SeekerThe Banner Saga
'The Banner Saga' offers a strategy/RPG that is simple, refined and more than a little somber — and quite beautiful in its harshness.
-- As reviewed by Tom's Guide
Product details
- Beautifully hand drawn combat sequences and animations, accompanied by an evocative score from grammy-nominated composer Austin Wintry
- Choose from 48 playable characters from 4 different races and 40 different classes each with unique abilities and upgrade options
- Build and manage your caravan and its resources wisely on your journey - decisions are Critical to not only your own survival but the survival of an entire civilization
- Engage in strategic combat and think about the consequences - victory or defeat and even the permanent loss of a character depends on your choices
PROS
+ Good gameplay, both in and out of battle
+ Tough narrative decisions with no "right" answer
+ Striking visuals and somber sound
CONS
- Unforgiving difficulty curve
- Punishing auto-save system
- Nothing really new about core gameplay elements
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Expert reviews and ratings
By Tom's Guide on January 15, 2014
'The Banner Saga' offers a strategy/RPG that is simple, refined and more than a little somber — and quite beautiful in its harshness.
80
By TechAdvisor on January 18, 2014
The Banner Saga is a remarkably beautiful and constantly surprising roleplaying adventure game, let down only slightly by repetitive and overly-slow turn-based battles.
80
By PCWorld on January 14, 2014
The Banner Saga is beautiful to look at, but superfluous systems and a bloated cast of characters detract from its potential.
70
By IGN on January 14, 2014
The Banner Saga deserves commendation for the strength of its art and music experience alone, which shatters conventions. That experience, in turn, complements a bleak story of a world teetering before its fall, where the harshness of the Scandinavian landscape mirrors the plight of mutually distrustful refugees. It's also a tough tactical RPG that rewards thought and careful strategy, although it stumbles a bit in explaining systems beyond its combat.
86