Info about Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga - Legends:

Official game description:
Return to Tahnra once again in a DLC seamlessly integrating into the story campaign, bringing new strategic options and a completely new army meta. Enjoy eight new story chapters, tons of new artifacts, traits, and classes, and a massive New Game+ mode!
Added Features
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Eight new chapters concurrent with existing chapters, expanding upon the stories of your favorite characters and factions to finish out their storylines.
New Game+, allowing you to retain aspects of the beloved army you’ve built up over a playthrough. Experience the campaign once again, this time with the world tailored for a different challenge!
Thirteen new Unit classes, expanding your army-building options even more, such as the powerful shield specialist Oracle, or the highly mobile Field Cannon.
New Gameplay Experiences
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A completely new army meta enters the battlefields of Tahnra - necromancy and the undead! Who needs prisoners of war when you can raise armies of ghoulish minions? Raise your own army from the grave and combat other undead legions in the DLC chapters!
Scores of new artifacts, items, traits, and Unique Mercenaries to further customize and enhance your army.
You may have experienced Symphony of War, but are you ready to become a Legend?

Release date: Aug 28, 2023

Categories: Turn-Based Tactical RPG, Squad Management, New Game+, Undead Army Mechanics, Class-Based Progression, Tactical RPG

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 10; verdict: Fair; summary: The reviews focus on the DLC's pricing and value. Most players find it fairly priced and worth the cost, though a small number criticize locking New Game Plus behind the DLC. No evidence of in-game microtransactions, gacha, or pay-to-win mechanics is present. Monetization is standard for a one-time purchase DLC with no predatory elements.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $7.99 - $10.99
  - Reasoning: The reviews indicate that the base game is considered worth its full price (currently $9.99) and is described as having a tiny price tag, suggesting the community finds the current price fair for the content provided. The mention of good value for game+dlc and frequent sales implies that slightly discounted prices are also acceptable, but no explicit criticism of the base price was found. Thus, a fair base-game price range slightly below to slightly above the current price is supported.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 15.0h
  - Story completion: 15.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The first evidence explicitly states that the DLC adds 10-20 hours of gameplay, which we interpret as the typical playtime required to complete the DLC content, including both story and overall completion. The second evidence confirms the DLC consists of 7 battles, supporting that the time estimate refers to finishing these missions. No evidence is provided for session length or endgame content, so those metrics are set to null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game is immediately fun and addicting, but suffers from poorly explained features and lack of tutorials, especially for DLC content. Long-term enjoyment may decrease without new maps after many playthroughs.
  - Stance: Fun immediately
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: poorly explained base game features; no tutorial for DLC features; lack of new maps after multiple playthroughs
  - Unlock drivers: learning game mechanics through play; acquiring DLC classes that change army composition in late game
  - Conditions: multiple playthroughs may require new content to maintain fun; DLC classes provide variety in the second half of the game
- Player Archetypes:
  - Challenge-Replay Veteran (sale)
    - Motivation: To experience New Game+ content and higher difficulty challenges.
    - Playstyle: Replays the game on highest difficulty, optimizing strategies from first run.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: veteran player; NG+ enthusiast; challenge seeker
    - Reference games: turn-based tactics games
  - Team-Building Tactician (buy)
    - Motivation: To experiment with new classes and team compositions, building optimized strategies.
    - Playstyle: Focuses on class combinations and synergy, enjoys creating themed teams.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: tactics enthusiast; party-builder; undead army commander
    - Reference games: classic party/turn based games
  - Cautious Buyer (no buy)
    - Motivation: To get a polished experience without bugs, or to feel the DLC is worth the price.
    - Playstyle: Has experience with base game but may wait for patches or sales before diving into DLC.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: base game fan; cautious buyer; bug-aware
    - Reference games: base game


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 units are fun and strong (weight 0.58): New units such as undead with auto-revive, war cats, oracles, and field cannons are well-received for their fun mechanics and strategic value, offering fresh squad-building options.
- DLC is excellent value (weight 0.46): The DLC is considered a must-have, providing substantial content that complements the base game, with fair pricing and high fun factor. It adds new units, missions, and classes, making it a worthwhile purchase.
- New classes add variety (weight 0.4): Players appreciate the introduction of new classes, including detailed mechanics and powerful abilities, which enhance gameplay variety and excitement.
- Base game is highly recommended (weight 0.35): The base game is described as amazing, fun, and affordable, with strong recommendations. Its quality and value make it a solid foundation for the DLC.
- Extra chapters are challenging (weight 0.3): Additional chapters and side missions are praised for being challenging and fun, providing a good change of pace and variety to the main story.
- Side stories flesh out characters (weight 0.21): Side story missions provide backstory for characters and offer loot, adding depth and variety to the main narrative.

Common complaints:
- Korean localization broken (weight 0.46): Korean language support is insufficient or broken, with untranslated text and English appearing in menus and dialogue.
- New Game+ carry-over issues (weight 0.45): New Game+ does not properly carry over progress, requiring high costs or resetting stats, making it feel like a roguelike rather than a true carry-over.
- New classes disappointing (weight 0.4): New classes like Panther and undead units are underpowered, have limited evolutions, or are not useful, with only one new main class having a single evolution.
- DLC difficulty issues (weight 0.4): The DLC content is generally too easy, even on higher difficulties, with some new options breaking balance and making the game trivial.
- DLC content too small (weight 0.36): The DLC offers very little new content, with only a few extra battles or maps, and feels like patch-level additions.
- DLC price too high (weight 0.32): The DLC is considered overpriced for the amount of content, with many players feeling it is not worth the cost.
- DLC narrative issues (weight 0.3): The DLC's story feels superfluous, inconsistent with the main plot, and like time travel rather than a coherent narrative.
- Undead units underpowered (weight 0.28): Undead units and the necromancy system are weak in the late game, impractical, and not useful, with poor integration into the story.
- DLC lacks voice acting (weight 0.26): The DLC has insufficient voice acting, with cutscenes being just images, and no option to switch voice language.
- No new content for completed saves (weight 0.16): Players with completed saves find little new content in the DLC, as it requires starting a new game or loading a save with poor balance.

Gameplay feedback:
- Detailed New Game+ System (weight 0.65): Players highlight a comprehensive New Game+ mode with numerous difficulty settings and customization options, including inheriting characters, equipment, and a shop system. Cluster 1 details 25-30 difficulty settings, while Clusters 7 and 14 describe purchasing previous assets with in-game currency.
- New Units and Classes (weight 0.45): The DLC introduces numerous new unit types and classes like War Cat, Oracle, Necromancer, Dark Mage, and Field Cannon, which add strategic depth. Clusters 3, 11, 12, and 18 detail specific units and their roles.
- Extra Chapters and Missions (weight 0.38): The expansion adds eight new chapters, side missions from chapter 4 onward, and legendary chapters with escalating difficulty. Clusters 4, 5, and 20 mention these additional missions and chapters.
- Necromancer and Undead Mechanics (weight 0.31): The necromancer class introduces unique undead armies, skeleton units with health segments, and synergy with oracles for protection. Clusters 78, 80-84 detail specific mechanics and strategies.
- Team Building and Formation (weight 0.28): Players appreciate squad formation, deployment, and diverse combinations for team building. Clusters 9 and 33-36 highlight tactical squad composition and battle tactics.
- Memory Gem and Inheritance System (weight 0.26): The memory gem system allows retaining units from previous playthroughs, but it requires fragments and can be costly for main characters. Clusters 89-93 explain this mechanic.
- Content Volume and Value (weight 0.26): Reviews estimate the DLC adds about 30% more content to the base game, including new classes, units, and chapters. Clusters 103, 6, and 97 highlight the expansion's scope.
- DLC Backstory and World-Building (weight 0.25): Flashback missions and side stories expand the lore and provide prequels to the main campaign. Clusters 13, 39, 48, and 60 highlight narrative enhancements.
- NG+ Inheritance Criticism (weight 0.24): Some reviews criticize the New Game+ mode for not allowing full inheritance of units and progress, forcing players to repurchase characters at high fragment costs. Clusters 15 and 92-93 note that inheritance is limited and expensive, making NG+ feel like a new game.
- Turn-Based Tactical RPG (weight 0.22): The game is consistently described as a turn-based tactical RPG with squad management and strategic battle phases. Cluster 2 emphasizes the tactical RPG genre.
- New Artifacts and Items (weight 0.22): The DLC adds new artifacts with situational effects, as well as many new items and unique mercenaries. Clusters 10, 79, and 73 mention expanded loot and customization.
- Difficulty and AI Changes (weight 0.22): Some players note that NG+ difficulty can be reduced or unreasonably high, and AI changes affect gameplay. Clusters 19, 46, 88, and 95 discuss varying difficulty experiences.
- New Maps and Level Design (weight 0.18): New maps tied to character stories feature varying sizes and challenging level design. Clusters 16 and 62 mention diverse map layouts and objective-based missions.
- Difficulty Scaling Criticism (weight 0.18): Some players find difficulty scaling becomes unreasonable, with enemy exclusive units and high fragment costs in NG+ hindering progress. Clusters 95, 110, and 93 express these frustrations.
- Cavalry and Artillery Units (weight 0.17): Cavalry units can move and retreat without being locked, while new artillery classes like Field Cannon can wipe out entire squads. Clusters 64, 75, and 76 describe these tactical advantages.
- Unit Customization and Traits (weight 0.17): Players mention extensive customization options, including new traits, skill trees, and the ability to independently train each unit. Clusters 17, 71, and 37 highlight customizability.
- Class Promotion and Unlocks (weight 0.17): New classes unlock gradually through the campaign, including a new promotion system for the main character. Clusters 94, 102, and 104 discuss late-game class availability.

Performance notes:
- Tutorial hardlock blocks menu access (weight 0.09): The initial tutorial can cause a hardlock that prevents players from accessing the main menu, making the game unplayable from the start. This is a critical bug affecting the very first user experience.
- Resolution scaling issues unresolved (weight 0.07): Resolution scaling is still not fully supported, which may cause display problems or improper rendering for some players.

Recommendations:
- Buy with base game (weight 0.58): Multiple reviewers strongly recommend purchasing the DLC together with the base game for the best experience. They suggest that players who already own the base game should only buy the DLC if they enjoyed it.
- Recommended for base game fans (weight 0.49): The DLC is especially recommended for players who enjoyed the base game and want more content. Some note it is less suitable for those who did not like the base game.
- Easy recommendation for fans (weight 0.42): For those who loved the base game, the DLC is an easy buy without hesitation. Reviewers emphasize that if you enjoyed the original, you will like this.
- Positive recommendation overall (weight 0.41): Many reviewers recommend the DLC without hesitation, describing it as worth it, well-made, and a good value. They encourage fans of the base game to pick it up.
- Good with New Game+ (weight 0.31): The DLC is well-suited for players who plan to do New Game+ runs or want more content after finishing the base game. Some note that New Game+ itself is a worthy addition.
- Worth on sale or discount (weight 0.26): The DLC is often described as a good value when on sale or discounted. Some note the full price is acceptable but a sale makes it an easy buy.
- Fun content overall (weight 0.21): The DLC is described as good content despite some issues, and reviewers appreciate that it delivers exactly what is promised. It is seen as a positive addition.
- Good for genre fans (weight 0.17): Reviewers recommend the DLC for fans of turn-based tactics and classic party-based games. It is seen as a fun time waster with solid content.
- Price concerns for content (weight 0.14): Some reviewers feel the DLC is overpriced relative to its content, suggesting a lower price point would be fairer. They criticize the cost for the amount of new content.
- Best with new playthrough (weight 0.11): The DLC is best experienced when starting a fresh playthrough or continuing immediately after finishing the base game. It adds to the replay value.
- Veteran appeal (weight 0.11): The DLC is targeted at veterans of the game who simply want more content after finishing. It caters to dedicated players looking for extended gameplay.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.47): Players express satisfaction with the DLC for its substantial and well-integrated new content, including New Game+, new classes, and improved mission design. The perceived good value for the price and high replayability are also key factors in this positive sentiment.
- Disappointment (weight 0.45): The primary sources of disappointment are the perceived lack of meaningful new content relative to the price, with the DLC being described as short and underwhelming. Specific grievances include the New Game+ system's costly inheritance and stat reset, as well as underpowered units like undead and dark mages.
- Frustration (weight 0.43): Frustration stems from severe localization issues, such as broken Korean language support and poor translation, which have remained unfixed. Many players also feel misled by the New Game+ description, finding its actual implementation tedious and lacking proper carry-over features.
- Excitement (weight 0.27): Excitement is driven by the discovery of powerful new strategies, particularly with necromancer and skeleton combinations, and the ability to create extremely strong teams in later playthroughs. Players also appreciate the significant volume of new content, including new classes, units, and story chapters.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.12): This emotion is rooted in the game's highly replayable tactical gameplay and deep squad customization. The addition of new classes, units, and a fun New Game+ mode, combined with a rich story, successfully held players' attention across multiple playthroughs.
- Annoyance (weight 0.12): Annoyance arises from specific quality-of-life issues, particularly the inability to change the protagonist's gender in New Game+ and a tedious or buggy unlocking process. Other irritants include a non-customizable soundtrack and a perceived paywall for New Game+ content.
- Amusement (weight 0.08): Players find amusement in the game's whimsical elements, such as the inclusion of weaponized cats and the ability to create overpowered and silly army compositions like clone squads. The emphasis on raising undead armies is also a source of fun.
- Approval (weight 0.06): Approval is granted for the DLC's role in completing and enhancing the base game experience, providing useful advantages. The quality of the studio's work and the developers' support are also recognized.
- Anger (weight 0.06): Anger is directed at the perceived misleading content and false advertising, particularly regarding Korean language support that was present but untranslated. The limited number of maps and an added difficulty that disrupts game balance further fuel this emotion.
- Gratitude (weight 0.06): Gratitude is expressed towards the developers for their responsiveness to player feedback and for creating a great game. Specific instances, such as quickly and professionally fixing bugs, are highlighted as positive interactions.
- Confusion (weight 0.04): Confusion arises from a mismatch between the described DLC story and its actual execution in the game. Players also report being unsure about the context of side quests after forgetting main plot points.
- Appreciation (weight 0.04): Appreciation is directed at the quality of the new game design, including extra missions and classes that genuinely open up new tactical options. The developers' dedication to bug fixes and feedback is also highly valued.
- Disgust (weight 0.04): Disgust is a reaction to a perceived lack of sincerity from the developer regarding language support, specifically concerning false advertising for Korean localization. A specific point of displeasure is the voice acting for the character Jules in Chinese.
- Happiness (weight 0.02): Happiness is derived from the game's immersive story and character growth, as well as the simple celebration of the DLC's release.
- Sorrow (weight 0.02): This emotion is specifically tied to the game's ending, suggesting players feel a sense of loss or melancholy upon finishing the narrative.
- Slight disappointment (weight 0.02): Compared to full disappointment, this is milder and focuses on specific game design choices, such as the Legends chapters lacking narrative depth. An imbalance where the Field Cannon makes the standard Cannon choice feel unrewarding is also noted.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Boredom results from a lack of fresh content after extensive play, specifically mentioning no new maps encountered after four playthroughs.
- Addiction (weight 0.02): Players describe the core gameplay loop of building squads and clearing maps quickly as therapeutic and satisfying, indicating a strong, positive compulsion to play.
- Fun (weight 0.02): This simple emotion is directly attributed to the specific gameplay feature of adding a Necromancer troop to the player's army.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Joy is expressed through the creative and effective use of skeleton units in squad compositions, highlighting a particular strategic pleasure.}