[h1] TLDR [/h1]
Multiple strategic layers create engaging, complex play in this Norse-themed, deck-based, roguelike building game. Overly-random rolls affect choices, decks, outcomes and ultimately the fun factor.
[h1] Intro[/h1]
Roots of Yggdrasil is an enchanting game. It draws you in with its charming graphics and art style, calming soundtrack, and multiple layers where players can execute their strategies. At its heart, it is a city building game, with roguelike elements.
You play the leader of a flying vessel, attempting to rebuild, after Ragnarok (the Norse apocalypse). By successfully completing missions, you gain the resources to power your ships (with seeds) and gain the resources necessary to upgrade your companions and your base (the Holt). Your companions grant you bonuses, both at the base, and while you’re attempting missions.
Your missions (called “loops”) are timed; there is a black void chasing your vessel on the exploration map (the world tree, Yggdrasil) and the success of your missions is largely determined by how good your deck is – you gain cards through various means; quests during the missions, NPCs you encounter, etc. The exploration map is where you pick your next location for the mission. Once you land, you have to focus on quickly achieving side quests (to maximize the resources you gain on completion) while primarily trying to achieve the main quest (get enough seeds to power your ship; the number varies from level to level).
Placement of your buildings is critical; one mistake, and you can be hooped down the road. There is no saving allowed (you only save when you return to the Holt) and you basically sink or swim during each mission without being able to try new tactics or building placement. There’s also no ready way to destroy existing buildings. If you exceed the time allotted for that mission, you will be penalized by getting cards with negative attributes (you can remove them, but at great cost).
Once you decide to return to the Holt, another strategic layer emerges: you have to decide which resources you wish to exploit first, and thus which areas to clear. You need resources to do everything; clearing rubble, creating new buildings, etc. And you gain these resources when you successfully complete loops.
Ok, let’s get to the nitty gritty:
[h1] Likes [/h1]
[b] + The multiple strategic layers in the game makes for engaging gameplay [/b]
[b] + The lovely soundtrack is calming and quite hypnotic, especially during missions [/b]
[b] + There is a fair amount of strategic depth at the exploration, Holt, and mission levels [/b]
[b] + Learning the intricacies of your deck, which cards to get, which to discard, offers even more depth [/b]
[h1] Dislikes[/h1]
[b] - While there is a tutorial, the game is not very intuitive; you’re left wondering what you should be doing next, which resources are more valuable, etc. And the learning curve can be steep [/b]
[b] - At the Holt, the game is not timed; when exploring, the time needed to reach a location is important but during a mission, timing is everything. This mechanism is a little too rigid in my opinion, and detracts from the fun you can have during a mission. After having to mostly grind your way, it becomes a little annoying as the penalties of missing deadlines stack up [/b]
[b] - There’s too much randomness in this game. To be fair, some randomness can make a game more challenging but too much of it affects everything and unfairly increases the game’s difficulty: the deck you get, the cards that are drawn each round, the negative events that occur during a mission, the limited choices available in the exploration map, etc. [/b]
[b] - I think the randomness is overly high and disadvantageous because they want you to fail, and keep trying. It’s this inherent structure of roguelikes that I generally dislike; I don’t like having to learn basic game mechanics by continuously failing and repeating [/b]
[b] - Optimal placement of your structures is CRITICAL in this game (as it affects mission success). Unfortunately, you only learn this by making mistakes and realizing after; or failing, and trying again. I find this kind of “replay value” tiresome [/b]
[h1] Verdict [/h1]
The above QoL issues may not bother some players, but they bother me. I think having a mission clock should be used sparingly; if every mission is timed, it becomes a drudge. What’s the rush? Ragnarok is already over, right?
Yes, it is a roguelike, so it can be argued that the game “should” be this way. But I think it would appeal to a wider audience if these elements can be refined somewhat and balanced better.
In sum, Roots of Yggdrasil can be fun and could be even more so, if not for how roguelike features like timed missions and a high degree of randomness can drastically affect play-balancing and as such, the enjoyment of the game.
6.5/10.0
