Graywalkers: Purgatory

[b] Overview [/b] RPGs tend to be a time investment when you dive into their settings and this goes doubly for those of the isometric variety. I can’t even begin to imagine how many hours I’ve dumped into the classics like Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura and Baldur’s Gate, and I’ve found that even the more modern Tyranny and Pathfinder: Kingmaker pulled me in in a way that few games can. Graywalkers: Purgatory introduces you to an interesting new world but it’s only the briefest of introductions. You’re a guest that only gets a first impression before you’re quickly ushered out. The deep mechanics show that most promise currently, although even they are a clear work-in-progress with a long road ahead. [b] Welcome to Purgatory [/b] From what I could gather in my dive into the world, Purgatory is a post-apocalyptic world that was shattered in such a way that all manner of monsters and magic have begun to exist. It has that classic fantasy and modern technology combination that we’ve seen in titles like Arcanum, Shadowrun, and Fallout, though it’s a take that feels different. At any given time, you might end up with a party member slaying their foe with a greatsword, while another unleashes the fully automatic potential of their assault rifle, and a third casts a spell to heal the wounded. Oh, and if you’re feeling a bit sluggish, feel free to pound that energy drink that you’ve been keeping on hand. The setting itself feels like it may end up having some real depth to it as well as a unique flavor that will differentiate it from others in the genre. The visuals are about what you’d expect from an indie title, they’re not terrible by any means but there’s plenty of space between them and any AAA you’ll be playing. The soundtrack caught me off-guard, in a good way, as it seems to be full of metal instrumentals and further pushes the overall atmosphere of Graywalkers off of the beaten path. [b] Wayward Souls [/b] Graywalkers: Purgatory will offer several modes, though the menu is only a placeholder currently. The main campaign is locked, the combat scenarios seem to either be bugged or incomplete as I’m unable to start them, and only the prelude stories offered and kind of gameplay that I could get my hands on. Even then, out of the very large and varied cast, only Sister Aurice’s backstory was available. Fortunately, this at least gave me the chance to dig in and see what was going on even if the seemingly impressive characters to ‘select’ from had me wishing for more. Sister Aurice is an interesting character in that she is both a member of a holy order of Sword Sisters (warrior nuns) and a Nephilim. Nephilim are the offspring of an angel and a human and they are one of several interesting species choices that caught my eye, though for the sake of this preview it was basically a nice set of attribute and ability bonuses that made her superior to the two portrait-less allies who accompany her on her quest. Character sheets themselves are deep and will easily keep the attention of those who enjoy tabletop-style RPG systems. There’s an overwhelming number of abilities to choose from that allow vast customization of your characters. As of yet, most of these are still under development and can’t be learned. Meanwhile, many of those that can be learned either have descriptions that are vague, unhelpful, or just plain blank. [b] Purgatory Is Abuzz With Bugs [/b] Graywalkers: Purgatory has plenty of issues. The overall narrative has potential looking in but the writing could certainly use some improvement. In particular, dialogue often feels awkward and forced, which harms the story as a whole even if it does still manage to offer enough characterization that may enjoy the characters. I often felt as if I was reading a book or watching a movie with a strong plot, but one that seemed to trip over itself often in practice. I was bitten by a few nasty bugs while I explored the world, the worst of which took place during combat. One of them prevented me from swapping between characters until I restarted the game, while another stopped a character from receiving any of the effects from healing items and spells. Needless to say, both of these were game-breaking and they caused enough grief that I became even more firm in my stance that Graywalkers is nowhere near where it needs to be if it’s to be considered a gaming experience worth our time. Sister Aurice’s prelude was playable, but just barely, and it mostly left me looking forward to giving the game another go in the distant future when everything is in order. [b] Verdict [/b] To say the very least, Graywalkers: Purgatory is a rough-around-the-edges experience. Few actual features are implemented as of yet but you are bombarded with so much that looks like it could be compelling until you’re swatted back to reality by the ‘Under Development’ barrier. In its current state, I can’t even come close to recommending it, though I would suggest that you keep an eye on it for the future. There’s a lot of work to be done here but if Dreamlords is capable of buckling down and putting every ounce of passion and devotion into it, we may see a masterpiece take shape. Otherwise, this is likely to miss the mark and be another title that is forgotten by the majority of players. Original Review: https://saveorquit.com/2020/03/06/preview-graywalkers-purgatory/ [quote]Visit SaveOrQuit.com for detailed game reviews, posted daily![/quote]

I would not recommend this game at this time. There are countless hours of development that need to be applied. The concept is seems good, but until the game is more than a trip through frustration station it's one to pass on. I backed this game because I'm a sucker for a small team trying something ambitious.

Just checked it out and I like what I see. I chose the Sword Sister mission and played around a bit. I like it. It has all the ingredients of what could be a great game. Interesting world, nice mix of skills (melee, magic, firearms), lots of stats and different fire modes for weapons. Turn-based combat works fine. Dialogue is handled in a good manner. There's loot. There's not too much hand-holding. Yup I dig it. That said: it's a very early, early access. The UI and responsiveness of the game is not great. It can take a full second to open the character screen for example. And the outline and to-hit percentage on the enemies is very basic. I myself really do not mind it, but I can see some people not liking it. The graphics are decent, again something I am fine with personally, but do not expect a gorgeous world or characters (that said I really do like the sword sister visual (and lore) design!). Also do not expect a lush world. One small issue I do have with the graphics is that this game looks a bit too dark (can probably be solved with gamma and such settings once implemented). Some will not like that it's not overly easy to pick out environmental details, in that a lot of objects visually blend into each other.. I don't quite know how to put it: it's not abundantly clear what the floor is and what a tree monster on the floor is (it's definitely visible, but also could be overlooked if one is not attentative), for example. There are no clear distinctions, there's not a lot of popping.. I don't mind that too much. The music choice is interesting: quite high energy, but not bad imo. The devs respond to feedback and posts on the forum which is always a huge plus. So, in conclusion, from the little I've played I recommend it for what it could become. What is there now (as far as I played (while there are some slight issues)) is playable. As a kickstarter backer I'm happy so far :)

[h1] Information / Review English [/h1] Graywalkers: Purgatory is a Tactical, turn-based Strategy RPG that was developed by Dreamlords Digital Inc. and is still in the Early Access Phase. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2372484483 [h1] Gameplay / Story [/h1] You could say Underworld meets Van Helsing. Back to top. Heaven and Hell have merged with the earth, caused by an event called rupture. You are in Graywalkers: Purgatory the prophesied leader of the 36 righteous, now called Graywalkers. You and the other Graywalkers walk the path between heaven and hell and dark and light, each destined to protect humanity in their own way. The question arises, where are your allies? Therefore, your job and goal is to search for the 35 other graywalkers and recruit them for your cause, to unite purgatory and lead the fight to regain the world from the supernatural invaders who have conquered the rest of the world . There are 7 available character races in the game: Humans, Dhampir, Wolfkin, Nephilim, Cambion, Faechilde and the Hunters, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages. After each level up you receive skill points and attribute points, which have to be spent in a large selection of talent trees. The adventure takes place on a mysterious island called Purgatory. You travel through the scorching deserts, wastelands, overrun forests, historical city ruins, dark caves and even into supernatural areas that you explore during your journey. The game offers you different game modes such as the ones mentioned below: Mission mode: You choose missions and these lead to other missions, this goes on until the story is cleared. Prelude: Preludes are like short stories, these are also called prelude stories and tell something about the different Graywalkers. The game offers different types of damage and of course resistance to different types of damage. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2372484520 [h1] Pro [/h1] + Real-time exploration + many missions available + Action unit-based turn-based combat + over 40 recruitable heroes + 7 different classes are available + different character paths and skills + Several weapons, armor, consumer items are available + There are a number of enemy types and challenges to be mastered [h1] Contra [/h1] - Graphics could be better - Missions find little variety [h1] Conclusion [/h1] Graywalkers: Purgatory offers you a Mix of XCom, Jagged Alliance and Fallout, this together Creates a unique but familiar Xxperience for the Turn-based tactical player. Clear buy recommendation. PS: First of all, many thanks to the developer who provided us with this key for the group. Here you can find more good reviews from others and me at https://store.steampowered.com/curator/26335619-Adult-World-Gamers/. [h1] Information / Review Deutsch [/h1] Graywalkers: Purgatory ist ein taktisches, rundenbasiertes Strategie -RPG, welches von Dreamlords Digital Inc. entwickelt wurde und sich noch in der Early Access Phase befindet. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2372484483 [h1] Gameplay / Geschichte [/h1] Man könnte sagen, Underworld trifft auf Van Helsing. Zurück zum Anfang. Himmel und Hölle sind mit der Erde verschmolzen, dies wurde verursacht durch ein Ereignis namens Rupture. Du bist in Graywalkers: Purgatory der prophezeite Anführer der 36 Gerechten, die jetzt Graywalker genannt werden. Sie und die anderen Graywalker gehen den Weg zwischen Himmel und Hölle und Dunkelheit und Licht, wobei jeder dazu bestimmt ist, die Menschheit auf ihre eigene Weise zu schützen. Es stellt sich die Frage, wo sind deine Verbündete? Daher besteht deine Aufgabe und Ziel darin, nach den 35 anderen Graywalkern zu suchen und sie für Ihre Sache zu rekrutieren, um das Fegefeuer zu vereinen und den Kampf zu führen, um die Welt von den übernatürlichen Invasoren zurückzugewinnen, die den Rest der Welt erobert haben. Es gibt 7 verfügbare Charakterrassen im Spiel: Menschen, Dhampir, Wolfkin, Nephilim, Cambion, Faechilde und die Jäger, welche alle ihre Vor und Nachteile mit sich bringen. Nach jedem Stufenaufstieg erhälst du Fähigkeitspunkte und Attribtutspunkte, die es in einer großen Auswahl an Talentbäumen auszugeben gilt. Das Abenteuer spielt auf einer geheimnisvollen Insel namens Fegefeuer.Du reist durch die sengenden Wüsten, Ödländer, überrannte Wälder, historische Stadtruinen, dunkle Höhlen und sogar in übernatürliche Bereiche die du erforscht während deiner Reise. Das Spiel bietet dir verschiedene Spielmodi wie als Beispiel die unten genannten: Missionsmodus:Du wählst Missionen aus und diese führen wieder zu anderen Missionen, dies geht solange bis die Geschichte geklärt ist. Präludie: Präludien sind wie Kurzgeschichten,diese werden auch Präludiengeschichten genannt und erzählen etwas über die verschiedenen Graywalkers. Das Spiel bietet verschiedene Arten von Schaden und natürlich Widerstand zu verschiedenen Arten von Schäden. [h1] Pro [/h1] + Echtzeit-Erkundung + viele Missionen verfügbar + Aktionseinheitenbasierter rundenbasierter Kampf + über 40 Rekrutierbare Helden + 7 verschiedene Klassen stehen zur Auswahl + verschiedene Charakterpfade und Fähigkeiten + etliche Waffen, Rüstungen, Verbrauchergegenstände stehen bereit + etliche Gegnertypen und Herausforderungen gilt es zu meistern [h1] Kontra [/h1] - Grafik könnte besser sein - Missionen finden wenig Abwechlung [h1] Fazit [/h1] Graywalkers: Purgatory bietet dir ein Mix aus XCom, Jagged Alliance und Fallout, dieses zuammen generiert eine einzigartige, aber vertraute Erfahrung für den rundenbasierten Taktikspieler. Klare Kaufempfehlung. PS: Zunächst einmal vielen Dank an den Entwickler, der uns diesen Schlüssel für die Gruppe zur Verfügung gestellt hat. Hier findest du weitere gute Bewertungen von anderen und mir unter https://store.steampowered.com/curator/26335619-Adult-World-Gamers/.

This isn't early access material, it is barely very early alpha. The developement is extremely slow, new introduced bugs aren't fixed in a timely manner even if the bugs hinder you from testing the game and reporting issues. All in all it is a very very very poor developement and experience. [b]EDIT in response of the developer:[/b] Well, "Sir", the bug is what I already wrote in the forum. Around one quarter of the screen is obstructed by a developer console overlapping all other graphics constantly spamming errors: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2242844057 Also I note your sorry attempt to discredit me with the playtime you SEE. You are quite an amateur in that regard, as I can start the game WITHOUT steam, which wouldn't add to my game time. Also it doesn't matter how long I played the game if I find things to complaint about. If I write a review it isn't about punishing you but about my feelings and thoughts I have, which means: it's a critic I want to share with others so they MIGHT take my thoughts in consideration ... or not. However, in the time your game is available to me it didn't got improved much (which is a very friendly wording for "didn't improve at all"), the developement, compared to other early access projects, is rather slow and it didn't feel like there is any progress or real reaction (beside some talk in the forum) to reported issues. I would have to look up SteamDB, but I'm only aware (by memory I might add) of maybe 3-4 updates since I installed the game in what felt like a long period of time. I wrote the review because I didn't agree with the progress of the game and I might change it if things improve. The part where you try to discredit me by arguing about my playtime leaves a sour taste. This wasn't professional by any means and I will remember that. Especially as it is your job TO FIX YOUR BUGS and not to find excuses to discredit a review commenting on bugs!

I played the Alpha version of the game and it improved a lot in Beta. I only played Mission Mode, and finished 3 missions so far. When playing the 4th mission, a game breaking bug occurred and I stopped playing. I'll explain it later. I like the graphics and the rich lore. The battle system is very XCOM, Visual Novel character interactions, and the character stats resembles DND. The soundtracks fit the environment. The keybinds helped to improve the gameplay. The game rewards you for exploration which is a really nice. The in-game mouse controls are very clunky. The input response is very sluggish. There are rare moments where the game becomes unplayable due to collision problems with the enemy AI. I lost 30 minutes of my progress due to that bug. Maybe adding an auto-save feature could help. I encountered a problem where my character already used up his Action Units but cannot end the turn, making the game unplayable. Players should have an option to skip cutscenes. The game's user-interface looks cluttered and can be improved by simplifying it further. Player interactions like opening the inventory, character stat, restoring energy, etc. should have a keybind. There are awkward moments when certain environments blocks the camera view. Restart mission and mission objectives should be added at the in-game menu. When switching weapons with an unconscious character, the character will stand up with the switched weapon. There is an rare instance during Alexius' turn, you could still see Father Ruben's abilities. Outside battle, you could see the Action Units going into negatives when using items. Overall, the game have promising visuals and lore, but the gameplay suffers from the sluggish controls. I will definitely let Father Ruben knife down snakes and zombies all day if the game manages to feel smoother in the future updates. I'll recommend this game since the game still needs more playtesting.

abandonware

Very little content for the asking price especially after all this time in development. Its like almost every area i click on has a not available yet in early access text on it. This along with the bugs made it a experience of dead ends and frustration which for a price that nears thirty dollars when tax is included leaves a negative aftertaste. Audio sounds uneven as the nice heavy metal plays at a lower volume while sound effects are blasting away at a higher volume which gets a bit nerve wracking when it comes to weapons fire etc. Unfortunately refunded but will keep an eye out to see if things vastly improve over time from their current state.

I am slightly changing the review after the developers reacted to my review (still negative for now, but I will change to positive if they improve the game enough. Don't buy this game in the current state. While this game has potential (a lot even), currently the game is far from being ready for release. Many systems aren't in the game yet (inventory management, stances, etc.). Furthermore the systems in place aren't well implemented. Each character gets action points and energy points during combat (but not outside of it). You recover action points after combat, but not energy points. So outside of combat you can't do anything but walk/run around and try to get into the next combat. Then you have to recover energy points just to be able to do anything (all actions except walking require energy).

Be warned, this is an alpha version of a dead game. I won't bother reviewing this unless the devs come back to it.