Platform used: PC
Hours played: 300+
Status: Finished main campaign
Overall:
OGR SCORE | |
Dependence on reflexes | 5 |
Gameplay complexity | 7 |
Game mechanics | 7 |
Stimulation | 8 |
TOTAL | 27 |
TL;DR: This game is a faithful adaptation of the D&D 5E rules. Character creation is super fun. Playing the four characters you’ve created generates the fun that the average story does not.
Game type: Linear RPG with side quests; turn-based, isometric, grid-based combat.
Story: Fairly straightforward “save the kingdom from the evil threat.” Some nuance with character interactions. Choices can lead to differences down the road. As in D&D, your characters have backgrounds. In Solasta, these backgrounds can lead to interesting (but usually short) side quests.
Combat: Turn-based with D&D 5E options for spells, melee/ranged attacks, hiding, and unlike many games, an option to “ready” an attack. Stealth mechanic is decent and rewarding.
Puzzles/difficulty: Preset difficulty levels (I play on Scavenger, just below the hardest, Cataclysm). Iron man mode and superb customization are available. For example, you have sliders for damage given and taken, enemy hit points/saving throw mods, and whether enemies will keep hitting you after you’re down (to kill you dead). The game has a moderate number of puzzles of average difficulty. I had to look up a few.
Map/travel: Solasta has one of the most satisfying travel systems I have seen. When viewing a local map, you can click on a spot and your characters will move there. On the world map, when you travel place to place you have random encounters, consume food, and are able to spend the time crafting. True fast travel is limited to occasional “major gates” you must discover during your adventure.
Crafting/city building: Crafting is typical collection of ingredients of varying rarity. Players’ ability to craft an item (weapon, potion, etc.) depends on their skills and abilities (e.g. proficiency in an herbalism kit and nature skill). No city/home base building.
Mike’s favorite characteristic: I could (and have) spend hours upon hours creating characters and just take them through the first five levels. I highly enjoy character creation and early progression.
Initial tips:
- Jumping, flying, spider climbing, and/or using the Misty Step spell are fairly important to getting to loot.
- Having a character with high Charisma is helpful for dialog.
- Similarly, you’ll probably want a character who can pick locks. This means either a rogue class or the Lowlife background.
- This is one of the few games where lighting makes a noticeable difference. You will attack at disadvantage against an unlit foe (unless you have Darkvision). “Forcing” the use of spells like Dancing Lights is actually cool.
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