Info about ZEPHON: Official game description: Humanity emerges, hesitantly, into ruination. Almost nothing is left of the world as we knew it—settlements, forests, seas, mountains—all have been blasted into unfamiliarity. Horribly mutated animals hunt in packs through deformed woodland. Decrepit military robots stumble unknowingly through the ruins, sensors and logic centres blown. Alien soldiers, once impossibly powerful, cower in the wrecks of their ships, praying to heedless gods for rescue. Control the survivors of humanity in a near-future apocalypse of alien origin. Pick a path between the indifferent abominations of the Voice and the uncaring automata of ZEPHON, with city management, turn-based tactical combat, unholy research, diplomatic maneuvering, and branching narrative quests. Gather your allies and pick your actions wisely. On the planet Earth, that was once a cradle of life, the extinction of humanity is at hand. _What will you do to survive?_ BATTLE ------ Intense turn-based survival strategy in both single and multiplayer. * Command over 50 unique units in battle—each with its own graphics, voice overs, weapon systems and sets of traits and abilities. * Plan out optimal build orders amongst 3 asymmetric paths—Human, Voice and Cyber—or combine them in surprising ways. * Deploy tactical operations—interference protocols, otherworldly hymns of decay and even nuclear weapons—to gain an advantage. * Combat occurs on the main map—no switching modes and having to auto-resolve battles because they drag on too long. * Use distinctive leader abilities in fully-featured multiplayer—with or against your friends. BUILD ----- Take your settlements from scrappy bases to sprawling metropolises as your faction expands its sphere of influence. * Find and grow your cities by constructing buildings on tiles—everything you build needs space. * Optimize an empire-wide economy with 11 tiered resources—allowing you to specialize cities by their placement. * Recognize each building by its appearance—3 architecture styles to accompany your chosen path. * Fortify key strategic points to prevent enemies from assailing your positions—sometimes defense is the best defense. EXPLORE ------- Traverse the unfamiliarity of the destroyed Earth and unveil its deadly new secrets. * Discover dozens of terrain features and phenomena spread across 6 climates—flesh trees, microchip factories, traveling sandstorms, erupting volcanoes and much more. * Tune the generation of a new post-apocalyptic game world—cliffsides, ruins and deformed woodland occupied by violent wildlife and expanding NPCs acting out their own agendas. * Exterminate packs of mutated animals to collect caches full of rewards, capture outposts and expand your reach—one turn at a time. RESEARCH -------- As mankind strives to catch up to the new masters of the Earth, you’ll make strange new discoveries that could be just what you need to survive. * Unlock over 150 technologies spread across 10 tiers—units, buildings, operations, weapons, abilities and passive bonuses. * Advance from post-apocalyptic survivalism—through a blend of magic and cyberpunk aesthetics—before achieving transhuman transcendence. * Observe each unit upgrade visualized on the model—outfit regular, large and titanic units with cruise missiles, tunneling nails, deflector shields, and much more. * Read exact modifier numbers in tooltips and the easy-to-browse in-game compendium—so you don’t have to scour the internet for information. NEGOTIATE --------- Diplomatic negotiations are key to staving off defeat—but your opponents are watching your actions and reacting. * Roleplay with AI-controlled opponents through diplomatic encounters—each AI comes with their own likes and dislikes based on their character. * Establish peace, trading agreements and alliances—or use your influence to antagonize your friends towards each other. * Choose sides—ZEPHON, Acrin and Reaver non-player factions permeate the world and need to be contended with. DECIDE ------ As the clash between ZEPHON and the Acrin continues, your choice of Leader and path will determine who survives in the wreckage of Earth. * Steer your empire through multistage, branching, unexpected events—nightmares, cries for help and economic crashes all have to be dealt with. * Dive into your chosen leader’s backstory through their unique quest chain—complete it to unlock a permanent reward. * Play a key part in determining if humanity, machines or horrors prevail—the clash between ZEPHON and Acrin continues across the planet. * Resolve the prophecy that has brought the Acrin to Earth to unlock new game modifiers—all of this has happened before, and it will all happen again. _“Open your eyes, singleton. You are not dreaming—you are the dream. The old world is dead, your old self is dead, so who are you now? We were the Meek, the Silent, and the Accomplice. Individually we were no one, together we are god itself. Woo us, fear us, worship us… these are all acceptable answers to the riddle of what you can do for us.” — Furtive Tribunal_ Release date: Nov 8, 2024 Categories: 4X, Turn-based Strategy, City Building, Resource Management, Diplomacy, Research and Discovery, Turn-based Tactical Feature scans: - MTX: score 65; verdict: Aggressive Monetization; summary: The game has received significant criticism for its monetization practices, particularly regarding the high cost and necessity of DLC to enjoy the full experience. Many players feel that the base game is incomplete without additional purchases, leading to a perception of money-grabbing. However, there are also positive comments about the value of the DLC content, indicating a mixed reception. The overall sentiment leans towards the game being overpriced and focused on extracting money through DLC. - Steam Deck: score 20; verdict: Mostly Seamless with Language Support Issues; summary: The game generally receives positive feedback for its performance on the Steam Deck, with users reporting a seamless experience. However, there is a notable issue with language support, specifically with the Chinese language setting causing crashes. This language support issue is a significant barrier for affected users. - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: No data - Playtime Metrics: No data - Time-to-fun: No data - Player Archetypes: No data 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: - Diverse and unique factions (weight 0.95): The game features a wide array of diverse and unique factions, each with its own history, morality, technology, and affinities. This diversity adds depth and replayability to the game. - High replayability (weight 0.95): The game offers high replayability due to its various factions, leaders, mutators, and customizable gameplay options. Players can explore different strategies and outcomes. - Immersive world and lore (weight 0.89): The game is praised for its immersive world-building, deep lore, and engaging story. The setting is rich and detailed, drawing players into the game's universe. - Engaging and addictive gameplay (weight 0.87): The game offers a highly engaging and addictive experience with its fun and unique gameplay mechanics. Players enjoy the strategy, customizable options, and the variety of factions and leaders. - Combat-focused gameplay (weight 0.87): The game emphasizes tactical combat and strategic gameplay. It offers a combat-heavy experience with well-designed combat mechanics and engaging battles. - Improved graphics and animations (weight 0.85): The game features improved graphics, animations, and visuals compared to its predecessors. The art direction and unit designs are highly praised. - Diplomacy and alliances (weight 0.82): The game includes a functional and impactful diplomacy system. Players can form alliances, engage in diplomatic interactions, and manipulate the political landscape. - Strategic and tactical depth (weight 0.8): The game offers strategic and tactical depth with its combat mechanics, city placement, and resource management. Players must make thoughtful decisions and employ various strategies. - Interesting and engaging quests (weight 0.78): The game features a variety of quests and events that add depth and engagement. These quests often have choices and consequences that affect the game's outcome. - Customizable gameplay options (weight 0.78): The game provides a breadth of customization options for maps, special rules, and match setups. Players can tailor the game to their preferences and play styles. - Unique and well-designed units (weight 0.76): The game offers a variety of unique and well-designed units with interesting abilities and uses. These units add depth and strategy to the gameplay. - End-game challenges (weight 0.74): The game features satisfying and challenging end-game scenarios. These scenarios often shake things up and force players to use their time efficiently. - Improved AI behavior (weight 0.71): The game's AI is noted for its strategic behavior and improved decision-making. The AI conserves resources and attacks strategically, providing a better challenge for players. - Voice acting and personality (weight 0.7): The game features enjoyable unit voice acting and personality. Units have voice lines and unique responses, adding depth and immersion to the gameplay. - Optimized and polished game (weight 0.67): The game is noted for its higher state of polish and optimization. It feels more complete and offers a richer gaming experience compared to its predecessors. - Large and detailed maps (weight 0.64): The game features large and detailed maps with various landmarks and landscapes. These maps provide a rich and immersive gaming experience. - Deep and branching tech tree (weight 0.6): The game offers a deep and branching research tree with a variety of options. This tech tree allows players to explore different technologies and upgrades. Common complaints: - Repetitive and monotonous gameplay (weight 0.44): Many players find the gameplay repetitive and monotonous, with a lack of variety in units, factions, and scenarios. This repetitiveness leads to a lack of engagement and enjoyment. - Unbalanced and slow-paced gameplay (weight 0.41): The game is criticized for being unbalanced, with difficulty spikes and a slow pace, particularly in the early and late game. This makes the gameplay frustrating and less enjoyable. - Poor tutorials and lack of information (weight 0.38): The tutorials are criticized for being slow-paced, difficult, and lacking in strategic help. There is also a lack of basic information for new players, making the game difficult to understand. - Frequent crashes and performance issues (weight 0.37): The game suffers from frequent crashes and performance issues, especially with a large number of units or after a certain number of turns. This significantly impacts the player experience and enjoyment. - Lack of campaign mode (weight 0.37): The game is criticized for not having a campaign mode, which reduces its appeal and replay value. Players feel that the absence of a structured campaign limits their engagement and interest. - Lack of innovation and depth (weight 0.35): The game is criticized for lacking innovation and depth, with many elements feeling borrowed or reskinned from other games. This reduces the game's uniqueness and appeal. - Controversial DLCs and microtransactions (weight 0.31): The game's DLCs and microtransactions are seen as controversial and overpriced, with players feeling that the game is a scam for money. This affects the overall perception and enjoyment of the game. Gameplay feedback: - Diverse 4X Strategy Gameplay (weight 0.47): The game offers a rich 4X strategy experience with a focus on tactical combat, city-building, and resource management. It features a hexagonal grid, various factions with unique characteristics, and a deep tech tree. - Rich Narrative and Quests (weight 0.15): The game includes a variety of quests and events that add depth to the gameplay. These quests are illustrated and have texts, providing additional texture and backstories to the leaders and factions. - Diplomacy Mechanics (weight 0.11): Diplomacy is an integral part of the game, allowing players to form alliances and engage in negotiations. However, the diplomacy system is noted to lack meaningful choices and depth. - Resource and Unit Management (weight 0.09): The game features extensive resource and unit management mechanics. Players need to manage resources for unit production and upgrades, adding strategic depth to the gameplay. - Improvements Over Gladius (weight 0.06): The game is seen as an improvement over Gladius, with more robust gameplay mechanics and a better overall experience. It retains the favorite parts of Gladius while introducing new and improved features. - Unique Leaders and Factions (weight 0.06): Leaders and factions have unique abilities, backstories, and playstyles, adding variety and replayability to the game. Each leader and faction offers a distinct experience. - Focus on Survival and War (weight 0.06): The game emphasizes survival and warfare, with a sense of urgency in researching and making strategic choices. The world is always a battleground with moments of lull. - Deep Tech Tree and Research (weight 0.06): The game features a large and diverse tech tree with various research effects. Players can research technologies from different factions, adding depth and flexibility to the gameplay. - Immersive Setting and Atmosphere (weight 0.05): The game boasts a dark, atmospheric visual style and a well-written world with engaging stories. The setting is immersive and adds to the overall experience. - Rich Lore and End-Game Crisis (weight 0.05): The game offers a fantastic world with deep lore and an end-game crisis. The storyline includes cosmic horror and Lovecraftian elements, providing a challenging and engaging experience. - Faction and Biome Mechanics (weight 0.04): The game includes unique faction mechanics and biome interactions. Players can encounter independent factions and merge biomes, adding complexity to the gameplay. - Modding and Community Support (weight 0.04): The game supports modding and has an active community. Players can adjust game speed and difficulty, and there are unlockable mutators for varied gameplay experiences. - Difficulty and Multiplayer (weight 0.03): The game offers different difficulty levels and a multiplayer mode. The difficulty gradually increases, providing a challenge for players. - Repetitive Gameplay and Endings (weight 0.03): Some players find the gameplay repetitive, with the game often ending in the same way. The end-game scenario involves powerful units and picking sides, which can feel repetitive. Performance notes: - Performance issues on high settings (weight 0.1): Some players experience performance issues even on high-end hardware. The game can become unstable and crash when running on ultra settings or when the video memory is heavily utilized. - Graphical quality and optimization (weight 0.03): Opinions on graphical quality vary, with some players praising the beautiful graphics and excellent optimization, while others note that the graphics are blurry and need improvement. - Specific bugs causing crashes (weight 0.02): Certain specific actions or settings, such as setting the game to Chinese, using quick orders, or encountering sound cache errors, can cause the game to crash. - Workarounds for running the game (weight 0.02): Some players have to bypass Steam and manually run the game as an administrator to get it to work properly. Additionally, there are issues with running the game on certain DirectX versions and specific mainboards. - Minor issues and bugs (weight 0.02): There are various minor issues reported, such as problems with skipping the opening CG, slow game speed in later turns, and particle effects causing lag. Recommendations: - Recommended for 4X and sci-fi fans (weight 0.11): The game is highly recommended for fans of science fiction and 4X turn-based games, as well as those who enjoy tactical combat and deep gameplay mechanics. It is also suggested for both casual and experienced gamers, suitable for short gaming sessions or deep challenges. - DLC content valued highly (weight 0.05): Players suggest buying the game with its DLC immediately, as the DLC content is highly valued and worth looking at, especially on sale. Some players plan to buy any future DLCs as well. - Gameplay and tutorial improvements (weight 0.03): Suggestions include reworking the introduction part of the game and improving the tutorial with a story and better context. Additionally, better communication of unit movement, fog of war mechanics, and neutral AI mechanics is desired. - Worth the purchase price (weight 0.02): Many players feel that the game is worth the asking price and that they got their money's worth. However, some suggest waiting for discounts before purchasing. - Comparison to Gladius (weight 0.02): The game is often compared to Gladius, with some players recommending trying Gladius first if unsure. However, some reviews argue that calling this game a Gladius reskin does it a disservice. - Quality of life improvements (weight 0.02): Suggested improvements include adding high-speed movement options, research queuing function, text search for the in-game wiki, and better explanation of outpost bonuses. - Multiplayer recommendation (weight 0.01): The game is recommended for playing with friends, especially when on sale, enhancing the multiplayer experience. - Map and AI improvements (weight 0.01): Some players mention tiny maps with a lot of AI opponents and suggest settings for more balanced resource rolls/placement on the map. - Hero items and leader abilities (weight 0.01): Players suggest the removal or improvement of hero items and more interesting leader active abilities to enhance gameplay. - Support the developers (weight 0.01): Players encourage buying the game to support the developers, indicating a positive reception and a desire to see more content from them. - Worth trying on discount (weight 0.01): The game is recommended for those new to the genre, especially when on discount, providing a good entry point for newcomers. Other player notes: - High DLC costs post-release (weight 0.01): Players are expressing dissatisfaction with the amount of money spent on DLCs, which has surpassed the cost of the base game within a year of release. - Request for Brazilian Portuguese (weight 0.01): There is a notable request from players for the game to be localized in Brazilian Portuguese to cater to a broader audience. Emotions: - Frustration (weight 0.29): Players are frustrated primarily due to the game's technical issues, such as frequent crashes and high memory usage, which disrupt gameplay. Additionally, the steep learning curve, lack of proper tutorials, and repetitive combat mechanics contribute to a challenging and often unsatisfying experience. The early game is particularly criticized for being slow and monotonous, with limited city management and unit production. - Disappointment (weight 0.19): Players express disappointment due to the game's lack of uniqueness and depth, with many comparing it unfavorably to its predecessor, Gladius. The lack of a campaign, repetitive gameplay, and limited faction diversity contribute to a sense of wasted potential. Additionally, issues with multiplayer functionality and a weak storyline further detract from the overall experience. - Enjoyment (weight 0.15): Players enjoy the game for its engaging combat mechanics, unique play-styles, and deep lore. The tactical battles, city building, and faction lore are particularly appreciated. The game's atmosphere, strategic depth, and variety of units also contribute to a positive and enjoyable experience. - Excitement (weight 0.12): Players are excited about the game's unique setting, strategic depth, and engaging lore. The anticipation for future DLCs and content, as well as the discovery of new mechanics and strategies, adds to the excitement. The game's improvements over Gladius and its addictive gameplay are also highlighted. - Satisfaction (weight 0.11): Players are satisfied with the game's depth, combat mechanics, and overall solid design. The game's atmosphere, strategic elements, and improvements over Gladius contribute to a rewarding experience. The stability and performance of the game, along with its engaging combat and factions, are also appreciated. - Excited (weight 0.07): Players are excited about the game's unique mechanics, improved features, and engaging combat. The new lore, quality of life improvements, and fluid factions contribute to a captivating experience. The anticipation for new DLCs and the game's immersive setting also add to the excitement. - Enthusiasm (weight 0.05): Players are enthusiastic about the game's depth, variety, and unique features. The high replayability, enjoyable multiplayer experience, and positive overall experience contribute to a strong recommendation. The game's writing, setting, and improvements over Gladius are also highlighted. - Hope (weight 0.04): Players express hope for the game's future, anticipating more playable factions, improvements, and updates. The potential for the game to develop further and become something special is a common theme. Players are hopeful for future DLCs and content that will enhance the game. - Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the developers' effort, creativity, and love for the game. The improvements over Gladius, higher state of polish, and beautiful game atmosphere are particularly noted. The recognition of the devs' work and the game's unique features contribute to a sense of appreciation. - Satisfied (weight 0.03): Players are satisfied with the game's city building, resource management, and diplomatic elements. The mutator feature, detailed tiered tech tree, and remarkable graphics contribute to a brilliant and loved experience. The game's atmospheric elements and enjoyment for fans of the genre are also highlighted. - Joy (weight 0.03): Players find joy in the game's improvements over Gladius, unique characters, and strategic gameplay. The extensive details, variety, and fun gameplay contribute to a joyful experience. The unique characters and engaging combat mechanics are particularly appreciated. - Admiration (weight 0.02): Players admire the game's design, mechanics, and art direction. The improved graphics and narrative elements contribute to a sense of admiration. The game's unique features and overall design are particularly noted. - Satisfaction (weight 0.02): Players express satisfaction with the game's lore, combat, and customization options. The freedom in configuring battles, many custom settings, and satisfying ending contribute to a sense of contentment. The amazing new world and lore are also highlighted. - Love (weight 0.02): Players love the game's unique world-building, enjoyment, and customization options. The strange and alien world, along with the game's engaging features, contribute to a sense of love. The customization options of scenarios are particularly appreciated. - Hopeful (weight 0.01): Players are hopeful for more factions, diversity, and unique combat units in future updates and expansions. The anticipation for more DLCs and content that will enhance the game contributes to a sense of hope. Players are looking forward to future improvements and additions. - Curiosity (weight 0.01): Players are curious about the game's cryptic messages, unique mechanics, and setting. The game's blend of different elements and intriguing features pique their curiosity. The end game cryptic messages and the game's unique setting are particularly noted. - Anger (weight 0.01): Players are angry about technical issues, such as having to bypass Steam and manually run the .exe as administrator. The perception of the game as a scam for money contributes to a sense of anger. The inconvenience and frustration with the game's technical problems are particularly noted. - Frustration (weight 0.01): Players are frustrated with the game's complicated damage system and issues with the main settlement being destroyed by nuclear attacks. These mechanics contribute to a challenging and often unsatisfying experience. The complex system and settlement destruction are particularly noted.}