Beastmancer

Une Bonne idée mais le gameplay est vraiment pauvre pour un tactical, les zones sont redondantes se ressemblent toutes et les espaces en ville a parcourir plutôt vides

Beastmancer, developed and published by Autarca, is an independent tactical RPG that merges monster taming with turn-based strategy in a way that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly distinct. Set across a chain of mysterious islands, the game places players in the role of an aspiring Beastmancer invited to compete in a prestigious tournament. While the premise initially suggests a straightforward quest for glory, the narrative gradually reveals a world filled with secrets, social tensions, and hidden dangers. The setting carries a darker tone than many creature-collecting games, giving the adventure a unique identity that immediately separates it from more traditional entries in the genre. At its core, Beastmancer revolves around assembling a team of creatures and using them effectively in tactical combat encounters. The game features more than sixty monsters to capture and train, each offering different skills, combat roles, and strategic applications. Battles take place on grid-based maps where positioning is often just as important as selecting the right attack. Some creatures excel at absorbing damage, while others focus on mobility, ranged attacks, or support abilities. This tactical layer adds considerable depth to the experience, encouraging players to experiment with different lineups rather than relying on a single overpowered companion throughout the entire campaign. Exploration is another major component of the game. The island environments are packed with hidden paths, optional encounters, and rewards for curious players. Traveling from one location to another provides opportunities to uncover lore, recruit additional monsters, and encounter rival Beastmancers. The story itself benefits from the world's atmosphere, presenting Beastmancers as individuals who are not universally welcomed by society. This underlying tension adds weight to the player's journey and gives the setting more personality than one might expect from a modest indie title. Although the narrative does not reach the complexity of larger RPG franchises, it remains engaging enough to carry players through the adventure. Visually, Beastmancer embraces a pixel-art style that prioritizes charm and functionality over spectacle. The monster designs are particularly memorable, leaning into a darker fantasy aesthetic that complements the game's themes. From intimidating beasts to bizarre magical entities, the roster feels varied and thoughtfully designed. Environmental art is serviceable and succeeds in creating distinct regions, though some areas can appear repetitive during extended sessions. Likewise, the soundtrack does a competent job of supporting the atmosphere, even if few tracks leave a lasting impression after the credits roll. Despite its strengths, Beastmancer occasionally shows the limitations of its independent development. Certain maps feel overly large, resulting in periods where exploration slows the pace more than intended. The user interface is simple and can sometimes feel cumbersome, especially for players accustomed to modern quality-of-life features. Combat, while enjoyable, may become somewhat predictable during the latter stages of the game as players settle into favored strategies. Nevertheless, the underlying systems remain compelling enough to keep the experience entertaining from beginning to end. What makes Beastmancer stand out is its willingness to combine two beloved genres without losing sight of its own personality. It successfully captures the appeal of collecting creatures while layering meaningful tactical decision-making on top of every encounter. The game may not possess the production values of larger RPGs, but it compensates with ambition, creativity, and a genuine appreciation for strategic gameplay. Fans of monster-collecting adventures and tactical RPGs alike will likely discover an overlooked gem that deserves more attention than it received upon release. Beastmancer is an admirable effort that demonstrates how much can be accomplished with a clear vision and thoughtful design. Its dark fantasy world, strategic battles, and satisfying sense of progression make it an easy recommendation for players seeking something different within the monster-taming genre. While a few rough edges prevent it from achieving greatness, the overall package remains enjoyable and memorable. Rating: 7/10

10/10 for concept, 7/10 for execution. Nonetheless I would still say that it is a nice experience to have. The game is already there, but it definitely lacks polish. If you like HOMM/King's Bounty gameplay while having the concept of monster taming games, you'll love this. If you check the discussions, the developer did say that a sequel or the like is very far off due to poor sales which is such a shame since I really do believe that the idea of the game is very great, and if it did get polish, it would been a very great game.

Such a great game, I wish more people would play it, I also wish there was more, or mods for this so I could have more than 7 slots like the prince and the walker have 8 - 10

I love the art design, the creatures look great as does the environment. However, there's small things which really hold it back. Dialogue screens sometimes have a delay and I was unable to find a way to skip text fade in. Made pace of travel feel really sluggish. I imagine combat gets better later but it feels so slow early to the point that I don't think I could make it further. Maybe get it on sale, as it's not the worst thing out there but you can definitely feel 'my first project' energy behind it.

Gra niby z 2017 ale grając miałam wrażenie że cofnęłam się do lat 90. Wszystko było takie brzydkie :D W grze przeszkadza kamera która jest tak nisko zawieszona nad graczem że nie widać dokąd sie idzie (nie ma opcji jej zmiany). Czcionka użyta w grze została chyba tak wybrana by utrudnić graczowi przeczytanie czegokolwiek. Grałam 30 minut ale wynudziłam się niemożebnie. Może później gra się rozkręca, ale ja się od niej odbijam :<

This is a soft yes - I thought this to be a 6.5/10. Only for really hardcore fans of the genre. + Cool art + Good atmosphere + Many cool creatures to collect + Good game length (approx 7 hours to finish) - Lots of backtracking - Too much time spent traversing the maps - Running speed and text speed too slow, which takes up lots of time.

The sound you hear when your monster smacks another monster is hilarious. You can give nicknames to your creatures. I have a giant armored anthropomorphic feathered monster who I have named "Chicken Boo". Very 90's-style RPG right down to the scripted multiple dialogue choices, including NPCs telling dark secrets to you, a complete stranger. Thumbs-up just for the sheer chuckle value.

В целом, игра интересная. + Есть не плохой сюжет. + Есть возможность выборов, в основном либо пощадить либо грохнуть после битвы оппонента. Ну и можно, перед этим, по задавать вопросы об мотивах и т.п.. За всю игру, убил только одного ибо так себе был персонаж. + Монстры, которых можно приучать. Не скаазть, что их много, но и не мало - этакая золотая середина. Хотя не которые легендарные монстры не впечатлили, на рарников смахивают. + Есть крафт расходников по найденным рецептам, если нет денег на покупку. Хотя к концу игры денег много накопится. - Принц читер, может использовать 4 больших монстров занимающих по 2 клетки, когда при полной 5й раскачке по численности (тоесть, макс очков для размещения 7 ) - можно иметь 3х больших по 2очка размещения и одного среднего или малого с 1м очком размещения. Хотя, это его не спасло, но было завидно. - Короткая, я уж надеялся, что появятся старшие боги чтобы и им втащить, но увы и ах. - Не дигимон и не покемон аналог, в том смысле - что нет возможности эволюции своих питомцев и сие печально, было бы прикольно качать их навки и эволюционировать во что-то мощное и устрашающее или милое)) Итог: В целом рекомендую. Покупкой доволен. П.с.: Желательно не доводить до смерти своих петов, так как здесь нет эликсиров воскрешения - пет сдох, всё прощай, лови и заново качай...прям в рифму) Хотя под церковью, есть возможность за определённую плату его возродить, но по сюжету либо лишишься этого способа либо оставишь, но этот выбор будет за вами. Мне это не понадобилось ни разу ибо при грамотной игре с умом подобранной группой, проходится легко без смертей.