Info about Plebby Quest: The Crusades: Official game description: **Welcome to the chaotic world** -------------------------------- Plebby Quest: The Crusades is a turn-based strategy game set during the crusades of Europe and the Middle East. You must survive between ambitious rulers dreaming of building an empire, treacherous neighbours that long to burn your kingdom, and the religion which always makes unreasonable demands. Survive and build your kingdom’s legacy to last centuries. **Hard, Yet Tender** -------------------- After drawing hard and straight outlines, we drew unique faces for our characters. Then we had them stand in front of solid color tone backgrounds and brought them to life with our in-house software. Behold! They laugh, rage, and tells us their stories with their chewy and tender movements. **Two Game Modes** ------------------ In Scenario mode you will follow a character’s story, while in Sandbox mode you can conquer the world without any restriction. Each mode is connected and will affect the other. Good choices and decisions from past games will lead your future plays to success. **Friend or Enemy?** -------------------- Neighbouring kingdoms remember your behaviour and will react to it. Critical mistakes bring dissent and lead to war. If you react according to a character’s personality, they will open their mind. **Accusation** -------------- In the 11th century, persons without faith were either barbarians beyond the borders, or heretics that were burned at stake. Every kingdom is under the influence of a religion, and will demand your kingdom prove their faith. **Conspiracy & Backroom Deals** ------------------------------- Every June, a meeting is held during which believers of each faith gather to condemn and denounce the others. Kingdoms will condemn one another, while religious leaders will stop a war or demand a crusade. You must do anything possible to turn the participants’ opinion to your liking, including bribes, threats, and all kinds of dirty tricks. All will be forgiven in the name of God. **Easy Choices and Terrible Costs** ----------------------------------- There are many choices before you start a war. However, once a war begins, everything will come down to either one of two choices: Will you burn them? Or will you be burnt? Release date: Apr 8, 2020 Categories: Turn-based Strategy, Grand Strategy, 4X, Historical Strategy, Diplomacy, Religion System, Comedy, Mini-game Collection - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: - Community fair range: $9.99 - $14.99 - Reasoning: The reviews are mixed but point to a fair base-game price below the current $19.99. One reviewer explicitly says it is not worth full price, while another accepts full price for a small story-focused game. A third highlights a special price of 14 as exceptional value, suggesting the community sweet spot is in the mid-teens or lower. Positive English comments indicate satisfaction at the existing price point but do not clearly justify a higher base price. Therefore the fair base-game range is estimated at $9.99-$14.99. - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: 81.0h - Story completion: 60.0h - Session length: N/A - Endgame: N/A - Reasoning: The 81-hour review explicitly states completing the game, so gameCompletion is set to 81 hours. The 60+ hour review states completing the queen campaign, so storyCompletion is set to 60 hours. The 18-hour and 155-hour reports add playtime context but do not provide a typical session length or a separate endgame duration, so sessionLength and endgame remain null. - Time-to-fun: - Summary: Reports mix immediate addictive appeal, especially in tutorial/scenario and early chapters, with frequent later boredom and tedium; the strongest pattern is fun then drops. - Stance: Fun then drops - Anchor: Tutorial/scenario mode - Time to anchor: N/A - Friction: Long, restrictive tutorial that limits purchases and actions; Repetitive clicking and box-mashing; Tedious mini-games with repeated animations and dialogue; Shallow combat and repetitive empire management; Slow, unbalanced progression and grind; Immortal bandit camps that add no early fun - Unlock drivers: N/A - Conditions: Playing tutorial/scenario mode is linked to fun.; Playing in story mode is recommended; boredom often follows finishing it.; Early chapters and custom games can satisfy before boredom.; Late-game mini-games and end-game management become tedious.; Becoming very strong early removes challenge and can make the game boring.; Tolerance for repetition and clicking affects whether it remains fun.; Achievement system can drive addictive play.; Crashes can disrupt enjoyment. - Player Archetypes: - Casual Grand Strategy Newcomer (buy) - Motivation: To learn and enjoy grand strategy in an accessible, low-complexity format. - Playstyle: Plays casually through tutorials and story mode, avoiding deep optimization or complex systems. - Experience: newcomer - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: N/A - Reference games: N/A - Paradox/CA Veteran Optimizer (buy) - Motivation: To enjoy a lighter, faster grand strategy that still offers systemic depth and optimization without late-game bloat. - Playstyle: Optimizes general builds, army composition, and action-point economy while systematically exploring all mechanics. - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: veteran Paradox and CA series strategy game player; 81-hour player - Reference games: Crusader Kings; Europa Universalis - Comedy Story and Character Fan (buy) - Motivation: To enjoy humorous dialogue, characters, and a light story-driven comedy. - Playstyle: Plays story mode primarily, watches dialogue like an anime, and engages with character shipping and fandom. - Experience: mixed - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: old shipping fan - Reference games: N/A - Crusader Kings/History Purist (no buy) - Motivation: To experience a deep, historically grounded grand strategy comparable to Crusader Kings. - Playstyle: Compares mechanics and historical fidelity to CK, expects complexity and authenticity, and rejects casualized or historically loose design. - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: no buy - Labels: N/A - Reference games: Crusader Kings 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: - Humorous dialogue and story (weight 0.45): Dialogue is amusing and fun, with story mode banter that is entertaining. The humorous tone and writing add to the game's charm. - Enjoyable combat resolution (weight 0.41): Combat resolution is very enjoyable, with battles that require strategy and smart decisions. The combat system rewards good deployment and timing. - Charming and cute art style (weight 0.39): The art style is widely praised as interesting, cute, distinctive, and thoughtfully made, with block-style characters that are charming. The visuals and style are consistently highlighted as a plus. - Great for beginners (weight 0.39): It is good for easily learning this type of game, suitable for beginners just starting strategy games. It serves as an entry-level game and a gateway for newcomers. - Simplified strategy game (weight 0.38): It is a simplified strategy game, relatively simple but with enough depth. The simplification makes it accessible and less complex. - Highly addictive and fun (weight 0.37): Many players find the game very addictive, fun, and challenging, with a unique charm that keeps them playing. It is frequently described as an excellent game that makes you want to keep playing. - Creative mechanics (weight 0.34): Cutting off a city's road to the capital to turn it into a ruined city is creative, and the siege battle design is also creative. The game introduces unique and innovative mechanics. - Interesting character interactions (weight 0.3): Character interactions and expressions are very interesting, with unique and interesting characters. The characters are expressive and add to the game's appeal. - Casual grand strategy concept (weight 0.28): The core concept of a grand strategy game in a casual format is appealing, offering a relaxed and pleasant experience. It is less serious than Civilization and Total War. - Lighter alternative to Crusader Kings (weight 0.23): The game feels like a lighter version of Crusader Kings, a good alternative for those who want to play CK but not so deeply. It is similar to CK but easier to manage. - Good for passing time (weight 0.22): It is good for passing time, quite fun, and can be played until dawn. The game is time-consuming and engaging. - Compact yet complete game (weight 0.22): The game is small but complete in its features, compact yet offering a full experience. It packs a lot into a small package. - Decent campaign with limited objectives (weight 0.21): The campaign is decent enough and does not drag on thanks to limited objectives. It offers a focused and enjoyable experience. - Small-scale strategy game (weight 0.2): It is an excellent small-scale strategy game, with a simplified 4X concept that is interesting. The game is compact but offers a complete strategy experience. - Well-made and interesting overall (weight 0.19): The game is generally well-made and overall interesting, with a solid foundation. It is seen as a complete and polished experience. - Exquisite graphics and soothing music (weight 0.19): The graphics are exquisite and nice, while the music is soothing and very fitting. Both visual and audio elements are well-received. - Balances depth and accessibility (weight 0.17): The game achieves a perfect balance between depth and accessibility, deftly straddling the line. It appeals to both newcomers and veterans. - Great value for price (weight 0.13): Players consider the game a great value for the price, describing it as a relatively low price and a good buy. This suggests strong cost-effectiveness. - Excellent Japanese localization (weight 0.13): The Japanese localization is perfect, and the game was worth buying because of the Japanese translation. It enhances the experience for Japanese players. - Lots of potential (weight 0.09): The game system has a lot of potential, and it is not bad. Players see room for growth and improvement. Common complaints: - Annoying repetitive mini-games (weight 0.31): Mini-games, especially coin flips, are seen as annoying and repetitive, particularly in longer play sessions. Many players find them frustrating and unnecessary. - Combat lacks depth (weight 0.29): Players frequently describe combat as shallow, boring, and lacking strategic depth. The morale system can also cause frustrating retreats even when winning. - Shallow gameplay and low replayability (weight 0.17): The overall gameplay is considered shallow, with repetitive mechanics and few variables, leading to boredom and low replayability. Many find the game gets old quickly. - Late game becomes tedious grind (weight 0.17): The end game turns into a frustrating and repetitive grind, with tedious operations that feel like a chore. This diminishes the overall experience. - Simplistic diplomacy and truce systems (weight 0.16): Diplomacy is criticized as overly simplified, and truce conditions are considered too basic. This reduces strategic depth in international relations. - Limited country selection in free mode (weight 0.16): Freedom mode offers too few playable countries, with only a handful of options, which limits player choice and replayability. - Lack of faction uniqueness (weight 0.1): All factions play similarly, with only starting positions differing, making the game feel repetitive regardless of which faction is chosen. - Unskippable developer credits on exit (weight 0.09): The game forces players to watch unskippable developer credits every time they quit, which is described as long and adware-like. This is a major annoyance. - Too little content (weight 0.09): Players feel there is not enough content to play, leading to a short-lived experience. - Uninteresting dialogues (weight 0.09): The game includes many annoying and uninteresting dialogues that players find tedious and skippable. - Some units overpowered (weight 0.08): Certain units are considered too strong compared to others, potentially unbalancing combat. - Historical inaccuracy in Constantinople (weight 0.08): Constantinople is depicted with minarets, which is historically inaccurate for the game's setting, bothering some players. Gameplay feedback: - Mini-games variety (weight 0.31): Mini-games are present each turn and include activities like tile matching, coin toss, Bejeweled-style matching, and Mastermind puzzles. They are used for resource collection and additional rewards. - Freedom mode with country selection (weight 0.3): A free mode lets players choose countries or factions on a large map, though some versions limit playable nations to top powers. This mode offers open-ended conquest. - Chapter-based story mode (weight 0.29): The story mode is divided into five chapters with interconnected progress and scripted events. It is a significant component praised for its structure. - Turn-based strategy combat system (weight 0.28): The game combines turn-based grand strategy with real-time combat command, similar to Total War. This hybrid approach is frequently mentioned across multiple clusters. - Diplomacy and alliance systems (weight 0.27): A diplomacy system allows maintaining relations, signing military alliances, trade agreements, and managing envoys. It is a core feature mentioned across multiple clusters. - Small-scale simplified strategy game (weight 0.26): The game is characterized as a small-scale strategy title with simplified mechanics, making it less complex than typical grand strategy games. This is a common descriptor across several reviews. - Siege and field battles (weight 0.26): The game features siege mechanics including armored battering rams, siege towers, and wall breaking, as well as field battles. These combat scenarios are noted in several reviews. - Diverse unit types (weight 0.26): Unit types include cavalry, archer, infantry generals, spearmen, crossbowmen, rocket soldiers, plague doctors, and siege rams. Generals lead units and have talent professions. - Coin-flip gambling mechanic (weight 0.22): A coin-flip mechanic influences rewards, often tied to a donation system where players specify desired outcomes. This mechanic appears repeatedly and may affect player progression. - Beginner-friendly tutorial available (weight 0.22): The game includes a step-by-step tutorial that is described as kind and fun, with high freedom. It helps new players understand operations, especially in story mode. - Resource and kingdom management (weight 0.21): Players manage resources, hire generals, upgrade troops, handle research, diplomacy, religion, loyalty, and morale. Several resources require careful balancing. - Generals as action points (weight 0.13): Generals serve as action points, limiting the number of actions per turn; more generals allow more actions. Each general can take a single action every turn. - Religion system with penalties (weight 0.09): A religion system exists with associated penalties, adding another layer of strategy. It is often mentioned alongside diplomacy and other management mechanics. - Poor AI opponents (weight 0.09): AI opponents are present but cannot effectively compete with the player, leading to a lack of challenge. This is a common criticism. - Low difficulty and simplicity (weight 0.09): The game is described as low difficulty, simple, and not complex. This may appeal to casual players but can be a downside for those seeking depth. - Capital relocation unavailable (weight 0.08): Players cannot move their capital, which may limit strategic options. This missing feature is noted in feedback. Performance notes: No performancepoints Recommendations: - Beginner-friendly grand strategy (weight 0.37): Many reviewers recommend the game as an excellent entry point for newcomers to grand strategy or 4X. It is easy to pick up and suitable for those who want a less complex experience. - Wait for a sale (weight 0.31): Many suggest buying only on discount or at a low price. At full price, it may not be worth the cost for some players. - Mixed or negative reviews (weight 0.27): Some reviewers do not recommend the game due to design choices, balance issues, or lack of depth. A few strongly advise against purchasing. - Good for casual play (weight 0.22): Players recommend it for casual time-killing and lighter strategy sessions. It is suitable for those who don't want to overthink or invest heavily. - Positive but with caveats (weight 0.2): Some reviewers give a weak thumbs-up or recommend it with reservations. They acknowledge shortcomings but still find it worth trying. - Not for hardcore Paradox fans (weight 0.2): Fans of deep Paradox titles like Crusader Kings or Europa Universalis may find it too simple. It lacks the depth and complexity expected from serious grand strategy games. - Recommended for strategy and history lovers (weight 0.19): Reviewers recommend it to fans of strategy games and medieval history. It appeals to those interested in a historical setting with personality. - Story mode is worthwhile (weight 0.13): Several reviewers recommend playing the story mode and consider it worth the price. It adds value even for those who might not enjoy the main gameplay. - Worth it for the price (weight 0.13): Considering its price, many find it worth trying. It offers decent value for money, especially on sale. - Not recommended for serious gamers (weight 0.12): The game is not recommended for those seeking a serious, historically accurate medieval simulation. It is best for casual players. - Limited replayability (weight 0.09): Some players note that replayability is limited compared to AAA titles. It may not offer enough variety for multiple playthroughs. - Not recommended for full price (weight 0.09): Some advise against buying at full price due to quality or depth issues. They suggest waiting for a discount. - Not a serious strategy game (weight 0.09): It is not recommended for those expecting a serious strategy experience like CK2 or EU4. It is more of a light, casual game. - Compared unfavorably to other games (weight 0.08): Some reviewers compare it unfavorably to other strategy games like Total War, suggesting players try those instead. It is not seen as a worthy competitor. - Improvements suggested (weight 0.08): Players suggest adding more detailed content and random events to improve gameplay. They also mention balance issues that need fixing. - Good for Paradox players (weight 0.08): It is recommended as a casual time-killer for Paradox fans. However, some think it might be too simple for them. - Diplomacy-focused playstyle recommended (weight 0.05): The game is recommended for players willing to learn a diplomacy-focused playstyle rather than traditional conquest. It offers a different approach to strategy. - DLC not recommended (weight 0.05): The DLC is not recommended by some reviewers. They suggest avoiding it unless improvements are made. - Okay game, nothing special (weight 0.05): Some describe it as just okay or average. It is not particularly outstanding but can be enjoyable for what it is. Other player notes: - Compared to Crusader Kings (weight 0.51): Many reviewers compare the game to Crusader Kings, calling it a simplified, smaller, or casual version. Some describe it as successful in that role, while others see it as a degraded imitation. - DLC and additional content (weight 0.3): The game received DLC including Alliance Wars and Land of Chaos, but some content like campaigns are locked behind future DLC. One DLC was released before the game was abandoned. - Game abandoned by developers (weight 0.26): Feedback repeatedly states the game is no longer updated, abandoned after one year or one DLC, and the studio disbanded. This lack of ongoing support is a major concern. - Simplified Europa Universalis influence (weight 0.25): The game is compared to a simplified Europa Universalis, described as a youth version or easier to understand. It streamlines complex mechanics from Paradox titles. - Comparisons to Total War (weight 0.23): Players frequently compare the game to Total War, mentioning its grand strategy scale, combat, and internal affairs. Most agree it falls short of Total War's depth. - Simplified but polished strategy game (weight 0.21): Reviewers describe it as a compact, complete-feature game with visual simplicity yet depth. It is a casual, map-coloring strategy with a good foundation. - Lacks depth versus 4X peers (weight 0.19): Reviewers note the game lacks the breadth and variety of Civilization, Europa Universalis, and Crusader Kings. It is often described as a lighter, less serious alternative. - Development took over eight years (weight 0.19): The game was developed over a period of more than eight years by a small Korean team. This long development cycle is often mentioned. - Chinese localization missing or added (weight 0.19): Feedback mentions lack of official Chinese localization as a downside, but also that Chinese language support was added or is coming. The localization is praised as natural and down-to-earth when present. - Historical inaccuracies noted (weight 0.18): Players point out geographical and historical inaccuracies, such as minarets on Constantinople and misplaced locations. The developer stated it is not a history game. - Story mode and scenarios (weight 0.17): The game features a story mode divided into chapters with a tutorial, plus custom scenarios. Choices in earlier levels affect later play. - No Steam Workshop or multiplayer (weight 0.16): The game lacks Steam Workshop support for mods, maps, and skins, and has no online multiplayer. Players desire these features for extended playability. - Features achievements and trading cards (weight 0.14): The game includes an achievement system and trading cards. Some achievements require purchasing DLC separately. - Potential for sequel and more content (weight 0.13): Reviewers look forward to a sequel, more updates, and additional factions/units. The IP could be used for WWI, WWII, or derivative games. - Positive Steam rating and pricing (weight 0.12): The game holds a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam and is considered worth its price point. Many have played over 200 hours. - Limited playable factions and map (weight 0.11): Free play offers limited nations (4 in Europe, 10 worldwide) and the map excludes some regions like Poland. Some countries like Kievan Rus are not playable. - Relaxing casual alternative (weight 0.11): Compared to Paradox games, it is more relaxing and joyful, like Gomoku versus Go. It is best enjoyed as a casual experience rather than a deep strategy simulation. - Humoristic presentation and art style (weight 0.11): The game has a humorous presentation and an appealing art style that attracted some players. It is described as less serious than Civilization or Total War. - Cloud saves and Ctrl speed-up (weight 0.11): The game supports cloud saves and allows pressing Ctrl to speed up gameplay, including between-turn animations and closing credits. - Korean language and Japanese mod (weight 0.11): Korean language dialogue is available, and a Japanese localization mod was created but does not support DLC. The Japanese localization was done by 'dewfalse'. Emotions: - Frustration (weight 0.22): Players are frustrated by the coin system that heavily influences outcomes, making the game feel luck-based and unfair. Repetitive unskippable dialogues, long turn processing, and a clunky UI with excessive clicking for simple actions further compound the frustration. Additionally, poor AI behavior, diplomacy issues, and grindy late-game mechanics create a tedious and unfair experience. - Disappointment (weight 0.17): Players are disappointed by the game's wasted potential, as it lacks depth in combat and strategy, and fails to live up to comparisons with other grand strategy titles. The game tries to do too much but falls short, with repetitive mechanics, shallow diplomacy, and a lack of faction differentiation. Many are also let down by the developer's abandonment of the game and the release of bland DLC. - Boredom (weight 0.1): The game becomes dull and repetitive quickly, with monotonous mini-games and unengaging combat. After the story mode, free play offers little variety, as all factions play similarly and dialogue is repetitive. Late-game management turns into a tedious slog with few meaningful choices. - Enjoyment (weight 0.08): Players find the game addictive and fun, with an appealing art style, humorous dialogue, and engaging strategy gameplay. The combat system requires tactical thinking, and the overall experience is charming and immersive, making it easy to lose track of time. - Annoyance (weight 0.07): Players are annoyed by unskippable dialogues, forced developer credits, and repetitive coin-flipping mini-games. The morale system causing retreats, illogical AI diplomacy, and resource scarcity add to the irritation, making the game feel tedious rather than enjoyable. - Amusement (weight 0.06): The game's humor, including funny dialogue, scenarios, and playful elements, amuses players. The lighthearted tone and humorous interactions provide entertainment and levity, distinguishing it from more serious strategy games. - Satisfaction (weight 0.05): Players feel satisfied with the game's accessibility, good value, and enjoyable mechanics like diplomacy manipulation and soldier card development. The story and localization also contribute to a worthwhile experience, especially for those new to strategy games. - Anger (weight 0.02): Anger arises from unfair mechanics such as the coin-flip system that heavily impacts gains, and the inability to use superior forces effectively. The AI's lack of morale while the player suffers penalties, along with restrictive freedom mode, further infuriates players. - Appreciation (weight 0.02): Players appreciate the game as a gateway to grand strategy, with a good tutorial that makes it easy to learn. The well-written campaign dialogue, filled with humor and emotion, adds to the overall positive experience. - Excitement (weight 0.02): Excitement stems from the detailed tutorial and the prince's ambition in chapter one, which hook players early. The first few hours offer novelty and surprising content, making the game feel like a rare gem among strategy titles. - Disgust (weight 0.01): Disgust is caused by forced developer credits and the feeling that the game is a scam. Late-game becomes nauseating due to overwhelming combat and limited resources, and poorly designed systems like the kingdom council add to the revulsion. - Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are surprised by the combat system's unexpected tactical depth and the game's fleshed-out content. It offers great value and replayability, exceeding initial expectations and winning over skeptics. - Interest (weight 0.01): The block-style character art, humorous story mode, and unusual Arabian setting spark interest. The game is gripping despite flaws, and the funny story mode adds to its appeal for strategy fans. - Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arises from historical inaccuracies such as minarets in Constantinople, which contradict actual history. This oddity puzzles players familiar with the setting. - Joy (weight 0.01): Joy is derived from the first chapter's story, which is both funny and tearful, and the humorous dialogues and amusing character designs. These elements create a delightful and emotional experience. - Regret (weight 0.01): Players regret funding a game that was abandoned after one empty DLC, and buying based on reviews only to want a refund. Wasting money and time on an unrefundable game leads to strong regret. - Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Enthusiasm comes from the diverse gameplay systems and overall quality of the turn-based strategy. Players also enjoy sharing effective siege strategies to help others, fostering a positive community spirit. - Happiness (weight 0.01): Happiness is felt when Chinese language support is added, helping English beginners, and when the gamble of buying based on art style pays off. The distinctive art, cute characters, and good story make playing very enjoyable. - Relief (weight 0.01): Relief comes from frequent saves preventing major progress loss despite crashes, allowing players to continue without significant setbacks. - Delight (weight 0.01): Delight is caused by the cute art style, creative city-cutting mechanic, and charming look and feel. The emotive characters and hilarious writing add to the overall delightful experience.}