[REVIEW] "Elemental: Fallen Enchantress Impressions" by "Out of Eight PC Game Review"

from Elemental Forums

They do not provide a numerical score summary.  The reviewer did record a 45-minute video on Youtube, however, embedded in his article.


This is a semi-sequel offered for free to early adopters of the first Elemental game, War of Magic. It’s obviously similar in approach (a 4X game with role-playing elements) but much better overall thanks to streamlined mechanics, added content, and a more accessible interface, among other things. ...

-- http://www.outofeight.info/2012/10/elemental-fallen-enchantress-impressions.html

Here is their Youtube video (yes, it has 1080p HD):

13,249 views 12 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top


Notice that the first thing he mentions is not enough warning when a city is idle. ;)

Second thing I noticed mentioned is the lacking dynamic in tactical combat.

Third thing I noticed is that he doesn't like using weapons on his heroes. XD

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting GFireflyE, reply 1

Notice that the first thing he mentions is not enough warning when a city is idle.

 
End of GFireflyE's quote

And I scoffed and laughed.  How could you possibly miss the blinking and fairly large ZZz on the screen?  I'd much rather have the ZZz on the left side than some obnoxious pop up that would continuously pop up for however long it may be idle.

SoundPackager - Customize the Windows sound scheme
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Wizaerd, reply 2

Quoting GFireflyE, reply 1
Notice that the first thing he mentions is not enough warning when a city is idle.

 

And I scoffed and laughed.  How could you possibly miss the blinking and fairly large ZZz on the screen?  I'd much rather have the ZZz on the left side than some obnoxious pop up that would continuously pop up for however long it may be idle.
End of Wizaerd's quote

 

I guess you've never had enough cities for not all of your cities to fit on the screen.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

He showed up in the Paradox forums after reviewing Crusader Kings II, and instead of being hailed after revealing who he was, ended up surprised that a lot of players criticized him for getting quite a bit of information wrong.  The impression I at least was left with was that he'd played for a day or two, was a quick study, and mistook that for understanding a really deep TBS.  Make of that what you will in this context.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

I wanted to SCREAM first 15 minutes of the video YOU HAVE ZERO ATTACK - EQUIP WEAPON.  No wonder he loses. And this is guy who played beta?

But also the game somehow should notify you when you try to attack with 0 attack. Or, it simply should not let you attack, giving the only option to pass the turn for that unit.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting MxM111, reply 6
I wanted to SCREAM first 15 minutes of the video YOU HAVE ZERO ATTACK - EQUIP WEAPON.  No wonder he loses. And this is guy who played beta?

But also the game somehow should notify you when you try to attack with 0 attack. Or, it simply should not let you attack, giving the only option to pass the turn for that unit.
End of MxM111's quote

Not everyone is an expert at noticing everything, be open minded...

Quoting GFireflyE, reply 1
Notice that the first thing he mentions is not enough warning when a city is idle.
End of GFireflyE's quote

Me thinks so too, I'm blind too =)

This seems like one of the more interesting reviews, since you actually see a guy playing the game.

Sincerely
~ Kongdej

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Wizaerd, reply 2

Quoting GFireflyE, reply 1
Notice that the first thing he mentions is not enough warning when a city is idle.

 

And I scoffed and laughed.  How could you possibly miss the blinking and fairly large ZZz on the screen? .
End of Wizaerd's quote

 

I miss it all the time. As I already wrote in one of my comments, the interface is poorly designed and non-ergonomic, because various related pieces of information are scattered to distant parts of the screen. This "warning" is a perfect example because it appears in a section that does not normally contain useful/urgent information.

Take Paradox GUI for as an example - it has a dedicated sections just for warnings, grouped by severity. It also let's you to customize the GUI, so that it can offer popup warnings for events you consider important.

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Kamamura_CZ, reply 8
customize the GUI, so that it can offer popup warnings for events you consider important.
End of Kamamura_CZ's quote

This would be a nice addition to FE.

Quoting Kamamura_CZ, reply 8
As I already wrote in one of my comments, the interface is poorly designed and non-ergonomic, because various related pieces of information are scattered to distant parts of the screen.
End of Kamamura_CZ's quote

You can drag and pull some of the objects of the interface, like the city drop down list... Just incase you want to.

Sincerely
~ Kongdej

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top

A 45-minute review?

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
  • It's not a "review", it is "impressions".
  • If he's attacking with no weapon, maybe the issue is with the game not being informative enough for new players to realize how to equip a weapon.  (Paper doll would go a LONG way toward solving this and be more consistent with the RPG style of ruler/champions).
  • I finally realized that if my turn doesn't auto-advance, then a city is idle.  I never notice the stuff on the right side of the screen.
  • Maybe he doesn't give games the time some people would expect, but his reviews usually jive with my gaming experience, so I trust him.  But again, this isn't a review.
Reply #11 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Stuie_, reply 11
(Paper doll would go a LONG way toward solving this and be more consistent with the RPG style of ruler/champions).
End of Stuie_'s quote

I think that would be nice too, and easier to understand.

Quoting Stuie_, reply 11
Maybe he doesn't give games the time some people would expect, but his reviews usually jive with my gaming experience, so I trust him. But again, this isn't a review.
End of Stuie_'s quote

I personally like these video thingies more, because even if the guy is wrong about the game, I still get to learn alot about the game itself.

Sincerely
~ Kongdej

Reply #12 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Stuie_, reply 11
It's not a "review", it is "impressions".
End of Stuie_'s quote

Yeah, but still, 45-minutes?