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Hinterland; televised, I think you were interested?
Topic Started: Nov 7 2008, 08:52 AM (183 Views)
Darkstalker
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~ The QUEEN ~
Right, so I got my hands on the indie game Hinterlands.

The game is basically an RPG with a management mechanic. Think Diablo, nowhere near as much hackey slashey although same kind of battle system. Now add in the factor that you begin the game with a town, and a few visitors. These visitors have certain requirements before you can ask them to stay in town as whatever (merchant, farmer, innkeeper, military, etc). Once in town, they will do their allocated task (eg: farmers produce food, inns attract better people to stay in your town), UNTIL you choose to bring them out adventuring with you (of course, production of their work stops so long as they're gone).

I've played about an hour or so of it, good, light fun so far. The management aspects keep my attention well enough, and the battling isn't so constant that I get bored by the first two quests (sorry Diablo).

I like that there are many classes to choose from at the beginning of the game. The classes all have different skills and the game even tells you what to expect at the start of the game. Can't remember all the names, but some start out poor BUT can recruit people easier, stuff like that. I picked a mercenary, which has good starting stats and equipment (so that I can get a feel of the game more easily) BUT suffers in terms of fame/reputation, which I believe affects the number of people coming to chill at my town.

Other notes:

- Periodically, your town will get attacked by peeps. The game has a warning system in place that lets you know that raiders have been "spotted" on the way though, so you have time to go back.

- You can individually set the people staying in town to defend or flee.

- When a person in your town dies, they die, period. You can then destroy the building they were occupying. I think you might be able to replace them with someone from a similar class, but I've not been able to do so yet...or it just might not be possible.

- When you die, you respawn back in town. Not sure about the penalties, as I died right at the start because I was overzealous in exploring.

- I haven't really gotten any skills yet (not sure if there're any).

:D
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Kimimi
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Teikokukagekidan: Hanagumi official tea maker :)
Sounds like fun - got any screenshots?
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Exalted
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Ziggy had a ray gun.
Has your opinion of the game changed any? Thank you for the thorough review. I'm still tempted to pick it up, but I think I will hold out for the upcoming sequel/expansion.
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Darkstalker
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~ The QUEEN ~
No, it hasn't, cause I haven't played it.

I forgot I had this game actually. Final sem started, so I'm spending less time on games in general.
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Darkstalker
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~ The QUEEN ~
I just reread my original post and realised that I reviewed that after about an hour's worth of gameplay.

Which means I have actually played more since then, I just didn't remember. And I haven't playhed in months of course.

Anyway, to add to my first post:

- I'm quite certain there are no skills. At least, there are no skills for the mercenary class.

- During level ups you can choose to upgrade a stat.

- There is no main narrative as far as I can see. You're just taking care of a town.

- The king can make demands of you of stuff he needs (30 food or whatever). Failing or refusing this can impact your fame/reputation heavily.

So my verdict on the game? Well, I haven't played it in ages, and I think it's because it feels a lot like a coffee break game. No skills, hack and slash, and no narrative means there's very little incentive to go forward. About the most interesting part of the game for me is getting people into my town to build it, and recruiting them, and that doesn't last either.

I wouldn't say it's a bad game, cause I imagine I'd play it in short intervals when I have more free time, but I really don't think this is an indie game that will make you go "Wow, I must drop (current game) to play this!"

I apologise for my previous post, cause I didn't realise that I hadn't put all the details that I knew about the game. Sorry, Exalted.
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