LH impressions from a skeptic: has time been reset?

from Elemental Forums

I've had fun before with Elemental, but it's always been short-lived, and it wasn't enough to see past the flaws. Now, maybe for the first time, I actually feel the desire to play another game right after the current one. It'll sound trite, but this really feels like the game that "should have been released 3 years ago"... and expanded upon.

Now, I don't know if after all the work and the trouble the devs will have it in them to put more effort into this. I know it'll be a pity and a shame if they don't (as understandable as it would be), because if THIS game got 2 real, content-oriented expansions then we'd have the game to beat in the following decade. Alas, mistakes were made and the effort to painfully correct them may have taken its toll.

I got LH for free, and I didn't have big expectations, honestly. But now I can't stop thinking how good a game it could be, now that the core's solid, if it had... more. Yes, I'm still talking about more magic (spells are still very few in number, also still mundane and underwhelming), more items, more city types (now I only get "common" ones: is this whole thing a placeholder mechanic?) more options (like flying units, meaningful spells and effects and so on).

Yes I noticed some flaws and quirks (like the problematic usability of "administrative" heroes), but at this point they're basically minor. The Heroes system works well, Cities work great, Essence as a concept is a winner. What I really miss at this point is good, old fashioned content, especially spells and more rewarding magical effects (I'm still surprised about how a game of this kind could underplay magic to this extent).

I would eagerly buy such an expansion (which -forgive me for saying it again- would actually feel like the first), and I can only hope it's in the developer's plans. Now on to that next playthrough...

11,003 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

Cant please some people I guess. Talk about some backhanded compliments.

Ive bought so many bad games in my time and never been given anything for it. You get FE/LH for free (they didnt have to do that, regardless of how terrible elemental was) and yet you lament that the developers may not be in a mind state to develop more content? Your right, you sound trite.

They will develop another expansion - I would wager a decent amount on it. Its a business decision - they have a good game that they gave away to alot of people - a paid expansion that builds on a great game is a way they can recoup losses on the whole saga.

 

 

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting LordKillerClown, reply 1

 Talk about some backhanded compliments. 
 
End of LordKillerClown's quote

At least you know they're honest compliments and I'm not doing the fanboy dance.

I've always praised Stardock's (Wardell's) decision to give the new releases for free to disappointed customers. It's true, nobody does that and we weren't technically owed anything (though to be fair, a lot of the things advertised for WoM didn't come with the package).

I'm just saying that if this were the first and only incarnation of the game, then we would all scream "miracle!", especially since we'd have 2 or 3 full content-oriented expansions to look forward too. Hope it'll still happen, of course. 

Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

There's nothing to say that we WON'T get 2-3 more expansions.  Especially if you like the game and let all your friends know and more people buy it.

 

I mean, money is still money - and we got this for free, and I agree with you on many points.  But there is still the possibility that we can get more.  Besides, there's also going to be a ton of mods out there soon enough anyway.

 

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top


To the OP's point... there are 100,000 of us that would have bought LH but we didn't because it was free.  In addition, Stardock is no longer selling via retail channels.  FE was a good game and got decent reviews, but did not generate a lot of sales.  Unfortunately, LH will suffer the same fate and Stardock may think that there's not enough money here to warrant future expansions.  Besides, I'm sure the Dev team is sick of the Elemental universe and wanting to do something else.

What does that all mean?  I'll wager Mikey's nickel that it means that if there are expansions for LH, we won't see them for a long time.  You'll get the DLCs tho... will that suffice?