WestHalla

[h3]RANKING:[/h3] [table] [tr] [td] [h3][strike]AVOID[/strike] | [b]FLAWED[/b] | [strike]MAYBE | WORTHWHILE | COMPELLING | UNMISSABLE [/strike] [/h3] [/td] [/tr] [/table] [h3]SYNOPSIS:[/h3] [table] [tr] [th][b]ASSESSMENT:[/b][/th] [/tr] [tr] [td] WestHalla provides an uncomplicated experience possessing linear and streamlined gameplay with an 80's vibe. Retro inspired visuals plus atmospheric tracks deliver a passable western theme. Strategy is very basic. Auto-battler combat can feel clunky. Content is lite, but balanced out by difficulty. It is let down by some QoL shortcomings, a few bugs and one critical issue. While quite enjoyable at times, until it's current shortcomings are ironed out the solid foundation that it is built upon is wasted. Fixing these would raise its ranking, but right now it feels a little too [b]FLAWED[/b]. [/td] [/tr] [/table] [table] [tr] [td][b]STATUS:[/b][/td] [td]Looks fully released. Unfortunately there are no signs of updates to address the few minor shortcomings and one critical issue that can be navigated past [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td][b]APPEAL:[/b][/td] [td]Will appeal to fans of basic, western themed, rogues with auto-battler combat, but only after it receives the updates to address its shortcomings [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td][b]VALUE:[/b][/td] [td]Given the state of QoL, the few bugs found and gameplay limitations this should only be considered on a good sale [/td] [/tr] [/table] [quote=]Key provided by the developer through curator [url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/tbtactics/][b]TURN-BASED TACTICS[/b] [/url] | Click to follow and receive updates for reviews of a similar nature[/quote] [i]More info below....[/i] https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3050942403 [h3]OBSERVATIONS:[/h3] ► It's PREMISE combines a basic roguelike with simple auto-battler combat resulting in streamlined gameplay. A gold based economy allows the recruiting of cowboys, augmenting combat skills, buying weapons and armour or healing injured party members to allow progression. ► AUDIOVISUALS are reminiscent of early gaming era (i.e. Spectrum) titles. Simple colours compliment blocky pixel graphics, which together with a thematic soundtrack combine to deliver an unelaborate western themed atmosphere. The clarinet inspired menu and first territory tracks stands out in particular. ► Basic kb/m CONTROLS for navigation and menus are functional. The GUI is undercooked with too much space underutilised. Which could have been used to show character stats outside the preparatory stage of combat as these are needed to determine which cowboy gets which stats when upgrading. Cowboy colours are designated at random and duplicated with no option to change. The same with cowboy designations. ► STRATEGY is in keeping with the game's uncomplicated nature. The main element is to keep the posse of cowboys alive in whatever way possible by rotating injured cowboys to the rear of healthier ones, using the very limited sources of healing and juggling limited equipment to those with the right right skills. All the while raising skills to equip better items that become available. Gold is the only economy, gained through killing enemies, basic quest and unwanted inventory can be sold. RNG is a big factor in the success of runs. ► LEVELS consist of a half-dozen procedurally generated territories of three zones, easily identifiable by some nice graphical decoration. All are sparsely populated with territory defined groups of enemies. Initial zones contain a trader, healer, teacher and cowboys for hire. Quest-giving NPCs and objects appear to aid or hinder the party in zones thereafter. A certain number of groups must be cleared to progress and once left, zones cannot be returned to. A final boss awaits at then end of each territory. ► CHARACTERS - Additional cowboys with eight equipment-based stats can be hired at the start of each territory. It is possible to have had a posse with five characters which is quite involving in combat. Stat upgrades are purchased individually with gold at the first zone of each territory. In combat each character can be assigned one weapon and/or one armour. ► WEAPONS & ARMOUR are the only inventory and require a certain skill levels to equip. There's quite a few including: rifles, handguns, shotguns, axes, blades, clubs and several types of armour. Each has a maximum number of uses before disappearing. ► COMBAT takes place on a small tiled board that focuses encounters. A functional, if clunky auto-battler determines fight outcomes without interaction once initiated. Stats and equipped items can only be assigned in the preparatory phase of combat. Enemies act in an unsophisticated manner, designed to go towards the nearest enemy and attack from range. Targeting does not change until the current one has been eliminated, but can miss. Occasionally combatants can freeze despite ongoing combat. Its not possible to reequip cowboys during a fight. ► TACTICS are limited to positioning the crew on the auto-battler grid to make the best use of blocking terrain and make the best match-ups between enemies and party members. The only other consideration is assigning the best weapons and armour available. ► ENEMIES are quite varied across territories with a mix of (un)themed human and animals such as bandits, coyotes, natives, snakes, etc. Groupings can be up to 4+ and their capacity to deal damage and take it rises rapidly, with progress made through territories. At the end of a territory FINAL BOSSES await the party with these fights designed to take out one or more cowboys as inventory reduces in number with time. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3050933474 [h3]COMPLEXITY:[/h3] 🔶 ACCESSIBILITY - Explains the basics/controls at the start with one NPC conversation, which can be bypassed. It is very easy and quick to pick up due to a complete lack of complex elements. 🔶 DIFFICULTY - Is quite forgiving as starting characters can die, but the party can carry on. Not amassing enough equipment or gold to prepare for the next region will be punishing in its own way. Healing is very limited with only healing pools appearing randomly between starting zones. 🔶 BALANCE - Overall balance is pretty spot on, though levels in character skills, weapons and armour need to be ahead of the curve in order to beat the next territory. The skills of hired cowboys rise in level with each territory beaten. Never enough gold to buy everything, results in tough decisions. [h3]STAYING POWER:[/h3] 🟨 REPLAY VALUE - RNG makes this good in map and character generation. Some achievements affected by RNG make replaying necessary. Playing with alt. skilled characters can add some impetus to replay. 🟨 LONGEVITY - Not sure if New game+ is in, but there are no variant modes or branched routes and/or optional territories. [h3]PRODUCTION:[/h3] 🟣 QUALITY- The game falls short of the quality standards a Steam release should have. It does not have enough of a profile to know how buggy it is, though a few were encountered. 🟣 STABILITY - One NPC quest got into an infinite loop stopping progress. A restart allowed continuation. 🟣 STEAM - Achievements. No cloud saving or controller support. 🟣 OPTIMISATION - FPS of around 60 experienced throughout the game. [table][tr] [td]For more [b]DETAILED INFO, BUGS & QoL[/b] check out the:[/td] [td][h1][url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/TheIrregularGamer/discussions/0/6393480947855009492/]Full Review[/url][/h1][/td] [/tr][/table] https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3050938551 [table] [tr] [td][b]REVIEWED WITH:[/b][/td] [td]Build v Initial release INTEL i5 6600 3.3GHz, 8GB RAM, GTX970 @ 1GB 1920x1080 windowed, EVO850 SSD, Speedlink XEOX Pro Analog Gamepad [/td] [/tr] [/table] [quote=]Thank you for reading | Click to follow my curator[url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/40556040-The-Irregular-Gamer/] THE IRREGULAR GAMER[/url][/quote]