Freenergy

[h3]RANKING:[/h3] [table] [tr] [td] [h3][strike]AVOID | FLAWED | MAYBE[/strike] | [b]WORTHWHILE[/b] | [strike]COMPELLING | UNMISSABLE [/strike] [/h3] [/td] [/tr] [/table] [h3]SYNOPSIS:[/h3] [table] [tr] [th][b]ASSESSMENT:[/b][/th] [/tr] [tr] [td] Freenergy is a fairly simple static battler fought between mecha gladiators, with calculating turn-based tactical combat. Ample customisation and sizeable tactical options belie its minimalist look, both contributing to some addictive gameplay. The experience is streamlined, well polished and potentially bug free. There are some minor complaints. No inclusion of pilots and alternate chassis'. Battles are fought on the same rigid grid. Balance depends on the player's setup. Despite a New Game+ mode, the linear campaign, scripted encounters and lack of dynamic factors limit replay value. Surprisingly, it rises beyond its sparse appearance to scrape a [b]WORTHWHILE[/b] rating. [/td] [/tr] [/table] [table] [tr] [td][b]STATUS:[/b][/td] [td]Fully released & looks complete [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td][b]APPEAL:[/b][/td] [td]For gamers willing to look beyond its simple appearance and, enjoy mecha duels & customisation [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td][b]VALUE:[/b][/td] [td]A fair price given the content level [/td] [/tr] [/table] [quote=]Key provided by the developer through my curator [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/40556040-The-Irregular-Gamer/][b]THE IRREGULAR GAMER[/b] [/url] | Click to follow and receive updates for similar reviews[/quote] [i]More info below....[/i] https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3441903973 [h3]CONTENT:[/h3] 🟡 A single linear campaign GAME MODE of scripted encounters, comes with a handful of bosses to defeat periodically. A standard set of difficulties can be switched to at any time. A NEW GAME+ mode is available, once the first run is defeated. 🟡 ENCOUNTERS are the mainstay of gameplay, interspersed with options to repair. The static battler format generates a gladiatorial feel. Battles occur on a basic grid MAP that provides no tactical bonuses or penalties. [h3]ATMOSPHERE:[/h3] 🟡 The STORY is peripheral, serving to link encounters together with no choices to make. A decent retelling of the Everyman/person hero forced into action to save their loved ones. It does a fair job of generating some badly needed immersion. 🟡 AUDIOVISUALS are adequate. PIXEL ARTSTYLE provides a viable futuristic aesthetic. ANIMATIONS are very few. The solitary SOUNDTRACK sets a decent mood in battle and when at base. SOUNDEFFECTS are okay. There is no VOICEACTING or CUTSCENES. [h3]EXPERIENCE:[/h3] 🟡 The GAME LOOP is very streamlined. Read dialogue exchange. Customise and upgrade the mecha. Fight a sequence of battles and emerge victorious. Repair or upgrade specific modules up to the amount of metal resources scavenged after each battle. 🟢 TBT COMBAT has a surprising amount of depth. Driven foremost by weapon modules with their own attack styles and energy demands. Basic abilities allow them to attack, defend or repair. Advanced options provide more exotic attacks. Each has an effective damage % across the battlefield grid, so the choice of attack must be calculated. Target prioritisation, whether to deliver direct damage and disrupt attacks, or to increase damage with delayed attacks are key factor to consider. 🟡UI layout is lean and well presented. A few elements don't have enough names/labels to identify them. An indicator to show how popularity is going to fall would be useful. A clear 'all abilities' button would be welcome when refitting. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3441907500 [h3]MECHANICS:[/h3] 🟢 MECHA CUSTOMISATION revolves around fitting x5 offensive and x1 defensive module. The former having different weapon types to choose from. Each has a set of slots to assign tactical abilities. extended through stat upgrades. Up to x3 items can be equipped to a strategic inventory. 🟡 The few WEAPON SYSTEMS are distinct, with dual firing mode that allows direct or delayed firing. The latter delivers a larger punch if the player can wait to fire after the AIs next turn. Damage is a combination of weapon used, its condition and grid targeting. Minus the enemy's defence rating. 🟢 TACTICAL ABILITIES are sizeable and possess variety. They grow with progression with some really useful ones appearing in time to face the next boss. Repair and defensive options limit or fix incurred damage. While the central module can also extend these functions to limbs when needed. Advanced examples allow targeted spreads, penetrating fire, interrupts to attacks, shielding and more. 🟡 ENERGY DISTRIBUTION is a great way to limit the use of abilities without being debilitating. Module use can continue though capability is diminishes the more they are. Affected weapons slowly return to full capability unless the right stats are invested in. 🟡 UPGRADING & REPAIRING between battles is a useful feature by distributing a small return of metal across damaged modules. In addition this resource can be used to create better modules to upgrade. A dilemma the player must contend with. [h3]CHALLENGE:[/h3] 🟢 The range of ENEMIES provide some varied challenge. Differentiated mostly by appearance and abilities. Early mobs tend to be damage dealers. Later ones bring distinct abilities to confound the player's tactics. Better ones too. Standard mobs tend to appear in greater numbers. 🟢 AI is very capable, helped by not needing to position itself. Abilities are used to the fullest esp. healing and delayed attacks. Switches between offensive and defensive. Is flexible with targeting. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3441903261 [h3]COMPLEXITY:[/h3] 🟡 ACCESSIBILITY - The short and useful tutorial is disabled once played. There is a concise guide that's informative. Tooltips a almost perfect, though popularity and ability condition mechanics aren't that well explained. 🟡 DIFFICULTY - Defeat results in a restart at the start of the previous encounter. On normal diff most encounters are a challenge, yet winnable. Much depends on mecha configuration. 🟢 BALANCE - Combat seems well balanced even in encounters with multiple opponents or strong ones. A testament to the range of tactical choice, given defence and repair abilities. The popularity rating goes down too quickly. 🟢 PACE - Its simplicity, lean UI and small scale combat encounters ensure the game is very streamlined and thus fast paced. 🟢 SCALING - The introduction of new abilities and the choice of stat and skill investments allows the player to keep up with the growing threat of encounters. After the midway point the wrong setup leads to drawn out affairs and even defeat. [h3]STAYING POWER:[/h3] 🟡 REPLAY VALUE - The inclusion of a NEW GAME+ is a big plus. Encounters can be replayed, though a lack of dynamic elements in battles dampens this. The branchless story and scripted encounters reduce this. 🟡 LONGEVITY - Given the size of content, its surprisingly better than expected. Though still only the same content replayed on NG+ and ofc achievements to complete. [h3]PRODUCTION:[/h3] 🟡 QUALITY - Has a decent level of production. Overall well polished. No bugs encountered. Achievement popups seems to be misaligned, though the correct ones seem to trigger. There is potential for QoL to add more tactical options, alternate chassis & optional encounter branches. 🟢 OPTIMISATION - Runs at 160 fps. 🟢 STABILITY - No crashes. No other reported issues. [table][tr] [td]Click for:[/td] [td][h1][url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/TheIrregularGamer/discussions/0/597394966009877334/]Full Review[/url][/h1][/td] [/tr][/table] [table] [tr] [td][b]REVIEWED WITH:[/b][/td] [td]Build v Date of Review INTEL i5 6600 3.3GHz, 8GB RAM, GTX970 4GB @ 1280x800 table windowed & stretched to 1920x1080 fullscreen, EVO850 SSD [/td] [/tr] [/table] [quote=]Thank you for reading[/quote]