Info about Shadows: Heretic Kingdoms:

Official game description:
**Shadows: Heretic Kingdoms** is the next chapter in the Heretic Kingdoms saga and takes place 20 years after the events of Kult: Heretic Kingdoms. It’s an epic adventure with challenging gameplay, a gripping storyline and enchanting graphics. In this isometric action RPG, the player takes on the role of the Devourer, a demon that swallows the souls of the dead and then brings them back into the mortal realm as his puppets. It's up to him to either thwart a major threat and save the world, or to plunge it into complete disaster…
Story
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After four of the five members of a secret order known as Penta Nera were murdered, their souls were swallowed by a pack of Devourers. Since then, they move around the mortal realm as the puppets of the Devourers, as a demonic Penta Nera, and ravage the land in search of the essence of souls.  
The fifth member of the order, bent on revenge, makes use of the only way to stop them and summons another Devourer: this one is different from his siblings. He can absorb multiple souls, but sometimes becomes more human or schizophrenic, the more souls he absorbs. He can stop the demonic Penta Nera and save the world, or he can plunge it into complete disaster...
Key Features Of Shadows: Heretic Kingdoms
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*   Extensive freedom of choice, affecting the course of the game  
*   Gripping storyline in a world full of myths, destinies and legendary creatures  
*   Two game worlds in one: Wander between the worlds and risk a glimpse into the dark shadow world, where you will also face enemies and solve mystic puzzles.  
*   One dark hero, 15 different characters: Devour the souls of your enemies and use a lot of different characters and combat styles.  
*   Complete a variety of diverse quests and face creatures in battle that you could only imagine in your worst nightmares!  
*   Huge number of fantastical creatures with unique fighting styles and challenges  
*   Unique party system

Release date: Nov 20, 2014

Categories: Action RPG, Isometric Action-RPG, Party-based Combat, Character Switching Mechanics, Dual-world Exploration, Choice-based Narrative, Crafting, Loot System


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $15.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: The strongest positive price anchor is around $20: one reviewer is happy at a $20 full price and another calls $20 a good deal. In contrast, $39.99 is explicitly called unworthy, and other reviewers suggest waiting for a sale or choosing a competing ARPG instead. Since the current base price is $29.99, which sits above the positive $20 anchor and below the criticized $39.99 point, the community fair base-game range appears to center on roughly $15-$20.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: 33.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The translated German quote directly reports finishing the first book after about 33 hours, which supports storyCompletion. The 8-hour quote is only a Chapter I milestone, not full story completion. The 30-hour quote reports total playtime without stating completion, so it does not establish gameCompletion. The translated Chinese quote estimates book 1's three chapters at over ten hours of content; because this is a content-length estimate and the game is repeatedly described as incomplete, gameCompletion is left null. No review provides a typical continuous session length or post-story endgame hours, so sessionLength and endgame are null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game tends to click after the first couple hours, once players pass the first chapter, synergize abilities, and assemble a full team, though some players still find the combat repetitive and tedious afterward.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Getting past the first couple hours
  - Time to anchor: 2h 0m
  - Friction: Slow progression in stats and power; Repetitive and boring combat with constant enemy spawns; Poorly paced boss fights requiring potion chugging or overleveling; Need to synergize abilities after the first chapter to kill efficiently; Loot pickup bugs and stuck items blocking quests; Hit-and-miss combat and tedious design
  - Unlock drivers: Getting past the first chapter and synergizing abilities; Assembling a full team after a few hours; Getting past the first couple hours, which makes combat more fluid and opens the story
  - Conditions: On normal mode; After the first chapter; After the first couple hours or a few hours of play; Player preference for visceral combat and frequent progression; Player tolerance for slow progression
- Player Archetypes:
  - Story-Driven CRPG Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Rich narrative, witty dialogue, voice acting and world-building delivered through tactical combat.
    - Playstyle: Reads quest and item text, follows interlinked side quests, and approaches fights with tactics rather than pure ability spam.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: crpg fans
    - Reference games: Diablo 3; Torchlight; Lionheart
  - Diablo-Style ARPG Grinder (sale)
    - Motivation: Fast, loot-driven combat and habitual grinding familiar from Diablo-like games.
    - Playstyle: Spams abilities from an isometric camera, grinds levels and loot, and expects continuous action rather than slow CRPG pacing.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: arpg fans
    - Reference games: Diablo 3; Torchlight
  - Achievement Hunter / Completionist (no buy)
    - Motivation: Unlocking every achievement and reaching 100% completion.
    - Playstyle: Grinds to level caps and tracks achievement progress, treating broken or unreachable achievements as dealbreakers.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: achievement hunter; achievement hunters
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Value-Conscious Informed Buyer (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Getting complete content for the money and avoiding full price for an unfinished, superseded story.
    - Playstyle: Researches before purchasing, compares versions and sequels, and waits for deep discounts.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Shadows: Awakening


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:
- Strong audio and music (weight 0.67): The music, sound effects, and overall audio quality are frequently praised as excellent. Voice acting is also noted for its high quality and contribution to the atmosphere.
- Impressive graphics and art (weight 0.64): Many reviewers commend the game's visual appeal, including lush graphics, good art style, and pleasant visuals. The overall presentation is considered beautiful and well-crafted.
- Efficient character switching praised (weight 0.62): Reviewers highlight the ability to swap characters at any time, even mid-combat, as fluid and unique. This mechanic is seen as well-implemented and adds interesting challenges.
- Polished and well-made game (weight 0.48): The game is described as beautifully made, very polished, and created with soul. Reviewers express high satisfaction with the overall quality and execution.
- Well-told and captivating story (weight 0.39): The storytelling, narrative framework, and overall plot are well done and draw players in. The story is described as interesting and captivating.
- Engaging and playable gameplay (weight 0.3): The core gameplay is found to be playable, enjoyable, and engaging. Combat mechanics are specifically noted as fun and well-implemented.
- Unique dimension switching concept (weight 0.3): The mechanic of switching between the Shadow World and Real World is highlighted as a standout feature. It is considered interesting and a great aspect of the game.
- Original and unique experience (weight 0.3): The game is praised for its unique presence, dynamics, and original touch rarely seen in the genre. It distinguishes itself within the Diablo 3 style ARPG space.
- Diverse playable character roster (weight 0.26): The game offers a wide variety of playable characters that function and play differently. Each character has a unique skillset and combat style.
- Replayability via character stories (weight 0.25): The characters are interesting and their own stories add replay value. Character development contributes significantly to the game's replayability.
- Impactful story decisions and morality (weight 0.25): Decisions affect the course of the story, and moral choices with grey areas are included. This adds depth and player agency.
- Promising potential but unfulfilled (weight 0.2): Several reviewers mention that the game has a lot of potential and a successful idea, but this potential remains largely untapped. The game is seen as having great promise.
- Customizable skill system (weight 0.15): The skill leveling system is interesting and allows customization to player needs, though it is somewhat small per character. It is well thought-out.
- Familiar mechanics with unique twist (weight 0.14): The game features familiar mechanics wrapped in an interesting shell. This combination of the familiar and the novel is appreciated.
- Fun and strong final boss (weight 0.14): The final boss is considered fun and a strong point of the game. It provides a satisfying conclusion.

Common complaints:
- Incomplete story only Book 1 (weight 0.5): The game only includes Book 1: Devourer of Souls and ends mid-story, with Book 2 never released. This leaves the narrative unfinished and is a common complaint.
- Combat is monotonous and sluggish (weight 0.36): Combat is described as crooked, tedious, irritating, monotonous, and poorly paced. It lacks pep and feels sluggish.
- Minor bugs and visual glitches (weight 0.28): Some bugs are present but not game-breaking, and visual bugs are encountered during play. These issues are noted but less severe.
- Game-breaking bugs prevent play (weight 0.22): Reviewers report severe bugs that make the game unplayable, and these have not been fixed over many years. This is a critical issue.
- Crafting feels meaningless (weight 0.2): Players find the crafting system unnecessary, unjustified, and uninteresting. It adds little value to the gameplay experience.
- Steam version missing content (weight 0.15): The Steam version is incomplete, with locked doors and three quests in part 1 that cannot be opened or completed. This is specific to the Steam edition.
- Clunky and imprecise controls (weight 0.15): Controls are rather imprecise and floaty, and players find them clunky. This hampers gameplay flow.
- Poor item pickup mechanics (weight 0.14): The item pickup range is very small, and auto-pickup does not prevent missing items. This makes looting janky and frustrating.
- Loot drops are rare and bad (weight 0.14): Loot drops can be pretty bad and gear drops are fairly rare. This affects the reward cycle negatively.

Gameplay feedback:
- ARPG Genre (weight 0.71): The game is an action RPG, often described as Diablo-like or hack'n'slash, with typical classes such as barbarian, archer, and mage. It includes puzzle content and a shadow world mechanic.
- Shadow World Switching (weight 0.39): Players can switch between the regular world and a parallel dimension called Shadow. This mechanic is central to puzzles and gameplay.
- Crafting and Inventory Systems (weight 0.37): The game includes a crafting system that allows players to craft almost anything after obtaining recipes and ingredients. It also features an inventory system.
- Character Switching (weight 0.3): Players can alternate between multiple characters, combining the strengths of group members depending on the situation.
- Click-Hold Combat (weight 0.25): Combat involves clicking on enemies to target them and click-and-hold attacking. Players use abilities and tactics when fighting enemies.
- Demon Protagonist (weight 0.25): Players take on the role of the Devourer, a soul-devouring demon summoned into the game world. They control puppets.
- Puzzles and Side Quests (weight 0.25): The game includes puzzles and side quests, along with exploration. Some quests are unfinished in the Steam version.
- Story Choices (weight 0.25): Choices affect the further course of the story, with moral grey areas throughout potential situations.
- Combat System (weight 0.23): Combat is a core part of the game, involving abilities and tactical decision-making.
- Cooldown-Based Skills (weight 0.19): Skills are cooldown-based with no mana consumption. There is no energy cost for using skills.
- Boss Encounters (weight 0.18): The game features boss fights that are challenging.
- Resurrection via Souls (weight 0.14): Soul essence is used to resurrect dead characters. Players can use souls to bring their character back if they die.
- Puppet Control (weight 0.14): Players can control a selection of puppets, adding a unique gameplay mechanic.
- Shapeshifting Abilities (weight 0.13): Players can transform at will into different characters with different abilities. This includes shapeshifting.
- Grinding (weight 0.13): The game features classic grinding elements, requiring repetitive tasks to progress.
- Diablo Clone Criticism (weight 0.12): Some players describe the game as a bad Diablo clone, indicating it closely imitates Diablo but may fall short.
- Difficulty Settings (weight 0.12): The game offers difficulty settings, including a normal mode.

Performance notes:
- Frequent Game Crashes (weight 0.99): Players report frequent crashes to desktop, including during gameplay, loading screens, and area transitions. Crashes often occur unexpectedly and can make the game unplayable.
- Poor Performance Optimization (weight 0.73): The game suffers from poor optimization, leading to low frame rates, stuttering, and resource consumption that is not justified by the visuals. Many players experience performance issues even on high-end machines.
- Long Loading Times (weight 0.21): Load times are extremely long, especially when transitioning between locations. This significantly hampers the gameplay experience.
- Memory Leaks and Freezes (weight 0.2): The game suffers from memory leaks and frequent freezes, leading to instability and requiring restarts.
- Wasp Skill Causes Crash (weight 0.15): Using the Wasp hero's last skill or 'swarm' ability causes the game to crash instantly, making the hero unplayable.
- Limited Graphics Options (weight 0.15): The game offers very few graphics customization options, often only allowing resolution changes. This limits players' ability to optimize performance for their system.
- Broken Gamepad Support (weight 0.08): Gamepad support is half-broken, with input issues and compatibility problems reported.
- DirectX Issues (weight 0.08): Some players experience failures with DirectX 11, but switching to DirectX 9 with integrated graphics can resolve the issue.
- Unfinished Features at Launch (weight 0.08): Certain graphical features like vsync were unfinished or missing at release, indicating a rushed launch.
- Slow Gameplay Pace (weight 0.07): The game feels like it's playing at 0.3x speed of a normal action-RPG, detracting from the experience.
- Russian Text Crash (weight 0.07): Reading in-game books in Russian caused crashes, which was later fixed by a patch. This indicates localization issues.

Recommendations:
- Not Recommended for Purchase (weight 0.77): Many reviewers explicitly advise against buying the game, citing issues such as being unplayable, incomplete, or not worth the money. This sentiment is widespread across multiple clusters, with some recommending saving money or waiting for discounts.
- Positive Recommendation from Many (weight 0.71): A significant number of reviewers strongly recommend the game, especially to fans of action RPGs, story-driven games, and classic single-player RPGs. They highlight its potential, engaging story, and enjoyable combat for the right audience.
- Not for Everyone (weight 0.3): Reviewers note that the game is not for everyone, particularly those who dislike episodic releases, bugs, or slow gameplay. It may only appeal to a niche audience.
- Wait for Updates or Discounts (weight 0.29): Several reviewers suggest waiting for subsequent updates, sales, or discounts before purchasing. They believe the game may improve over time or be worth it at a lower price.
- Appeals to Specific RPG Fans (weight 0.28): The game is recommended for fans of CRPGs, classic RPGs, and those who enjoy story and exploration over fast-paced combat. It may not appeal to Diablo-like hack-and-slash fans.
- Combat and Gameplay Criticisms (weight 0.19): Some reviewers find the gameplay slow, the combat lacking, or the game too CRPG-ish for action RPG fans. They note that it may not satisfy those seeking visceral combat or gear-focused progression.
- Achievement Hunters Should Avoid (weight 0.13): Reviewers warn that achievement hunters should avoid this game because many achievements are unobtainable. This makes it a frustrating experience for those who pursue completion.
- Good Story and Side Quests (weight 0.08): Reviewers praise the game for its good story and large amount of side-quests, with simple yet interesting combat. This appeals to players who value narrative and exploration.
- Free or Low Cost Worth It (weight 0.07): Some reviewers say it's worth trying if you can get it free or at a very low price, but otherwise not recommended. They suggest playing only if you have nothing better to do.
- Supporting Developers Discouraged (weight 0.07): A reviewer advises not to support the developers, likely due to dissatisfaction with the game's state or business practices. This reflects a negative sentiment towards the creators.
- DLC Music Praised (weight 0.07): One reviewer recommends picking up the DLC specifically because of the music. This highlights the game's soundtrack as a strong point.
- Play After Act 2 (weight 0.07): One reviewer suggests getting to Act 2 before making hasty reviews, implying that the game improves or becomes more engaging later on.

Other player notes:
- Incomplete Game, Sold as Full (weight 0.69): Reviewers report that the game is sold as a complete product but is actually only part one, with the remaining content sold separately. This leaves the story and quests fundamentally incomplete, and many players consider it an early access title despite being marketed otherwise.
- Compared to Diablo and Torchlight (weight 0.49): Many reviewers compare this game to Diablo, Torchlight, and similar action RPGs. While some draw parallels, others state it does not match the quality or interest of those games, and there are much better options available.
- Shadows: Awakening Is Complete Version (weight 0.48): Reviewers frequently compare this game to Shadows: Awakening, noting that Shadows: Awakening is the full combined story (Books 1 and 2) with improved graphics. This game is often described as a demo or incomplete version of that title.
- Content Locked Behind Retail Box (weight 0.35): Several quests and locked doors in the Steam version require purchasing the retail boxed edition to access. Steam users miss out on multiple quests and areas that are only available in the physical retail release.
- Currently in Early Access/Pre-Alpha (weight 0.28): The game is currently in early access or pre-alpha stage, meaning much can change before final release. Reviewers note this status as a caveat for the current experience.
- Sequel to Kult: Heretic Kingdoms (weight 0.23): The game is identified as a sequel or successor to Kult: Heretic Kingdoms (also known as Heretic Kingdoms: The Inquisition) from 2004. This connection is noted by multiple reviewers.
- External Video Reviews Linked (weight 0.11): Some reviewers include links to YouTube gameplay reviews or playthrough series. These provide additional perspectives on the game.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.16): Players are disappointed by the game's unfinished state, including crashes, visual bugs, broken quests, and a cliffhanger ending that leaves the story incomplete. Many feel that the Steam version is sold as a full product but is missing content, and that good elements like art style and music are undermined by poor combat, optimization, and design choices.
- Frustration (weight 0.16): Frustration stems from persistent technical issues such as crashes, bugs, and glitches that hinder progression, along with combat problems like poor targeting, slow animations, and unbalanced difficulty. Players also struggle with unclear quest guidance, backtracking without fast travel, and controls that feel unresponsive or floaty.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.1): Players enjoy the game's fun gameplay, engaging story, and rich lore, as well as its unique mechanics like realm-switching and character switching. The graphics, music, voice acting, and quest design are also praised, making the experience enjoyable despite some bugs.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.08): Satisfaction comes from the game's original character system, tactical combat, and character-switching mechanics, along with strong visuals, voice acting, and storytelling. Players also appreciate the leveling accomplishments, frequent updates, and the overall quality of the action RPG experience.
- Hope (weight 0.06): Players hope that the second part or Book II will be released and will address the gameplay problems, fulfilling the game's potential for a dark story and non-standard mechanics. They are waiting to see future releases from the developer and believe the game can find fans if completed.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.04): Enthusiasm is driven by the game's unique combat system, interesting puzzles, and transformation mechanics, as well as its deep role-playing elements like party relationships and moral choices. Players also praise the graphics, music, voice overs, and the overall take on classic RPGs.
- Boredom (weight 0.03): Boredom arises from monotonous and poorly paced combat with constant enemy spawns, as well as tedious grinding and fetch quests. The story and voice acting also contribute to a boring experience for some players.
- Annoyance (weight 0.03): Annoyance is caused by technical issues like crashing when alt-tabbing, repetitive voice lines, and combat quirks such as overpowered enemies and hits that miss. Unclear crafting systems and bad mob spawning also irritate players.
- Intrigue (weight 0.03): Intrigue stems from the game's somewhat interesting lore and story, as well as unique abilities like killing an enemy general and using his corpse against his soldiers. Players are curious to see where the game goes despite it being a Diablo clone.
- Surprise (weight 0.03): Surprise comes from players liking the game despite not usually enjoying ARPGs, and finding it unexpectedly good and exceeding expectations. The sudden discovery of native language support in the launcher also surprises some.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Appreciation is felt for the developer putting fans first by providing more game instead of a paywall, and for the creative dual perspective and cultural elements. Players also appreciate the story, level design, sound, and voice acting.
- Excitement (weight 0.03): Excitement is driven by the story continuation and the promise of exploring moral grey areas that affect the story and endings. Players find the game very promising and feel it delivers on the original's promise as a great ARPG.
- Confusion (weight 0.03): Confusion arises from a somewhat confusing beginning, unclear story, and incomprehensible first dialogue. The presence of multiple characters and the point of character switching also leave players questioning.
- Mild disappointment (weight 0.03): Mild disappointment is caused by combat that lacks pep and feels stiff compared to modern action RPGs, as well as performance hiccups and restrictive crafting. The game also feels too short for some.
- Optimism (weight 0.03): Optimism is based on the developers' investment and the game's impressive progress over six months, with players believing it will become a great, large game. They strongly believe the game will only get better.
- Dissatisfaction (weight 0.02): Dissatisfaction stems from the game ending in the middle of the story and not being the full version, leaving players feeling they haven't accomplished anything significant. Playtime does not match satisfaction.
- Mixed feelings (weight 0.02): Mixed feelings arise from ambiguous combat impressions due to ranged class issues and limited builds, as well as clumsy characters and monotonous locations. The game is playable with interesting moments but has notable flaws.
- Despair (weight 0.01): Despair is caused by a game crash from the wasp's last skill, leading to a loss of will to play. This technical issue completely undermines the experience.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger is directed at the game being sold as full but only being part 1, with developers and Steam silent about it. Locked doors requiring a retail box purchase and a dismissive dev response also infuriate players.
- Distrust (weight 0.01): Distrust is felt due to the developer's selling practices being seen as dishonest and consumer unfriendly. This erodes confidence in the game and its creators.}