my main character and one-shots two companions, leaving me with a tank that doesn't do enough to survive.”
- “Character development is not explained well; I'm not sure where to best put points.”
- “The character development is simple and easy to use, but it lacks depth.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
80%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid with no significant loading or saving issues, and it rarely crashes. However, players have noted some bugs and glitches, particularly in the early access phase, including a missing mapping system and combat issues, with specific problems reported on the Linux/nouveau version. Many users recommend waiting for further updates to address these stability concerns before fully engaging with the game.
- “No loading or saving problems; the game runs smoothly without any freezes or crashes.”
- “The stability of the game is impressive, with seamless transitions and no interruptions.”
- “I haven't experienced any technical issues; the game is stable and reliable throughout.”
- “It's often buggy (that's to be expected in early access) and I prefer to wait for the gremlins to get ironed out first.”
- “There are still a few problems like a missing mapping system - quest markers and some combat glitches - but this will be a classic RPG-lite in the vein of Original Sin.”
- “The Linux/Nouveau version quickly freezes.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
Overall, players have mixed experiences with optimization; while some report excellent performance and smooth gameplay without bugs, others experience significant stuttering and performance issues, even on lower settings.
- “I didn't encounter any bugs, and it seems to run smoothly.”
- “Excellent game performance and smoothness of play.”
- “10/10 game performance.”
- “The gameplay isn't smooth, nor is the performance. Even set on the lowest settings, the game stutters like crazy.”
- “After the first few levels, you quickly realize one major issue with the combat: the optimization is severely lacking.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Players note that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, requiring considerable time investment, but it is balanced by an engaging story and visually appealing graphics. The turn-based combat is described as enjoyable rather than tedious, despite the limited number of skills available.
- “Grinding can be a rewarding experience if you enjoy the journey of leveling up your character.”
- “The grind is real, but it feels satisfying to see your hard work pay off in the end.”
- “Investing time in grinding allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear that enhance your gameplay.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It is turn-based, with grinding and a limited number of skills.”
- “The grinding feels excessive and detracts from the overall experience.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game offers limited replayability due to its short length and predefined main character with a single class, which may restrict player choice. However, its free access provides an incentive for players to revisit the experience despite these limitations.
- “The replay value is impressive; it's short but also free, making it easy to dive back in.”
- “I appreciate the predefined main character; I like that my characters are literally my avatars, even if it slightly decreases replayability.”
- “Replay value: it's short, but it's also free.”
- “The predefined main character (I like my characters to be literally my avatars) with one class is important story-wise, but it decreases replayability.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with users finding the story unengaging and the gear system lacking purpose, leading to an overall sense of disappointment.
- “The game fails to evoke any real emotions, leaving players feeling disconnected from the story.”
- “I expected a deep emotional experience, but instead, I was met with a shallow narrative that didn't resonate.”
- “The characters lacked depth, making it hard to feel anything for their struggles or triumphs.”