Legend of the Wargod

Alright. So far so good with [i]Legend of the Wargod[/i]. It's in early access right now, and I'll wait for full release before playing through it fully, but what is here so far is pretty solid JRPG gameplay with a bit of a light and airy look to it, coupled with a somewhat dark story. Providing some nice contrast from a story and a visual perspective. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3670855181 Combat is pretty standard JRPG shootout style, only in this one, you do also have a power charge up which unlocks special abilities in battle once the meter is full. So far, the battles were all pretty easy, but I also don't object to that since there is clearly a lot of game left to develop and plenty of challenges left to experience, or so I would imagine. You begin as an amnesiac Wargod summoned to stop the end of the world, known as The Shattering. To that end, you must progress to the King's Chamber and challenge the main baddie. Along the way, you pick up five companions. Of which, two can be active at any time along with the main character EXCEPT if a character is knocked out, at which point the next character in line takes the open slot. But you can also revive the knocked-out character, thus increasing your party size to four instead of three. I'm guessing this will probably be adjusted at some point. After this big showdown, the game really begins. At that point, you begin to play as Zieg, the Mute Swordsman. Which is where I left off for now. I understand Chapters 1 and 2 are also complete at the moment, and as mentioned earlier, there seems to be plenty left to come, so that's something to look forward to. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3670855134 Beyond the simple and yet effective battle system, exploration is much like you could expect from games such as the "Tales of" series. There does seem to be a random encounter timer, but it also seems pretty forgiving inasmuch as it's not tossing them at you every five seconds, lol. Above your head is an exclamation point. Green is safe, yellow is danger nearby, and red means you're about to be attacked. There is a decent variety of gear and magic so far, although as with everything else, I expect this will expand with time. Level-up is automatic. No points to distribute and no distinct builds to work towards. However, you can find new classes and switch between them, ala Octopath Traveler. I would characterize the audio as pretty standard for the genre, and the graphics are more akin to late PS2 era. Maybe early PS3. Nice color palette with plenty of soft tones and smooth edges, making it a visually pleasant experience. And so far, the story is both fun and while it's not exactly a deviation from a lot of classic JRPG themes, it does have its own lore and seems intriguing. I'll be interested to see how the story develops from here to full release. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3670855019 The one achievement available does seem to be broken, as no player has earned it yet. Something to note. And the platforming feels a bit lacking at the moment. You really just run forward and that momentum has been enough to cross gaps. Being able to see enemy health would be a welcome addition to combat. I would also like to see some UI improvements in the menu, especially as it pertains to equipping characters. Otherwise, I can't think of any negatives to the experience. So yeah, so far so good. If I'm not mistaken, this is a solo dev, so I would imagine the time between updates will require patience from players, but it does appear as though the dev is active and working towards a full release, which is always nice to see. Although at some point this game will earn the asking price of $22.99, I think I would probably balk at that until the game is complete. Unless you are really interested in experiencing early access for this game. But it's definitely a game to keep an eye on. I have high hopes for a quality full release and will be watching the remainder of its early access with much interest. [b]I received this license via our IndieGems Curator program.[/b] [code]If you found this review helpful and would be interested in supporting my Curator group, [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/32549618/]Robilar's Reviews[/url], it would be appreciated. Cheers.[/code] [code]Also follow [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/32732116-IndieGems/]IndieGems[/url] for more reviews like this one.[/code]

[quote] Love RPG? [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/39973073/]Make sure to Follow my Curator Page[/url] for plenty more! [/quote] Legend of the Wargod stands out as an exhilarating blend of action and storytelling, where every battle feels like an epic showdown. The combat system is both challenging and rewarding, offering a variety of weapons and abilities that keep gameplay fresh and exciting. The rich lore and compelling narrative pull you deeper into the world, making each quest and boss fight feel meaningful. ✔️One of the best stories I've come across in a while. Highly recommended! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFe8Dn8Lekg [quote] And don't forget to [url=https://www.youtube.com/c/WizardWorm?sub_confirmation=1] Subscribe to my Youtube [/url][/quote] [quote] Join my [url=http://steamcommunity.com/groups/wizard_rpg] Steam Group [/url] [/quote]

Been waiting on this game for a while. Neat turn-based combat system. Interesting story and decent looks.

Great combat system with challenging battles. Captivating story with an interesting lore to support it.

[i]This review contains spoilers [/i] [i]The review copy was provided via Steam Curator [/i] [b]TL;dr:[/b] A rough on the edges turn-based RPG in a blocky 3D-style feeding nostalgia. [b]Recommended.[/b] [table] [tr] [td]Platforms played on[/td] [td]Steam Deck[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Pros[/td] [td]Classic turn-based combat. Art style really grows on you. World is thought out.[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Cons[/td] [td]Camera turns to random direction after battles, which is disorienting. Performance drops the further you get in the game. Selecting a target is confusing.[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Things to know?[/td] [td]This game is in early access. The game is expected to leave Early Access in August. The game currently has chapters 0 to 3, with 4 and final fifth chapter coming at 1.0 launch. Save games may be incompatible with 1.0 release. There is a free demo available.[/td] [/tr] [/table] [hr][/hr] [h2]Steam Deck[/h2] [b]Compatibility rating:[/b] Unknown [b]Official settings profile:[/b] No [b]Average framerate:[/b] 60 during prologue, 40-60 during chapter 1 and 10-40 during chapter 2 with default settings with resolution at 1280x800 and quality at "High". [b]Average power consumption:[/b] 10-20W [hr][/hr] [h2]Overview of the Story and Gameplay[/h2] Legend of the Wargod is fantasy RPG set in its own multiverse. After the events of the prologue you assume the role of Zieg who has had his voice stolen on his journey to revenge. During a siege you meet Helaina, the actual main character of the story and start your journey to where your fate takes you. The gameplay is pretty standard JRPG gameplay, you run around in different areas, do sidequests, fight monsters in turn-based battles and journey to the next story marker. The game is quite linear. While you do have some hub areas, most of the areas are corridors where you run from point A to point B to advance the story, while fighting against random encounters and meeting story encounters at set spots. During these corridor runs, the game also features quite clumsy platforming. While the game features some bigger hub areas like town, you rarely can visit the buildings. In these hubs you can do some shopping and save your game. Curiously, there is no (at least I haven't found one) an Inn system to rest and restore your health and Willpower (mana) until the third chapter. The battles are fought in style of Grandia 2 and other older titles. Each character has their own action gauge that fills up and after it's full, you can take action. The unique element in this game comes from the fact that instead of standard attack and guard, your character can take different actions (which unlock as you progress in the game) with the attack and defense commands. For example you can opt out to slow down your enemy while you attack or you can raise everyone's defense while defending. Alongside these options you have different magic options and a mechanic like limit-break, where after you fill your battle gauge (heat gauge) you can do a special attack or cast special magic. You mainly have 3 characters in battle, but with bit finagling and dying, you can have up to 5 characters fighting the battle at the same time. Bit regrettably, you don't really get access to any multi-enemy attacks outside of the special moves for most of the game and outside prologue. Unfortunately for you, your enemies certainly will get access to many AoE attacks as well as chain stuns which can mean that some battles are you just watching for a minute or two enemies pummeling you before you get a chance to act. Leveling up is global. Everyone follows a party level, which is a global level for your characters. Alongside this mechanic you also have individual class levels for each character. You can switch classes anytime you want outside of the battles. You unlock more magic and classes outside of the battles by talking to different NPCs. In an old-school fashion, the game does not have a separate journal system to keep track of those quests so keep your notepad near you. As the game is mostly corridors, it also does not feature a compass, mini-map or a map so you better orient yourself, so you won't run back and forth all the time. Speaking of old-school, the game does not feature auto-save and only allows saving at certain save points. Saving does not restore health either, but the game is pretty generous with the amount of healing items and your party heals up after the party level goes up. The save points tend to be after challenging or boss fights, so prepare to back track a bit before taking on story fights. [hr][/hr] [h2]The Tech[/h2] This review is based on the early access build, as such the Tech is subject to change. The game features blocky 3D artstyle. While it isn't to my taste, it works well in the game, the characters look clean and nothing looks "cheap" or "bad" as such. I played this game on Steam Deck mainly with 2 resolutions, the 1280x800 and 1920x1080 resolutions. The game supported full 16:10 resolution on Steam Deck and I didn't get any black bars. The game has 3 settings for graphical quality, low, medium and high. Steam Deck defaulted to High. Unfortunately, the further I got in the game, the more the performance took a hit. While Chapter 0 ran mostly 60 fps, the problems started in Chapter 1 where my fps dropped to 40 at 1280x800. Chapter 2 I hit 10 fps. Turning down the settings to low helped for chapter 2, but in chapter 3 I couldn't hit 60 fps anymore. At 1080p I had same kind of performance. I hope to see these performance issues fixed after the 1.0 launch. There were other technical issues, such as invisible walls in the castle in Chapter 1. In Chapter 0 a character was constantly dropping through the floor in cutscenes and in Chapter 3 I experienced a hard lock where I had to restart the game as I couldn't advance through conversations. The game worked just fine with Steam Controller 2026 version without any issues. However, the button glyphs were all made for keyboards. Luckily the included manual PDF has controller keybindings on it. The audio settings were just 3 different sliders, nothing special in there and the game does not feature voice acting. [hr][/hr] [h2]My opinions[/h2] Writing reviews on early access games, especially when the 1.0 release is coming up is always bit difficult. In this case I decided to write a review on what is available today and what were my experiences playing it. I might return to my review after 1.0 and rewrite it if necessary. Legend of the Wargod was a positive surprise. While the story is clumsy, I felt there was an interesting world out there and the developer clearly cares for this world. I enjoy older turn-based battle systems so I could easily jump in and enjoy the game even without reading the manual. I have to say, however, that the game could be more forgiving towards newcomers as the game doesn't really explain many of its mechanics, unless you read the manual. But on the other hand, that probably is the intent as well. For example, jumping and dashing mechanics were explained in chapter 1 after I needed them in chapter 0. It also felt like some of the ideas were scrapped. There was a kind of a clumsy fast travel system in chapter 2, but I didn't see it at all in chapter 3 anymore. And I only found one single class to unlock in chapter 2. The battles were enjoyable, but if I didn't prepare or focus on them, they got prolonged (and few times resulted to game over). I really dislike the stun lock mechanics where you just watch minute or two at a time when enemies keep on whacking at you and you can't do anything. [hr][/hr] All in all I was positively surprised by the game. This game is [b]recommended[/b]. My score for the game is 7/10 with few points redacted because of the Tech issues. [hr][/hr]

it's rare to get Turn Based Battle Classic RPG style today with 3D environment. gameplay https://youtu.be/feoKJoevg6g

Bought the game mostly to support the dev, was never a big fan of JRPGs, however I am having a blast with it, loved the Wu Tang reference, if there is one thing missing from games like this is references to gangsta rap. Keep up the great work.

[i]Very nice[/i] Need More

Legend of the Wargod is a shining example of what a passionate solo developer can achieve. This game captures the magic and nostalgia of classic RPGs like the old Final Fantasy titles while adding its own innovative flair. The combat system is a standout feature, blending turn-based strategy with modern twists. Environmental damage adds a dynamic layer to battles, and the ability to change character classes keeps gameplay fresh and exciting. The story (so far!) is captivating, pulling you into its world and keeping you invested from start to finish. While the game is a remarkable achievement, there’s room for improvement in the scenarios. Some environments are beautifully detailed, but others feel comparatively sparse, which can be a little jarring. That said, Legend of the Wargod is an absolute must-play for fans of retro RPGs and anyone who appreciates a well-crafted indie game. Highly recommended!