Usurper Reborn

The dev asked for reviews on the Discord, so I guess I'll write a review. tl;dr - Don't pay for this. Just play the various free versions if you're really interested. Development is a mess. I regret giving money to this dev. This project is never going to be finished to any degree of quality. The dev openly talks about how he has no roadmap and how he'll remove features instead of fixing them if they're too hard. I've seen him do it. Just yanked out entire systems because he couldn't be bothered to fix them. He's talked about his plan being to do just enough work so that he can let the community take over and do the rest for him. He adds features with no real thought or consideration to the rest of the game. Once, he removed the ability to permakill NPCs (despite that being one of the features advertised) in the same patch that he added a 50% chance of permadeath and save wipe for attempting to murder NPCs. He's added a lot of other permadeath systems that the game really doesn't seem designed for. I love roguelike games, but this just isn't one and shouldn't have those systems. The game doesn't advertise itself as having PC permadeath. He also doesn't actually know how his own game works[strike], since he took the original code from elsewhere[/strike]. Often, he has to have players explain how the game works to him so that he understands the reports he gets. For instance, someone reported a bug about safe rooms in the dungeon, and he had no idea they existed. He also likes to insult people for submitting bug reports. I've seen him threaten players for asking questions about the game. Once, I submitted a bug report, and he posted a multi-paragraph rant at me because he misread it. He had implemented a bug fix for multiplayer and not singleplayer, and he thought I was complaining something else. When he reread my bug report and realized his mistake, he did not apologize or implement the fix. As of this day, nearly two months later, he still hasn't patched the singleplayer version of the game with the bug fix that he already wrote for the multiplayer. If you care, I am also reasonably certain he uses AI for patch notes, which is not disclosed on the Steam page. Often the wording of portions of the notes make no actual sense or is so couched in advertising-like language that it's hard to pick out what it's actually talking about. All in all, I have zero faith in this developer producing a quality finished product. He also treats his paying customers/donators like garbage. He isn't worth supporting. EDIT: As of the 28th of May, the bug I mentioned here is finally resolved. I was not going to respond to the dev's response because I'm not really interested in a back and forth, but there is some misinformation going on. 1. While he claims that relationship stuff wasn't a concern at the time, I submitted my bug amidst a number of other bug fixes for the relationship system. As I mentioned, he'd claimed he already fixed it for multiplayer and forgot to add it to singleplayer. So claiming he didn't do it due to it not being a priority is false. 2. He claims that NPC permadeath is not an advertised feature, but anyone on this page can see that it is. "And when they fall, that's it. There is no resurrection, no respec, no quietly forgetting they existed. Grief follows you into combat afterward, and the game knows." and "Permanent loss: Companion death is final and the game explores the emotional impact" 3. The disclosure for AI is for translations and code-related tasks. Not writing patch notes that are three times longer than they need to be and incomprehensible half the time. If AI is just being used to translate the patch notes, then I'll rescind that notice. 4. I was one of those high-volume, detailed bug reporters. My report was misread and I got multiple paragraphs of dressing down that I did not deserve. Another contributor who got a statue in game asked about their statue, and they were told that the dev was going to remove it because they had the gall of asking. If the dev were joking, it was unclear enough that I couldn't tell and neither could the contributor. They asked if the dev was serious and the dev just ignored them. There were a dozen or so incidences like these during the few weeks I was there. Unfortunately, I left the Discord so I cannot get quotes. 5. I will own that I misunderstood the origins of the code from the original Reddit announcement I read it on. I maintain that I had to explain functions of the game to the dev multiple times and so did other people in my time on the server. 6. The open-source policy is not disclosed on the Steam page. It feels like a cash grab to sell a game for money that you intend to hand off for the community to manage themselves as soon as possible, which is a conversation I witnessed the dev having on one of my first few days in the server. If the Steam release is meant to be a tip jar, it should be indicated as such. The idea that you charge $6 because 'free games don't get downloaded' is more than a little silly. For one, they do. For two, you could have gone cheaper if you just wanted to avoid 'free'. There's no reason to be so deceptive about all this. The dev's response is full of lies and misinformation, when it could have just owned the issues and given plans to resolve them, so I'm afraid my rating of 'Not Recommended' stands.

[b]Updated[/b] I have around the time shown above plus ~15 hours from the free version. Quite a surprising find in my recent tour of upcoming games. Found it randomly on reddit. The ad hit a lot of things I like, decided to try the free version on their website. Absolute blast, this game has so much potential, and what is currently implemented already makes it a very enjoyable experience. [b] TLDR [/b] for the next detailed section: 7/10 can be a 9/10 or even 10/10 depending on the amount of work put into it. [hr][/hr] [h1]Graphic: [/h1] Old style, command lines. I wasn't playing games when this was the norm. But I am not someone bothered by ♥♥♥♥♥♥ or absent graphic. The text is almost always easy to read, going from the browser to the steam app also improved it a lot. Do not play this expecting E33 graphics. [b]8/10[/b], lost point from some UI designs which can be fixed, and some texts which are hard to read (Looking at you mana siphon.) [hr][/hr] [h1]Accessibility:[/h1] I'm not someone who needs accessibility, but there is a screen reader option in the steam release, I believe it is for blind readers. So Yea accessibility, but no clue how well it works. [b]?/10[/b] [hr][/hr] [h1]NPC simulation:[/h1] Greatness in a bottle. Lots of potential, already pretty nice. NPC gets races, class and skills. They have goals, wants, and factions. They die, they make kids, the kids grow up, it's a tiny simulationist game like Crusader king imbedded in a dungeon crawler. I'm looking forward to how this is going to end up. Current implementation is great. [b]7/10[/b] [hr][/hr] [h1]Gameplay:[/h1] Well, if you don't like reading, dungeon crawler, or party management, skip this game. If you like any of those, give it a try. You might be surprised. There are multiple class, each with their strength and weakness. Races that influenced class, stats, and some even have special ability. (I personally believe there should be more of those) The gameplay loop revolve around some solo play as a "tutorial", then finding a group with NPCs or with Companions (also NPCs but with a story and permadeath) and venturing with them in the dungeon. Your goal is to beat all floors, get all seals and do stuff with different boss (spoiler). Eventually, you'll be able to loop, getting bonuses, new class, etc. There is suppose to be an ending. NPCs also react to you looping back to the beginning. Which will also brings me to my next category. [b]9/10[/b] [hr][/hr] [h1]Progression:[/h1] [b]Update:[/b] we're now at patch 5.40 and all my previous issue with progression are fixed. The game is a lot more fun after all the progression fixes. The curve is now smoother, no more identifying gear for 1 hour, and we've had clear improvement on gearing NPCs. NPCs can pick their own gear from your loot, whenver you pass, they decide if its an upgrade or not. There is still some issue, but nothing game breaking or lessening the enjoyment on that part. You get enough gear and opportunity to gear them as your venture in the dungeon. Clearing floor is currently a bit too easy, but it makes it flow quite well, the big bosses are hard and require to prepare beforehand with buffs, upgarde and also gearing your NPCs for it. Death is also a lot harsher, losing level, items, and a lot of gold, with only 3 free passes at respawning for free. [b]8/10[/b] [h1]Multiplayer[/h1] I believe it is mostly a planned feature. You can talk, and interact with other players, you can invite them into guilds and teams. Both of the latter will be fleshed out further I am sure. It was also mentionned that you'll be able to or are able to invite other players in your party and go venture into the dungeon together. I've yet to be able to try that out for the lack of players at my level. Edit/Update: after some testing, it works somewhat well. Once you know how, you invite your friend in your team, then your group (difference). Since you are now grouped together, the person who invited you is the leader. They'll do the events, curios and decide when to fight the monsters. You're mostly tagging along. Leader and companions/NPCs play first, then the second player. [b]7/10[/b] I recommend it, even with the above issues. This game will get better I'm sure of it.

I've been playing the free version from github but picked it up on Steam too because the price is reasonable. Definitely check it out if you like MUDs and old-style text adventures. There's a lot of content.

A fun, highly ambitious game. A good way to look at the experience of BBS games of the past.

Ive only scratched the surface but the game has a satisfying game loop and I can tell theres a lot of depth. Im looking forward to exploring more of what the game has to offer and for this price its a steal. If the concept intrigues you give it a shot, support indie games with depth!

I have been gaming since the BBS era, back when ASCII art passed for a user interface, 2400 baud was how I started, and 56k felt like science fiction. Usurper was the pinnacle of turn-based backstabbing. When someone took on the job of resurrecting one of the greats, I was skeptical. You don't just bring back a legend. Usurper Reborn is the real deal. The original Pascal code has been put to rest with dignity, and what replaced it plays like someone actually LOVED the source material instead of just slapping a fresh coat of paint on it. It respects the original without being a slave to it. The throne will not seize itself Now let's talk about the dev. The man is present. Actively in the community, actually listening, and responds to feedback like he has a personal vendetta against bugs. I don't know when he sleeps. I'm not sure he does. The game is in good hands. The community is small but growing. We're all in various stages of personal ruin, somewhere between accidentally becoming a drug-addled maniac on floor 12 and watching our carefully built family fall apart because we made one bad decision in a tavern. Some players actually keep it together, stay clean, build a dynasty, and take the throne. We respect them. We do not trust them. New players arrive with hopes and dreams. We don't warn them. That is love.

Old school type of game. I have enjoyed every hour I've played it and highly recommend it. Dev is very active. Brought up a couple issues in the discord and fixed it within an hour.

This is an amazing game with lots of content and depth, an interesting story, and NPCs and events that make the world really feel alive. And it's completely accessible, too!

Brilliant!. A game that is more relevant today then any AAA title with flash graphics. It has one thing all those game lack (Imagination). Endless hours of fun and highly recommended.

gud game