first run in and the heir was afflicted with bleed during the tutorial fight... i didn't think i was going to be playing an RTS version of darkest dungeons today...
this game is brutal, especially for an RTS newbie like me, but nonetheless this was super fun! i can't say that i've gotten far, haven't gotten past the point where the "Tempt Fate Once More" button wouldn't take me straight to the beginning again (closest i got was dying near the big hole in the first area), but each repeated death gives me a better appreciation of the game! i love the role management that comes into play when dealing with battles, i'd have to carefully consider where i'd place my units in order for things to go in my favor (which units are able to enter attack range, which units are drawing aggro, etc.). this all also comes into play with the lighting system in the game, where the map is only revealed based on where the characters in the party are facing, leading you to make decisions based on incomplete information. one wrong move and you could get ambushed due to carelessly pushing towards a path, creating a cool sense of caution and anxiety whenever you move your party, its very cool! theres also a lot of small gameplay systems that stack up and completely affect the battle, like the afflictions, hunger, and even the character facing direction could affect things if you don't plan out properly. i'll need a lot more time to get adjusted to the RTS aspect of the game, but this already feels really well thought out and polished!
the presentation of the game is also incredible! all of the sprites look amazing, with the 1 bit aesthetic working wonders to convey the tone and atmosphere of the game! the lighting not only acts as a mechanic in the game, but also plays into the visuals and elevates the tense atmosphere to a higher level! the character writing is very fun to read to, with each of the characters having their own fun but grounded personalities to them while they speak in ye olde english, i was engrossed the whole time! though i wish there was a way to skip dialogue through input, ive died quite a lot so going through the downtime of waiting for the dialogue and cutscenes to finish after going through it once broke the flow sometimes.
overall, this is an amazing game! at my current state, my one braincell can't beat the game for now, but i'll definitely come back to it at a later date, great work!