Info about Iratus: Wrath of the Necromancer: Official game description: Special Edition =============== About the Game ============== Our dark tale has one more chapter! ----------------------------------- The culmination of the Arch-Necromancer’s malevolent efforts! And, by extension, yours. Assume the role of Iratus once more and sweep aside all mortal resistance to do battle with the powers that be. Along will come new enemies and challenges, and one can’t expect the mindless undead to overcome those by themselves, right? So laugh evilly, necromancer, the time to establish your rightful kingdom has finally come! Main features ------------- * New minion — the Reaper * New minion — the Abomination * 17 additional skins for minions * Additions to the alchemy system — craftable Battle Potions. Also, new items and artifacts to boost potions even further! * New huge enemies on all floors * New bosses, including a final super-boss! * New sixth floor — the Cemetery and new game ending, additional outro video and story content Release date: Oct 26, 2020 Categories: Turn-based RPG, Roguelike, Darkest Dungeon Genre Veteran, Necromancer Skeleton Army, Resource Management, Party-based Combat, Dark Fantasy Feature scans: - MTX: score 10; verdict: Fair / Traditional Paid DLC; summary: The reviews show no direct evidence of predatory monetization. Feedback focuses on a traditional paid DLC, its €15 price and value, added content such as bosses and a new ending, an ambiguous dislike of 'microtransaction type DLC', a DLC access issue, and gameplay resource balance. There is no reported real-money shop, paid power, paid convenience, loot boxes, gacha, battle pass, or currency obfuscation. Because the main monetization theme is a standard expansion, the score remains in the fair range. - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: - Community fair range: $15.00 - $25.00 - Reasoning: The reviews show strong appreciation for the base game, since players who already enjoy the main game consider additional content worthwhile. However, the same reviewers are highly discount-driven and repeatedly recommend waiting for sales, indicating that they view the game as a mid-tier indie purchase rather than a premium full-price title. Because the evidence mostly discusses DLC or bundle value and gives no explicit base-game price, the fair base-game range is estimated at $15-$25 with low confidence. - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: N/A - Story completion: N/A - Session length: N/A - Endgame: N/A - Reasoning: The quotes mention DLC length only in relative terms ('around 1/3 more game'), a lower-bound time to reach the new floor ('over 2 hours'), and completion without any hour count. No review provides a concrete number of hours to finish the DLC story, complete the game, measure a typical session, or spend in endgame. Therefore all playtime metrics remain null. - Time-to-fun: No data - Player Archetypes: - Core-Game Loyalist (buy) - Motivation: Continue playing and supporting a base game they already enjoy. - Playstyle: Extends existing runs with expansion content and evaluates it against the core game. - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: N/A - Reference games: N/A - Hardcore Minion Meta Analyst (sale) - Motivation: Expand tactical options with new minions, builds, and combat interactions that fit the meta. - Playstyle: Theorycrafts team compositions, tests minion viability, and optimizes builds and resource management. - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: N/A - Reference games: N/A - Cautious Newcomer (sale) - Motivation: Learn the base game without being overwhelmed by extra DLC systems. - Playstyle: Starts with the core game and delays expansion content until comfortable. - Experience: newcomer - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: N/A - Reference games: N/A - Value-Conscious Bundle Buyer (sale) - Motivation: Get the complete experience at a good price through bundles or sales. - Playstyle: Buys discounted bundles and DLC, then plays through expanded content in full. - Experience: mixed - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: N/A - Reference games: N/A Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - New Enemies and Bosses Add Challenge (weight 0.39): New enemies and bosses flesh out the adventure, making battles harder and more interesting. They are awesome additions. - Potion System Adds Depth (weight 0.34): Potions are a great way to use leftover parts, providing buffs, debuffs, healing, and other effects. The system is fairly balanced and adds a decent new mechanic. - Well-Designed DLC Enhances Game (weight 0.28): The DLC significantly improves the base game, making it a near-required purchase for fans. It is highly worthwhile and a welcome addition. - New Minions Well Balanced (weight 0.28): The two new minions are well balanced, solid, and versatile without overshadowing the old minions. They have original mechanics and earn spots in main squads. - Additional Floor and Variety (weight 0.28): An additional floor of gameplay is added, along with new enemies and variety. A whole new floor and a 6th floor are included. - Awesome New Skins (weight 0.27): Skins look awesome and are beautiful, with almost every single one being well-received. Additional skins for all minions are appreciated. - Two New Minions Added (weight 0.25): The DLC introduces two new minions: the Abomination and the Reaper. Both are versatile and fit certain team compositions. - Abomination Excels in Stress Teams (weight 0.24): The Abomination is a tanky support that deals stress damage to all enemies after every action. It is great for stress-damage teams and can buff, debuff, and stun. - Base Game Highly Praised (weight 0.24): The base game is awesome and wonderful, providing a fun and well-rated experience. It is absolutely worth the money for those who love it. - Wrath of the Necromancer Excellent DLC (weight 0.2): The DLC 'Wrath of the Necromancer' is excellent, bringing very good additions to an already fantastic game. It is a sizable and worthwhile expansion. - Reaper Versatile Support Unit (weight 0.2): The Reaper works as support for physical builds, dealing physical, magical, and stress damage. It is mobile, can execute low-HP enemies with its ultimate, and heals the team on kills. - New Minions and Potions Appreciated (weight 0.2): Players enjoy the new minions and potions, as well as the changes they bring. The new creepy minions, enemies, battles, potions, and skins are awesome. - New Minions Enhance Gameplay (weight 0.16): New minions add significant extra impact to the game, though they might be slightly overpowered without being game-breaking. There are more minions and enemies than before. - New Minions Fill Slots (weight 0.15): The addition of new minions is well-received, with all minion slots now filled. Some find the new minions cool. - Game Provides Excellent Experience (weight 0.15): The game is very good, offering an excellent gameplay experience. It is interesting to play. - New Minions Are Favorites (weight 0.15): The new minions are very nice and interesting, becoming some of the reviewer's favorites. They are considered good additions. - Abomination Best Tank Class (weight 0.12): The Abomination may be the best tank in the game and is an amazing class. It serves well as a tank and support. - New Ending and Final Boss (weight 0.12): The DLC provides a new ending for the main game with new final bosses. A new final boss and ending are included. - Plenty of New Content (weight 0.11): The DLC adds new content in pretty much any aspect, providing a substantial amount of new material to explore. Common complaints: - Final floor poorly balanced (weight 0.73): The new final floor has unfair encounters with overpowered enemies that one-shot units and require specific compositions to beat, creating a frustrating difficulty spike. Many reviewers report that even well-prepared teams lose multiple minions per fight. - Potion system poorly implemented (weight 0.69): The potion brewing mechanic feels tacked on, expensive, and underpowered, with many players noting it can be ignored entirely or actively harms resource management. Bugs prevent its use, and it doesn't mesh with existing systems like unit upgrades. - DLC overpriced and low value (weight 0.61): Reviewers feel the DLC costs too much for the amount of content, with claims of it being a cash grab or should have been part of the base game. It offers little new material and includes paid skins that many find unnecessary. - Overpowered enemy abilities on new floor (weight 0.47): New enemies have abilities like 100% dodge, full healing every round, attacking through block, and permanent uncleansable buffs that make them nearly impossible to defeat. These mechanics often feel like cheating and lack counterplay. - Difficulty spikes in new content (weight 0.46): The new floor introduces a massive difficulty spike with overpowered enemies and bosses that can wipe teams easily, even on lower difficulties. This contrasts with earlier floors that were fair and manageable. - New units underwhelming and unbalanced (weight 0.4): The new minions like Abomination and Reaper are mediocre, lacking synergy with existing teams and often being useless in certain compositions. They lack tankiness and don't provide the power boost expected from a DLC. - Final boss fight poorly designed (weight 0.34): The final boss battle is seen as a design failure, with endless enemy turns, one-shot mechanics, and reliance on specific cheese builds to win. Many find the fight unsatisfying and a letdown. - Old minions powercrept and obsolete (weight 0.33): The new minions are significantly stronger than old ones, making older units like Banshee and Zombie fall out of the meta. Stats progression and abilities of old minions are inadequate against new enemies. - DLC installation and purchase issues (weight 0.31): Multiple players report that purchased DLC cannot be installed or loaded, showing 0 MB or only opening a folder with a strategy guide instead of functional content. Some also face crashes when playing with vanilla teams and the DLC. - Story and scenario disappointing (weight 0.3): The new story content is considered boring, short, and unsatisfying, with a lackluster ending and minimal narrative impact. The scenario feels like a rushed job that doesn't add much to the game. - Second floor difficulty spike (weight 0.3): The second floor introduces a severe balance issue with robots acting multiple times and dealing high damage, making it very hard for players to progress. The boss also acts more times than stated, leading to steamrolls. - Lack of thematic coherence in enemies (weight 0.29): The new enemies are a random mix of cultures (Vikings, samurai, amazons, etc.) with no logical connection, breaking immersion. Many units like Hoplites, Healers, and Vikings feel out of place in the game's setting. - New content not integrated well (weight 0.26): The DLC content, including the potion system and new floor, feels like it should have been a patch or part of the base game rather than paid story content. It lacks integration with existing mechanics and progression. - Bugs and technical issues (weight 0.22): Various bugs affect gameplay, such as abilities not triggering correctly, alchemy producing only armor pieces, and enemies acting more times than intended. These issues detract from the overall experience. - Missing skins and customization options (weight 0.2): Players note that skins originally in the DLC were removed and charged separately, and that some expected skins (like for skeletons) are missing. This adds to the perception of greed. - Enemies revive with full HP (weight 0.19): Enemies on the final floor often revive with full health or gain buffs upon ally death, which feels illogical and frustrating for players. This mechanic makes battles drag on and reduces the sense of progression. - DLC crashes and performance issues (weight 0.19): Players experience crashes during fights when using the DLC, especially with vanilla teams, and report average optimization. These technical issues make the DLC barely playable for some. - Enemy healers overpowered (weight 0.19): Enemy healers have the best healing capabilities in the game, with instant and per-turn healing, and they heal allies upon death. This makes certain fights nearly impossible without specific counters. - Strategy guide errors and omissions (weight 0.09): The included strategy guide has many errors, missing information, and is not updated with game patches. It also fails to cover new bosses and mechanics adequately. - Castle lacks slots for new minions (weight 0.06): The increased number of minions and skins exceeds the available slots in the castle, causing management issues. This oversight frustrates players who want to utilize all new content. Gameplay feedback: - DLC adds new minions and potions (weight 0.97): The DLC introduces new minions, including Abomination and Reaper, as well as a potion brewing system. It also includes new bosses, enemies, artifacts, and a sixth dungeon floor. - Potion system with experimentation (weight 0.53): The game features a potion crafting system that allows players to experiment with recipes and provides benefits during battle. Some potions require specific resources and are difficult to make. - Sixth floor with new enemies (weight 0.39): An entire additional sixth floor is added, featuring new enemies with passive abilities. The fifth floor also has enemies with abilities and passives. - Skins included for minions (weight 0.3): The DLC includes skins for characters or units, including a skin for each minion type. These skins help distinguish minions built differently. - New enemy types across floors (weight 0.25): The new floor introduces new enemy types, and new enemies and bosses appear across every floor. This adds variety to combat encounters. - True ending locked behind DLC (weight 0.2): The DLC includes a final area, a final fight, and a final cutscene. The true ending of the game is only accessible with this DLC. - New large enemies added (weight 0.19): The DLC introduces large enemies that occupy two spaces on the battlefield. These enemies appear on each floor and present unique tactical challenges. - DLC adds characters and ending (weight 0.19): The expansion adds two new playable characters and a new ending for the main game. It is a content expansion for the base game. - Alternative bosses with new mechanics (weight 0.19): Alternative bosses appear on each floor during the campaign, except for the fifth floor. These bosses feature new combat mechanics that require different strategies. - New bosses require tactics (weight 0.15): New bosses have interesting mechanics that require players to use tactics to avoid taking excessive damage. They add strategic depth to encounters. - New dungeon stage added (weight 0.15): The DLC adds an additional dungeon stage with new mobs. This provides players with more content to explore. - Multiple difficulty levels available (weight 0.14): The game offers multiple difficulty levels, including a highest difficulty and a hard mode. This allows players to adjust the challenge. - New dungeon Necropolis added (weight 0.11): The DLC adds a new dungeon called the Necropolis, playable after the Cathedral. It has a cemetery theme and its own boss fight. - Steep learning curve (weight 0.1): The game has a steep learning curve and is considered difficult. This may challenge new players. - Abomination stress damage capabilities (weight 0.1): The Abomination minion is great for dealing stress damage and passively deals AOE stress damage. It excels at applying pressure to enemies. - Minions have equipment slots (weight 0.1): Minions can be equipped with parts that grant various effects. This customization allows players to tailor their minions. - Headhunter kill chance mechanics (weight 0.09): The Headhunter minion builds into kill chance but cannot use it on bosses. This limits its effectiveness in boss fights. - Blood Spirit burning damage (weight 0.09): The Blood Spirit has a dedicated accessory that applies a burning true damage DOT when hit. Its ultimate ability also applies burning true damage. Performance notes: - DLC crashes midfight (weight 0.06): The DLC reportedly crashes during combat, whereas the base game never crashes for this player. This indicates a stability issue introduced specifically by the DLC content. - Average optimization performance (weight 0.06): Player feedback describes the game's optimization as average, suggesting acceptable but not exceptional technical performance. No specific performance issues or strengths are detailed. Recommendations: - Recommended for base game fans (weight 0.7): Many reviewers state the DLC is worth buying specifically for those who already enjoy the base game. It is described as a must-have for fans and a safe purchase if you liked the original. - Worth the price (weight 0.37): A recurring theme is that the DLC justifies its cost, with some calling it a rare expansion that improves the game so much it feels required. Others note it is even better when bought on sale. - Final boss fight strategies (weight 0.26): Several specific tips are given for the final boss on the 6th floor, including using Blood Spirit with its accessory, bringing a Dark Knight, stacking dual armor, and avoiding buff-stacking builds. These suggestions aim to help players overcome the challenge. - New mechanics and content praised (weight 0.19): Reviewers highlight that the DLC adds well-received new minions, extended gameplay, and more combat interactions. The additions are said to improve every aspect of the game. - Strong recommendation overall (weight 0.15): Several reviewers give an unreserved recommendation, with one calling it a definitive must-buy. The DLC is seen as making the game better than before. - Positive despite balance issues (weight 0.14): Some reviewers give a positive recommendation even while acknowledging balance concerns like power creep. They believe the developers can address these issues over time. - Caution for new players (weight 0.1): A few reviewers suggest playing the base game first to see if you like it before buying the DLC. It is advised to be careful if you have not yet experienced the original. Other player notes: - DLC adds substantial content (weight 0.39): The DLC introduces a new dungeon floor, enemies, bosses, skins, artifacts, potions, and minions. It also adds a cemetery zone after the original final boss and new potion crafting. - Includes bonus materials (weight 0.22): The DLC comes with a strategy guide and an art book as bonus content. It also includes links to a YouTube video, curator, and Twitch. - Essential for complete experience (weight 0.2): Many consider the DLC essential to the base game, almost necessary for the full experience and 100% completion. The true ending is locked behind it. - Bundled or sold separately (weight 0.19): The DLC is available as part of a bundle, such as the Iratus: Necromancer Edition. However, bundle owners cannot apply a discount when buying the DLC separately. - Tutorial and difficulty modes (weight 0.17): The game has a decent tutorial. Reviewers mention completing difficulty levels like 'Good Always Wins' and second difficulty. - Rebalances and improves base game (weight 0.16): The DLC reworks talent trees, alchemy, building, and minion upgrades, and adapts combat and economy to each difficulty. These changes significantly rebalance existing content. - Balance issues and patches (weight 0.15): Developers patched balance issues with new bosses after release. Some new minions may be too strong but not game-breaking, and balance between new and old content still needs work. - Free content and paid skins (weight 0.15): Developers released a free Werewolf minion for the anniversary, but paid skins are also sold. The DLC originally included more skins that were later removed and sold separately. - Compared to Darkest Dungeon (weight 0.15): The game is often compared to Darkest Dungeon, with some reviewers preferring Iratus. It is also considered the best among similar games. - Good but not exciting (weight 0.15): Some describe the DLC as a good extension with a decent amount of material, but the content is overall not exciting. It is seen as a good addition with a bit more of everything. - Expansion-like DLC (weight 0.14): Some reviewers consider this DLC more like an expansion than a typical DLC. It offers enough material for a second part. - Short duration (weight 0.11): The DLC has a short duration, estimated between 2 to 10 hours. It takes over 2 hours just to reach the new floor. - Free DLC and updates (weight 0.11): The developers released a free Werewolf minion for the game's anniversary. They also listened to feedback and made many innovations over the past year. - Microtransaction-like content (weight 0.1): The DLC includes content that resembles microtransactions, adding new items across many aspects of the base game. This is mentioned as a potential drawback. - Refund and deletion issues (weight 0.09): A reviewer cannot refund the DLC because they already played a lot of the base game. Another deleted the game after reaching the final floor. - Content for completionists (weight 0.06): The DLC provides the full game experience needed for 100% completion. It includes material for those aiming to fully complete the game. - Criticized as cash grab (weight 0.06): One reviewer criticizes the DLC as a cash grab from fans. This negative sentiment is noted but not widely supported. - Developer communication (weight 0.06): According to the developer team, the first playthrough even with the DLC should encounter the base game bosses first. This indicates clear communication about progression. - Reviewer resources (weight 0.06): One reviewer provides a YouTube playlist with tactics for killing all new bosses on maximum difficulty and all potion brewing recipes. Emotions: - Frustration (weight 0.19): Players are frustrated by severe balance issues, particularly overtuned bosses and enemies on later floors that act multiple times per turn, deal excessive damage, and have abilities like near-100% dodge and attack transfer that bypass core mechanics. Additional frustration stems from DLC installation and crashing problems, resource-inefficient potion systems, and awkward mechanics like the Abomination combos that waste turns. - Disappointment (weight 0.16): Disappointment arises from the DLC feeling like a rushed, overpriced cash grab with a bland new floor, unbalanced bosses, and new minions that are underwhelming or useless. The final fight and ending are anticlimactic, the potion system is too expensive to be useful, and the new content lacks the quality and imagination expected. - Satisfaction (weight 0.13): Players feel satisfied because the DLC adds substantial and varied content, including useful new minions, a new floor, potion brewing, and alternative bosses, providing good value for the price. The new minions integrate well into existing strategies and enhance replayability, making the expansion feel like a worthwhile addition to an already great game. - Enjoyment (weight 0.06): Enjoyment comes from the DLC enhancing the adventure with new minions, enemies, bosses, and a whole new floor of gameplay. Players appreciate experimenting with party combinations, discovering potions, and the overall challenge, even when difficult. - Boredom (weight 0.04): Boredom is caused by repetitive and dull enemy encounters on the last floor, a boring story, and tedious mechanics like the Dread Combo. The potion system is also seen as uninteresting, and the early game can feel boring until levels are gained. - Enthusiasm (weight 0.04): Enthusiasm stems from the DLC adding tactical depth and variety through new minions, an alchemy system, and new enemies, with the Abomination and Reaper being particularly enjoyable. Players find the content a must-have with great quality for a good price, enhancing every aspect of the game. - Dissatisfaction (weight 0.04): Dissatisfaction is caused by a new unit that is useless and lacks tankiness, an outdated strategy guide, and a potion system that feels unnecessary and poorly implemented. The experimentation mechanic and unlocking mechanism for potions are also disliked. - Excitement (weight 0.04): Excitement is generated by new minions and mechanics like the Abomination and Reaper, which offer interesting abilities and different damage types. The challenging last floor and fun new bosses, including an anticipated end boss, add to the thrill. - Confusion (weight 0.03): Confusion arises from technical issues such as the DLC showing 0 MB and failing to download, the game incorrectly stating the DLC is not purchased, and a boss attacking more times per turn than stated. There is also confusion over the white ghost healing and then attacking its own allies. - Annoyance (weight 0.03): Annoyance is caused by bugs like the bounty hunter having spells disabled, a lack of additional castle slots for new minions and skins, and a potion creation system that feels tacked on. Forcing minions to invest in meaningless stats like evade while enemies have high aim is also irritating. - Amusement (weight 0.03): Amusement comes from overpowered new minions and a boss fight that is scary but fun. The Abomination is seen as an amazing unit with great utility and fun mechanics. - Joy (weight 0.03): Joy is brought by new character skins that are bright, colorful, and mesmerizing, with almost every single one being loved. More skins are always great. - Anger (weight 0.02): Anger is driven by a final boss fight that is a design failure, wiping units without counterplay, especially on high difficulties. Zero balance and the removal of skins from the DLC and previous owners, now charged separately, also infuriate players. - Appreciation (weight 0.02): Appreciation is felt due to the dev team's effort, which led to changing a main game review to positive. The DLC brings much needed variety to keep the game fresh. - Dislike (weight 0.01): Dislike is caused by microtransaction-type DLC. - Happiness (weight 0.01): Happiness comes from supporting a nice development team. - Love (weight 0.01): Love is felt for the extra challenge the DLC brings. - Tension (weight 0.01): Tension arises because the game is difficult and provides a sweaty-palm sense of tension. - Doubt (weight 0.01): Doubt is caused by the Vampire skin being questionable. - Approval (weight 0.01): Approval stems from the new additions fitting perfectly to the original concept.}