![]() This back and forth structure enforces a sense of struggle and consequence, connecting the two storylines under one mutual cause.Īustin Wintory’s grand, sweeping score provides a perfect accompaniment to the peaks and valleys of the game’s tempestuous events. Banner Saga’s brand of fantasy is familiar in its manifold influences, yet it feels fresh and original in its committed and fully realised vision.Īs Arberrangs fortifications fall to the encroaching Dredge and your party of adventurers probe deeper into the evermore perilous recesses of The Strand, your actions at in the capital earn you days of progress for your expedition. ![]() The contrasting aesthetic of The Strand, a Lovecraftian nether-realm from which the darkness has emanated, is equally bleak but sufficiently distinct in its colour palette and typography. The bustling streets of the capital city of Arberrang are layered with dense houses, crowds of weary citizens and plumes of smoke from campfires and ruined buildings alike. The stunning, 2D hand-rendered art style, which evokes the old Disney aesthetics of Eyvind Earle, is by far one of its most compelling assets.Īlthough the somewhat generic-fantasy appearance of many human and horseborn characters can feel a little flat, the daunting Varl, the fearsome Dredge and oddities like Apostate stand out as more creative imaginings of fantastical being, drawing from anime, sci-fi and other amalgamous artistic influences.Įnvironmental design however is where Banner Saga’s visual design shines. The Banner Saga 3’s quality extends beyond its narrative delivery. ![]() Sparsely implemented voice acting is used to great effect however in pivotal story points, with the gruff, Nordic rumble of the stoic Varl Iver being particularly effective in setting an atmosphere that is both epic and solemn. The text-based Dungeons & Dragons style scenario descriptions and decision-making, which could have been a limitation of this independently developed, Kickstartered game, thankfully work perfectly with the tone and pace of this tactical, boardgame-esque adventure, with the quality of writing making up for a lack of voice acting. The gameplay structure also adds to the feeling of more traditional roleplay with the majority of narrative being told via text, split between descriptive narration and character dialogue. This level of meaningful choice and consequence make this game feel like a pure roleplaying experience. Much like The Witcher or Mass Effect series, you can import your save, carrying over decisions which effect this game’s world state, however there is also the choice to start anew with either Rook or Alette as your protagonist.Īlthough affecting for me, they clearly hold added impact for those who have been with these characters since their quest began. My successes and failures felt monumental, and characters like Folka, Oddleif and Apostate quickly became favourites, whether through personality, combat prowess or simply aesthetics. ![]() The Banner Saga’s grey morality and ambiguous decisions imbue the political tensions and desperate struggles of war with immense significance. I felt great accomplishment in the positive outcomes of good decisions, and equally great disappointment in the oft-times devastating ramifications of seemingly sound judgements. It bears testament to the authenticity of these characters and the quality of the writing of this intricately weaved tale that within the opening hour I was invested in my heroes and carefully considered the weight and ramifications of each decision. However, with such a vast cast and such a complex network of relationships between them all I thought I may be overwhelmed. ![]() Despite having not played either of the previous entries in this beloved trilogy, I found myself instantaneously engrossed in the plight of the Humans, Varl and Horseborn against the encroaching darkness and the tide of arcane evils it brought with it.Ī brief recap movie offered some broad context as I found myself leading a caravan through the capital city of Abberang. Stepping into the well-worn boots of The Banner Saga 3’s band of heroes I felt like an intruder, interjecting myself into their conflict at the climax of their journey. ![]()
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