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RanceJustice
Supreme [H]ardness
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2003
- Messages
- 6,629
It's that time again, the next Humble Monthly Bundle is about to arrive! For those unaware of Humble Monthly Bundles, please see my more in-depth introduction here during my first thread from April 2017 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humble-monthly-april-review-and-discussion-thread.1929347 - I'll just get right into it again!
For those interested, here are all my back Humble Monthly reviews..
May - https://hardforum.com/threads/humble-monthly-bundle-may-review-and-discussion-thread.1931795/
June - (Missed writing one)
July - https://hardforum.com/threads/humble-monthly-bundle-july-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1939318/
August - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...st-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1941294/
September - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...er-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1943055/
October - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...er-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1945470/
November - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...er-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1947730/
December - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...er-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1949477/
Jan2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...ry-2018-review-and-discussion-thread.1951895/
Feb2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...ry-2018-review-and-discussion-thread.1953943/
March 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humble-monthly-bundle-march-2018-review-and-discussion-thread.1956171/
April 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...-release-date-4-6-18.1957941/#post-1043572129
May 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...iscussion-thread-release-date-5-4-18.1959906/
June 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...iscussion-thread-release-date-6-1-18.1961480/
July 2018 Early Unlocks -
Hearts of Iron IV ($40, Win/Mac/Linux) - The latest in a series of grand strategy titles set during World War 2, Hearts of Iron IV has an impressive pedigree. Developed and published by Paradox Interactive, a dev/publisher known particularly for strategy titles, "Paradox Game" has almost become a descriptive synonym for grand strategy, calling up expansive maps and a plethora of icons to memory in the way that a "Ubisoft Game" invites ideas of open-world titles with densely packed objectives. Grand strategy titles can be a bit imposing to newcomers, with their maps, charts, lists and other forms of data the focus, with figures on a map meant more to represent clashing forces than actually depicting the fields of battle. However, thanks to excellent tutorials and explanations along with engaging aesthetics for their type, Paradox games from Crusader Kings II to Hearts of Iron IV are more inviting than they may first appear.
The depth and attention to detail is impressive, both in terms of the historical elements - with every piece of military hardware, unit, or aspect properly labeled right down to insignia and battalion or unit names. Players can choose to play online or offline, cooperative or competitively, ostensibly up to 32 players and across platforms; Mac and Linux support is very welcome indeed. Be it in a full-length war campaign or specific scenario/starting point, players can take command of major Axis or Allied nation in World War 2 and attempt to rewrite history! Troop movements, resources, realistic weather effects on units and other elements all must be taken into account, along with varying research, diplomatic, and other options to maneuver one's way through the conflict; an astounding depth of play. The ability for radical deviations into alternate history is of particular note, not just in well-trod tactical hypothetical such as Germany not invading Stalingrad as it did, but also in unique potential scenarios such as if instead of the British Conservative Party's Winston Churchill, what would happen if the British Union of Fascists won the election and dominated Parliament?! One thing I am not sure of, but I really hope to see included, is all of the various hypothetical weapons / technologies that never came into real effect in our timeline, but under different circumstances could have seen completion and action.
Paradox does a good job rendering this all in aesthetically pleasing methods with the UI, maps, miniatures, portraits, and even music creating a holistic impression of both the grandness of the conflict and the feel of each nation or faction. This is taken even further by the ongoing DLC releases for Hearts of Iron IV. There have been several free DLCs, including the "Poland: United and Ready" package which enables and enhances play as the titular nation, and the "Anniversary Pack" which adds new voiceovers for Poland, 20 new division icons, and 20 new portraits. There is a "Collector's / Colonel's Edition Upgrade" pack for $10 which grants a large selection of cosmetic unit DLCs and other benefits from the default Cadet's Edition; all detailed on the Steam page if you expand it. The "Together for Victory" DLC is $15 and focuses on the British Commonwealth and Dominions as well as adding lots of new strategic and tactical systems to the game no matter your faction. "Death or Dishonor" is a $10 pack that adds Hungary, Romania, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia along with all accoutrements for these new countries, as well as additional game systems. "Waking the Tiger" is $20 is the most recent expansion, adding China (both Republic and Maoist) and a whole host of related content and of course even more universal game systems. There is already another expansion-style DLC called "Man the Guns" announced as coming soon and focusing on enhancements to naval gameplay and combat. Paradox is known for excellent support and long-standing, content-heavy DLCs for their titles and Hearts of Iron IV is no exception; those who find they enjoy the base game can always wait until the DLC goes on sale if they have concerns of the price.
No matter if you've enjoyed previous Paradox titles or are a newcomer, Hearts of Iron IV puts the depth of grand strategic warfare accessible to you thanks to Humble this month!!
Blackwake ($20, Win/Mac/Linux-in-testing) - Fans of pirates may have been a bit let down by Rare's Xbox/Win10 exclusive title Sea of Thieves but fear not - the indie community has your back! Blackwake is a multiplayer FPS with a a naval / piratical bend!
Currently in Early Access, the game is certainly playable and expanding with new features with frequency. At the moment play is nearly exclusively online multiplayer and is generally match based, yet there is also a persistent progression system with varying unlocks and other features. Each match can have up to 54 players at current, all set on sprawling maps with differing naval and land features, from narrow straits ,to volcanos, icebergs, and water spouts during stormy seas. There are 3 game modes, all team based - Team Deathmatch, Capture The Booty, and Siege. The last of which Siege, is an attacker/defender setup where one team is based in a fort and has to protect assets while the other attempts to break in.
Players occupy at least 2 factions, typically Royal Navy and Pirates, which are opposed to each other. Within a faction there potentials for at least 11 different types of ships that can be built, ranging from smaller sloops and specialized bomb ketchs to galleons and even Chinese junk! Ship types have different stats and crew min/max, giving them different jobs in combat. One player per ship is elected Captain (something like a squad leader of sorts) and directs his crew in the varying duties necessary for combat in the golden age of sail. Players are responsible for helming the ship, navigation, reloading and firing cannons, repairing any damage, and other seafaring duties in addition to direct player-to-player combat. Players can select from several types of personal weapons such as rifles, pistols, boarding axes, and the famous cutlass for when they are fighting on the deck, boarding ,or defending a fort. Teamwork is a core dynamic and a ship in sync with its various officers and crew will be far more effective.
Blackwake has a system of avatar customization enabling players to choose from various cosmetics for their liking, with the progression rank system enhancing this feature unlocking even more options as the player ascends. I should mention there are female avatars available, though for the moment they don't have quite as many cosmetic options as the longer-present male avatars. I should also mention here that aside from all the other tools, weapons and whatnot pirates can drink rum/grog in order to heal, but those in the Royal Navy can enjoy a nice cuppa; a nice touch, being a higher-ranking navy officer being served tea on the deck from fine china during a battle!
Blackwake is still in Early Access and I hope to see it successful enough to develop further. Mayhap comprehensive PVE / CoOp is too much to ask for as of yet, but the foundation of the game is enjoyable and there are many potential avenues for expansion. If you're looking for a team-based match-focused FPS with a lot of variety and nautical theme, Blackwake will give you many reasons to hoist the colors!
Portal Knights ($20, Windows) - Minecraft has spawned an entire genre of 3D voxel-based sandbox, each with a different hook and succeeding or failing on these merits. Portal Knights attempts to distinguish itself in the market by leaning heavily on the cooperative action-RPG aspects while ambitiously trying to maintain the other creative/sandbox aspects too. Players can play solo, but also have the option of splitscreen mode for 2 players, or online multiplayer for up to 4 players in a group.
The RPG aspects begin when the player chooses a class - Warrior, Rogue, or Mage - each with their own talents and progression. The specific attire an equipment within each class fantasy adds to the aesthetic options, as players can customize their avatar further. The game world is broken up into various hubs as well as procedural generated sandboxes, each with varying biomes (swamp, arctic) and features (caves, ruins, dungeons etc). NPCs are present as well, giving out quests and providing greater depth to the RPG aspect. Combat takes place in a real-time action system and players have a bevy of varied weapons, spells and abilities available depending on their current class/loadout, which becomes increasingly important against' "boss" monsters.
In addition to combat there is some additional "minecraft-y" sandbox gathering and crafting loops as well, so players have variety in which kinds of content they wish to attain but unlike Minecraft itself and some others in the market, the varying advancement system provides a bit of guidance in the different types of content, without imposing on player freedom. Assets from combat and gathering/crafting alike can be taken back to players' private island and used to build whatever they might wish to do so, such as a castle out of rare materials with a trophy room to show off their spoils. Its also noteworthy there is a "creative mode" for those who wish to focus mostly on sculpting their own land and buildings; Steam Workshop support is advertised as well, allowing users to show off their creations to others and to import copies of items constructed by others into their own worlds - some players have created incredible structures.
This is a good time to get into monetization as I was very pleased that the Steam Workshop items do not require real world currency to purchase from each other, but instead are treated as mods. Some other games in the genre have a large in-game item store and/or rely on players selling their own creations for real money, but it doesn't seem this way with Portal Knights. While I cannot confirm for sure until I play, as far as Steam is concerned there are relatively limited DLC items and affordably priced. A "Bibot Box" and "Lobot" boxes contain cosmetic equipment reminiscent as silver and gold robots respectively, while the "Emoji Box" offers a selection of masks with emoji represented upon them - each of these boxes are only $3. If there isn't any other exclusive content for sale in-game, I'd be pleasantly surprised and hope they intend to finance continual development through releasing content-packed expansions.
The lack of Mac and Linux builds is a little disappointing, but hopefully they could be added in time if all goes well. For those looking for some cooperative "Minecraft Meets Diablo" style fun, check out Portal Knights!
For those interested, here are all my back Humble Monthly reviews..
May - https://hardforum.com/threads/humble-monthly-bundle-may-review-and-discussion-thread.1931795/
June - (Missed writing one)
July - https://hardforum.com/threads/humble-monthly-bundle-july-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1939318/
August - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...st-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1941294/
September - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...er-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1943055/
October - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...er-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1945470/
November - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...er-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1947730/
December - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...er-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1949477/
Jan2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...ry-2018-review-and-discussion-thread.1951895/
Feb2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...ry-2018-review-and-discussion-thread.1953943/
March 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humble-monthly-bundle-march-2018-review-and-discussion-thread.1956171/
April 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...-release-date-4-6-18.1957941/#post-1043572129
May 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...iscussion-thread-release-date-5-4-18.1959906/
June 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...iscussion-thread-release-date-6-1-18.1961480/
July 2018 Early Unlocks -
Hearts of Iron IV ($40, Win/Mac/Linux) - The latest in a series of grand strategy titles set during World War 2, Hearts of Iron IV has an impressive pedigree. Developed and published by Paradox Interactive, a dev/publisher known particularly for strategy titles, "Paradox Game" has almost become a descriptive synonym for grand strategy, calling up expansive maps and a plethora of icons to memory in the way that a "Ubisoft Game" invites ideas of open-world titles with densely packed objectives. Grand strategy titles can be a bit imposing to newcomers, with their maps, charts, lists and other forms of data the focus, with figures on a map meant more to represent clashing forces than actually depicting the fields of battle. However, thanks to excellent tutorials and explanations along with engaging aesthetics for their type, Paradox games from Crusader Kings II to Hearts of Iron IV are more inviting than they may first appear.
The depth and attention to detail is impressive, both in terms of the historical elements - with every piece of military hardware, unit, or aspect properly labeled right down to insignia and battalion or unit names. Players can choose to play online or offline, cooperative or competitively, ostensibly up to 32 players and across platforms; Mac and Linux support is very welcome indeed. Be it in a full-length war campaign or specific scenario/starting point, players can take command of major Axis or Allied nation in World War 2 and attempt to rewrite history! Troop movements, resources, realistic weather effects on units and other elements all must be taken into account, along with varying research, diplomatic, and other options to maneuver one's way through the conflict; an astounding depth of play. The ability for radical deviations into alternate history is of particular note, not just in well-trod tactical hypothetical such as Germany not invading Stalingrad as it did, but also in unique potential scenarios such as if instead of the British Conservative Party's Winston Churchill, what would happen if the British Union of Fascists won the election and dominated Parliament?! One thing I am not sure of, but I really hope to see included, is all of the various hypothetical weapons / technologies that never came into real effect in our timeline, but under different circumstances could have seen completion and action.
Paradox does a good job rendering this all in aesthetically pleasing methods with the UI, maps, miniatures, portraits, and even music creating a holistic impression of both the grandness of the conflict and the feel of each nation or faction. This is taken even further by the ongoing DLC releases for Hearts of Iron IV. There have been several free DLCs, including the "Poland: United and Ready" package which enables and enhances play as the titular nation, and the "Anniversary Pack" which adds new voiceovers for Poland, 20 new division icons, and 20 new portraits. There is a "Collector's / Colonel's Edition Upgrade" pack for $10 which grants a large selection of cosmetic unit DLCs and other benefits from the default Cadet's Edition; all detailed on the Steam page if you expand it. The "Together for Victory" DLC is $15 and focuses on the British Commonwealth and Dominions as well as adding lots of new strategic and tactical systems to the game no matter your faction. "Death or Dishonor" is a $10 pack that adds Hungary, Romania, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia along with all accoutrements for these new countries, as well as additional game systems. "Waking the Tiger" is $20 is the most recent expansion, adding China (both Republic and Maoist) and a whole host of related content and of course even more universal game systems. There is already another expansion-style DLC called "Man the Guns" announced as coming soon and focusing on enhancements to naval gameplay and combat. Paradox is known for excellent support and long-standing, content-heavy DLCs for their titles and Hearts of Iron IV is no exception; those who find they enjoy the base game can always wait until the DLC goes on sale if they have concerns of the price.
No matter if you've enjoyed previous Paradox titles or are a newcomer, Hearts of Iron IV puts the depth of grand strategic warfare accessible to you thanks to Humble this month!!
Blackwake ($20, Win/Mac/Linux-in-testing) - Fans of pirates may have been a bit let down by Rare's Xbox/Win10 exclusive title Sea of Thieves but fear not - the indie community has your back! Blackwake is a multiplayer FPS with a a naval / piratical bend!
Currently in Early Access, the game is certainly playable and expanding with new features with frequency. At the moment play is nearly exclusively online multiplayer and is generally match based, yet there is also a persistent progression system with varying unlocks and other features. Each match can have up to 54 players at current, all set on sprawling maps with differing naval and land features, from narrow straits ,to volcanos, icebergs, and water spouts during stormy seas. There are 3 game modes, all team based - Team Deathmatch, Capture The Booty, and Siege. The last of which Siege, is an attacker/defender setup where one team is based in a fort and has to protect assets while the other attempts to break in.
Players occupy at least 2 factions, typically Royal Navy and Pirates, which are opposed to each other. Within a faction there potentials for at least 11 different types of ships that can be built, ranging from smaller sloops and specialized bomb ketchs to galleons and even Chinese junk! Ship types have different stats and crew min/max, giving them different jobs in combat. One player per ship is elected Captain (something like a squad leader of sorts) and directs his crew in the varying duties necessary for combat in the golden age of sail. Players are responsible for helming the ship, navigation, reloading and firing cannons, repairing any damage, and other seafaring duties in addition to direct player-to-player combat. Players can select from several types of personal weapons such as rifles, pistols, boarding axes, and the famous cutlass for when they are fighting on the deck, boarding ,or defending a fort. Teamwork is a core dynamic and a ship in sync with its various officers and crew will be far more effective.
Blackwake has a system of avatar customization enabling players to choose from various cosmetics for their liking, with the progression rank system enhancing this feature unlocking even more options as the player ascends. I should mention there are female avatars available, though for the moment they don't have quite as many cosmetic options as the longer-present male avatars. I should also mention here that aside from all the other tools, weapons and whatnot pirates can drink rum/grog in order to heal, but those in the Royal Navy can enjoy a nice cuppa; a nice touch, being a higher-ranking navy officer being served tea on the deck from fine china during a battle!
Blackwake is still in Early Access and I hope to see it successful enough to develop further. Mayhap comprehensive PVE / CoOp is too much to ask for as of yet, but the foundation of the game is enjoyable and there are many potential avenues for expansion. If you're looking for a team-based match-focused FPS with a lot of variety and nautical theme, Blackwake will give you many reasons to hoist the colors!
Portal Knights ($20, Windows) - Minecraft has spawned an entire genre of 3D voxel-based sandbox, each with a different hook and succeeding or failing on these merits. Portal Knights attempts to distinguish itself in the market by leaning heavily on the cooperative action-RPG aspects while ambitiously trying to maintain the other creative/sandbox aspects too. Players can play solo, but also have the option of splitscreen mode for 2 players, or online multiplayer for up to 4 players in a group.
The RPG aspects begin when the player chooses a class - Warrior, Rogue, or Mage - each with their own talents and progression. The specific attire an equipment within each class fantasy adds to the aesthetic options, as players can customize their avatar further. The game world is broken up into various hubs as well as procedural generated sandboxes, each with varying biomes (swamp, arctic) and features (caves, ruins, dungeons etc). NPCs are present as well, giving out quests and providing greater depth to the RPG aspect. Combat takes place in a real-time action system and players have a bevy of varied weapons, spells and abilities available depending on their current class/loadout, which becomes increasingly important against' "boss" monsters.
In addition to combat there is some additional "minecraft-y" sandbox gathering and crafting loops as well, so players have variety in which kinds of content they wish to attain but unlike Minecraft itself and some others in the market, the varying advancement system provides a bit of guidance in the different types of content, without imposing on player freedom. Assets from combat and gathering/crafting alike can be taken back to players' private island and used to build whatever they might wish to do so, such as a castle out of rare materials with a trophy room to show off their spoils. Its also noteworthy there is a "creative mode" for those who wish to focus mostly on sculpting their own land and buildings; Steam Workshop support is advertised as well, allowing users to show off their creations to others and to import copies of items constructed by others into their own worlds - some players have created incredible structures.
This is a good time to get into monetization as I was very pleased that the Steam Workshop items do not require real world currency to purchase from each other, but instead are treated as mods. Some other games in the genre have a large in-game item store and/or rely on players selling their own creations for real money, but it doesn't seem this way with Portal Knights. While I cannot confirm for sure until I play, as far as Steam is concerned there are relatively limited DLC items and affordably priced. A "Bibot Box" and "Lobot" boxes contain cosmetic equipment reminiscent as silver and gold robots respectively, while the "Emoji Box" offers a selection of masks with emoji represented upon them - each of these boxes are only $3. If there isn't any other exclusive content for sale in-game, I'd be pleasantly surprised and hope they intend to finance continual development through releasing content-packed expansions.
The lack of Mac and Linux builds is a little disappointing, but hopefully they could be added in time if all goes well. For those looking for some cooperative "Minecraft Meets Diablo" style fun, check out Portal Knights!
