The Last Spell - Tales of Torment Review Summary

Building on an incredible base game, this DLC adds fun challenge modifiers and unique unlockables at good value, though unfair difficulty and no new maps or bosses hold it back.

DLC adds varied interesting perks: Clusters 1, 14, 21, 44, and 48 highlight that the DLC introduces many new, cool, and varied perks with interesting effects.

Base game praised as incredible: Clusters 3, 73, 74, and 76 describe the base game as incredible, great, amazing, and fantastic, with the free update making it even better.

Unique weapons and items praised: Clusters 2, 46, 91, and 102 mention that unique weapons and items look cool, have unique effects, and are exciting to unlock.

DLC encourages Apocalypse challenges: Clusters 4, 60, 83, and 86 note that the DLC provides incentive to engage with the Apocalypse system and that the rework is better than before.

Refreshes game with new mechanics: Clusters 5, 23, 97, and 104 describe the DLC as refreshing, significantly changing gameplay, and introducing new mechanics.

Unbalanced and unfair challenges: Challenges are randomly assigned and can be either trivial or impossible depending on the loadout, with no logic to ensure feasibility. This leads to frustration and a sense of unfairness.

Poor balance and powercreep: The DLC introduces significant powercreep, making lower difficulties trivial and higher difficulties reliant on DLC buffs. This disrupts the game's difficulty curve and reduces build diversity.

DLC adds no new maps or bosses: A major complaint is the lack of new maps, bosses, or monsters, which players expected from a paid DLC. The content feels recycled, and the game's biggest flaw is the lack of map variety.

Divergences are unclear and punishing: Divergences are poorly explained and can severely punish players, sometimes making enemies nearly unkillable. The risk is often not worth the reward, and choices can ruin entire runs.

DLC is skippable and overpriced: The DLC adds little of value, and many feel it should have been a free update. It is not worth the money, especially for players who are done with the game or want to finish on average difficulty.

DLC adds challenge and modifier systems: The DLC introduces nightly challenges, ordeals, divergences, and omens that modify gameplay and provide optional difficulty. Players can accept modifiers for resources or decline them, adding strategic choices.

Epiphany and meta-progression system: Epiphanies are buffs unlocked via a resource earned through challenges or debuffs, and a new progression tree allows unlocking permanent bonuses. This system adds meta-progression and build variety.

Unique weapons and items unlockable: The DLC adds unique weapons and items with various effects that can be unlocked by completing specific tasks or challenges. These items often have adaptive damage types or unique perks.

DLC aimed at late-game players: The DLC content is intended for post-endgame and late-game players, focusing on building heroes and increasing difficulty rather than adding new maps. It provides new challenges and systems for experienced players.

Resource management and economy: The game involves resource management, converting surplus margin into profit, and using points (memories, brains) to unlock rewards. Challenges and modifiers provide resources.

DLC is highly recommended: Many reviewers strongly recommend the DLC, stating it is well worth its price and enhances the game. They advise new players to get it and consider it a valuable addition.

DLC is skippable: A number of reviewers feel the DLC is not essential and can be skipped, as the base game is enjoyable on its own. Some recommend against buying it, especially if you are not a hardcore player.

Mixed or negative reviews: Despite overall mixed ratings, some reviewers still highly recommend the DLC and urge others not to miss out. However, others give negative reviews due to specific issues.

DLC suited for endgame: Several reviewers suggest beating the base game before purchasing the DLC, as it is best experienced after completing the main story. It is particularly recommended for players who have finished the game and want more content.

DLC only for high difficulty: Some reviewers note that the DLC is only worthwhile if you plan to replay the game with high apocalypse levels. Players not interested in high-difficulty modes can skip it without missing much.

Community fair range: $10.00 - $25.00.

Game completion: 10.0h.

Endgame: 100.0h.

Player reports indicate early friction from a tedious early game and slow meta-progression, but the new progression tree, early-days run paths, and expanded build variety are praised as great once engaged. The game appears to click after players access these new progression systems, with some later difficulty concerns remaining.

Friction: Early-game tedium and annoyance; 4,000+ damage threshold in a single turn feels hopeless; Meta-progression unlocks take a considerable amount of time; Many unlocks are nebulous to call a boon; Higher difficulties remove proper progression.

Unlock drivers: New progression tree with modifiers for any run or map; New building behaviors and early-days run progression paths; Incredible rewards expand build variety and hero power.

Challenge-Seeking Hardcore Veteran: Plays hardcore difficulty, replays known levels, and stacks run-modifying challenges to push builds further. Motivation: Chasing challenging, high-risk high-reward runs and overpowered 'broken' builds. Stance: buy.

Completionist Meta-Progression Grinder: Grinds unlocks and meta-progression goals across many long sessions. Motivation: Unlocking and completing long-term meta-progression content in a game they love. Stance: buy.

Casual Player: Plays casually and does not pursue post-endgame or hardcore-difficulty clears. Motivation: Enjoying the game at a relaxed pace without being blocked by hardcore-gated content. Stance: deep sale.

Monetization: The reviews discuss the paid DLC's content and price-to-value, with both criticism that it lacks enough new content and praise that it is worthwhile. There is no direct evidence of real-money microtransactions, paid gacha, loot boxes, pay-to-win, currency obfuscation, or a real-money shop. The complaints fall under traditional DLC and base-price/value discussion, so the strict scoring override caps the score at 20.

Mixed Steam rating for final DLC: The DLC has a mixed overall rating on Steam, which is noted alongside its status as the supposed final DLC. This combination highlights divided player reception.

No new map or race included: Several reviewers expected a new map or race in this DLC, but the DLC does not add one. This mismatch contributed to disappointment among some players.

Targets high-difficulty Apocalypse players: The DLC is designed to enhance the high-difficulty Apocalypse mode and is best for players who want to keep challenging themselves with Apocalypse and build variety. Those who only finish levels on average difficulty may find it skippable.

DLC alters core gameplay structure: The DLC does not necessarily add new content but significantly changes how the game works, adding options and strategies. It is designed to make runs different and in some ways easier, though some parts remain post-endgame and tricky.

Needs polishing and free-update overlap: The DLC definitely needs polishing, and many great changes come from the free update rather than the DLC itself. Some feel it should have been a free update instead.