Info about Desperados III:

Official game description:
Desperados III is a story-driven, hardcore tactical stealth game, set in a ruthless Wild West scenario.  
In this long-awaited prequel to the beloved classic Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive, John Cooper will join forces with the runaway bride Kate, the shady hitman Doc McCoy, the giant trapper Hector, and Isabelle, a mysterious lady from New Orleans. On Cooper’s quest for redemption, his adventures lead him and his gang from rural towns, over swamps and riverbanks, and finally to a dramatic showdown worthy of Wild West legends.  
Play smart if you want to succeed. A good plan can make the difference between survival and finding yourself at the business end of a pistol.  
Drifter, gunslinger, and natural leader Cooper can kill quietly with a knife, or take out multiple foes with his revolvers. Strongman Hector carries a giant bear trap and can slay the toughest opponents with his trusty axe. Cold blooded bounty hunter McCoy likes to be methodical, using lures, knockout gas, poison syringes and a custom long-range pistol. Kate can fool almost any man with the right outfit, and kills discreetly with her hidden gun. And then there is this mysterious woman from New Orleans, Isabelle…  
Combine your team’s special skills to overcome each tough challenge in your own style.  
*   Play five unique characters, each with a very particular set of skills  
*   Experience true freedom of choice with countless different ways to overcome any obstacle  
*   Defeat large groups of enemies with careful planning and execution  
*   Witness the glory of classic Wild West scenarios like frontier towns, mysterious swamps, sprawling modern cities, and many more  
*   Choose between non-lethal and deadly attacks, stealth and blazing guns  
*   Adjust the game to your playstyle with various difficulty settings and special replay challenges  
*   The Showdown mode allows you to pause the game anytime and react to ambushes or surprise attacks

Release date: Jun 16, 2020

Categories: Real-time Tactical Stealth, Stealth Gameplay, Character Progression, Multiple Paths and Approaches, Western Themed, Tactical Combat

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 10; verdict: Fair Monetization; summary: The game uses a traditional DLC model with no microtransactions, loot boxes, or pay-to-win mechanics. One review criticizes DLC map pricing as high, but this is a base price/DLC complaint, not evidence of predatory monetization. The positive review explicitly praises the absence of anti-consumer practices.
- Wiki: score 10; verdict: Low Dependency; summary: User feedback is positive and does not contain any complaints about needing external data. The game appears to be self-contained, resulting in a low Wiki Tax score.
- Proton/Linux: score 5; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game runs flawlessly on Linux Mint and Steam Deck based on user feedback. No Linux-specific issues, crashes, or required tweaks are reported.
- Steam Deck: score 25; verdict: Seamless with minor learning curve; summary: The game runs well on the Steam Deck with native Linux support, good performance, and great visuals. There is minor friction in controls requiring adaptation and the touchscreen helps in complex scenarios, but no major technical barriers like crashes or unreadable UI are reported.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $14.99 - $29.99
  - Reasoning: Multiple reviews mention the game is easily worth more than sale prices like $5 or $20, and some say full price ($39.99) is worth it, while others call the original price aggressive or slightly high for the content size. The community consensus suggests a fair price range around $15–$30, balancing its high quality with perceived value.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 60.0h
  - Story completion: 35.0h
  - Session length: 1.5h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: For story completion, multiple sources report about 30-50 hours for the main campaign: one review states 'I finished the game story at 50 hours' (though includes some extras), another says '16 missions and about 30 hours of gameplay', a Portuguese review says 'quase 34 horas' for main missions, and another mentions 'over 20 hours' for story. The median is around 35 hours. For game completion, one review mentions 'closer to 60 hours if you try to go for a full completion', another says '50 hours... still haven't touched the extras... more than 100 hours' which suggests full completion including extras exceeds 100. Session length is derived from multiple reports: 'each mission took around between 1 hour and 1:30' and 'uma hora fazendo uma missão' (one hour doing a mission), averaging 1.5 hours. Endgame (post-story content like challenges, badges, DLC) has no consistent quantitative evidence; reviews mention extra content but give no specific hours for endgame-only playtime, so null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game is not immediately fun; players report it becomes engaging only after mastering basic controls and unlocking the first few skills or characters, typically by the second or third mission.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: First skills and new characters unlock
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: steep learning curve for genre newcomers; need for patience and precision; awkward character switching and skill coordination at first
  - Unlock drivers: unlocking new characters and abilities; getting past the tutorialized first missions; learning to combine skills for creative solutions
  - Conditions: solo play works fine; patient and methodical mindset required; willingness to reload and try different approaches
- Player Archetypes:
  - Genre Veteran / Franchise Fan (buy)
    - Motivation: Reviving the classic RTT experience with refined mechanics and challenging levels that honor the genre's legacy.
    - Playstyle: Methodical planning using character synergies, precise timing, and exploiting environmental tools; often plays on hardest difficulty to maximize strategic depth.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: RTT fan; Commandos veteran; Mimimi fan; old-school player
    - Reference games: Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines; Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun; Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive; Robin Hood: Legend of Sherwood
  - Casual Story-Seeker (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoying a compelling story and accessible tactical gameplay without frustration.
    - Playstyle: Utilizes Beginner or Normal difficulty, takes time to explore levels, focuses on narrative progression and character moments rather than optimization.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: newcomer; casual player; non-expert
    - Reference games: Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun; Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive
  - Completionist / Badge Hunter (buy)
    - Motivation: Achieving 100% completion, collecting all badges and achievements, and mastering speedruns.
    - Playstyle: Replays levels multiple times to perfect routes, uses higher difficulties for badge requirements, meticulously plans actions to minimize reloads.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: achievement hunter; completionist
    - Reference games: Shadow Tactics: Aiko's Choice; Desperados III DLCs
  - Narrative-First Player (buy)
    - Motivation: Experiencing an immersive western story with memorable characters and cinematic presentation.
    - Playstyle: Plays through the story at a steady pace, values atmosphere and character dialogue, avoids excessive trial-and-error to preserve narrative flow.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: story lover; cinematic experience seeker
    - Reference games: Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive; Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun


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:
- Unique and useful characters (weight 0.37): The diverse cast of characters is praised for unique abilities, distinct personalities, and making each one feel useful and memorable.
- Multiple solutions per level (weight 0.33): A core strength is the many ways to approach and complete each level, offering creative freedom and high replayability through multiple solutions.
- Exceeds Shadow Tactics precedent (weight 0.31): Many players view this game as a worthy successor to Shadow Tactics, praising it as a masterpiece that improves on its predecessor with better controls and a more enjoyable experience.
- Strong stealth tactics mix (weight 0.23): Combining strong stealth mechanics with tactical depth, the game is seen as a meticulously crafted stealth strategy title.
- Superb soundtrack and audio (weight 0.22): The game's soundtrack and audio design are consistently highlighted as excellent, adding greatly to the overall experience.
- Stunning visual presentation (weight 0.22): Reviewers note the beautiful and graphically impressive visuals, with detailed environments and high-quality design.
- Outstanding game overall (weight 0.18): Overall, the game is considered outstanding and excellent, with strong gameplay and high replay value.
- Excellent for newcomers (weight 0.18): Even newcomers to real-time tactics find the game insanely good and a superb entry point to the genre.
- Strong level design (weight 0.15): Level design is highly regarded for being strong, well-crafted, and offering multiple paths and approaches to progress.
- Good value for money (weight 0.13): Many find the game to be worth the price, especially when on sale, offering good value for the experience.
- Unique gameplay experience (weight 0.13): The gameplay is considered unique and stands out compared to other games, offering a distinct experience.
- Extremely fun to play (weight 0.13): The game is described as extremely fun and super enjoyable to play, emphasizing its high entertainment value.

Common complaints:
- Story is mediocre and cliché (weight 0.27): The story is widely considered decent but unremarkable—average, conventional, and at times cliché or cheap. It does not elevate the game and is often skippable.
- Too similar to Shadow Tactics (weight 0.27): Many reviews state Desperados III feels almost identical to Mimimi's previous game Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun, with similar skills, enemy types, and gameplay loops. Players expected more innovation and instead felt they were playing an expansion rather than a full sequel.
- Repetitive gameplay loop (weight 0.26): The gameplay becomes repetitive after the initial novelty wears off, with a similar puzzle structure throughout. The late game is described as monotonous and feels like a chore.
- Clunky UI and controls (weight 0.25): The user interface and controls (especially keyboard/mouse) are often reported as inconvenient, clunky, or uncomfortable. Issues include poor camera control, misleading pathfinding, and awkward default key bindings.
- Unfair achievement design (weight 0.21): Achievements and badges are criticized as unfair, hidden until after a mission, or requiring tedious grind (e.g., 200 kills with one skill). This design conflicts with stealth/no-kill playstyles and demands replaying missions.
- Pathfinding and control bugs (weight 0.21): Players report that characters sometimes ignore commands, take unintended actions, or suffer from pathfinding bugs (e.g., misclicks near cliffs, route plotting errors). This leads to many unnecessary reloads.
- Broken stealth mechanics (weight 0.19): Specific stealth mechanics are broken or inconsistent: blinding items not working, bodies not removed after alarm, noise inconsistencies, and stealth being rendered pointless by certain character abilities. Enemies spawning on alarm also frustrates players.
- Sharp difficulty spikes later (weight 0.18): Multiple players report that the game's difficulty spikes noticeably in mid-to-late missions, even on normal mode. This creates frustration and makes progress feel like a slog for many.
- Restrictive level design (weight 0.18): Level design is criticized as overly restrictive, often offering only one correct way to solve a situation. This limits player creativity and improvisation, turning the game into a trial-and-error puzzle.
- Frustrating trial-and-error gameplay (weight 0.17): Many reviews highlight frustration caused by trial-and-error gameplay, unclear solutions, and viewcone mechanics. The constant need to reload and retry makes the experience tiring.
- Poor save system (weight 0.16): The game lacks autosave and has only three quick save slots, leading to frequent manual saving and risk of progress loss. Save loading also has lag, which adds to frustration.
- Character management overwhelming (weight 0.15): Managing multiple characters simultaneously is described as overwhelming and stressful, especially when tracking enemy aggro across the map. The game also frequently removes party members, which adds to frustration.
- Restrictive late-game mechanics (weight 0.15): Later stages require increasingly tight timing and complex ability combos, and sometimes restrict party members or abilities. This stifles creativity and makes the game feel more like a strict puzzle.
- Enemy visibility and variety issues (weight 0.14): Enemies are sometimes hard to distinguish from the background, clip into each other, or have animation issues. Certain enemy types are immune to many abilities, making them tedious to deal with.
- Misses classic series' freedom and combat (weight 0.14): Some players miss the firefights and open-ended design of earlier Desperados or Commandos games. The game's genre labeling as real-time tactics is questioned, and lack of uncertainty is noted. Gunplay is also seen as weak.
- Missions are too long (weight 0.13): Several reviews mention that missions are excessively long, often taking 1–3 hours to complete. This makes the game feel tiring and can be torture for players who do not deeply enjoy the genre.
- DLC overpriced for content (weight 0.12): Players feel the DLC maps are overpriced relative to the amount of content offered (e.g., $5 for a single map). The cost-benefit ratio is seen as poor.
- Basic planning/Showdown mode (weight 0.1): The Showdown/planning feature is too basic—players cannot queue or stagger actions. The game also lacks a camera tracking feature, and some feel it needs more automation like RTS games.
- High entry barrier for beginners (weight 0.09): The game has a high entry barrier for genre newcomers; even the beginner difficulty is considered too tough. This limits its accessibility.

Gameplay feedback:
- Real-time tactical stealth with planning (weight 0.97): The core gameplay is stealth-focused real-time tactics with a planning mode, similar to Commandos and Shadow Tactics. Players pause time to queue actions and execute them simultaneously, emphasizing careful planning and execution.
- Multiple paths and approaches (weight 0.56): The game features isometric, puzzle-like levels with multiple paths and solutions. Players can choose between stealth or direct combat approaches, offering high mission variety.
- Western themed tactical stealth (weight 0.34): The game is set in the Wild West, blending a cowboy theme with tactical stealth gameplay. The western setting is a key differentiator from other games in the genre.
- High replayability via save-scumming (weight 0.09): Players report high replayability due to the ability to reload saves to perfect each approach. The multiple strategies per level encourage repeated playthroughs.
- Challenge badge system (weight 0.09): A badge system rewards players with challenges for completing levels under specific conditions, adding extra goals beyond main objectives.
- Baron challenges and bounty mode (weight 0.09): Baron Challenges are additional objectives (like time limits or special kills) that increase difficulty and replay value. A Bounty mode is also mentioned.
- Stealth primary, gunplay secondary (weight 0.09): While stealth is the primary focus, gunplay is present and can be used for direct combat. However, stealth is still the most effective and encouraged playstyle.
- DLC extends storyline (weight 0.08): The game includes DLC that adds three new stages forming a continuous storyline, expanding the main campaign.

Performance notes:
- Exceptional overall stability (weight 0.18): Multiple users report the game runs without crashes, lockups, or bugs, and is notably more stable than 'Blades of the Shogun'. One user completed 60 hours without encountering any issues.
- Satisfying technical features (weight 0.15): The game supports ultrawide monitors, 360-degree camera rotation, native joystick support, and offers good graphical and key rebinding options.
- Good Steam Deck compatibility (weight 0.07): The game plays well on Steam Deck, though initial control adjustments may be needed. Users confirm it works on the platform.

Recommendations:
- Classic RTT fans rejoice (weight 0.67): The game is highly recommended for fans of Commandos, Desperados, and Shadow Tactics, as well as classic real-time tactics and stealth strategy games.
- Strong overall recommendation (weight 0.38): Many reviewers give the game a strong overall recommendation, with some rating it 10/10 and calling it a no-brainer purchase for genre fans.
- Great for newcomers (weight 0.21): The game is recommended for players new to the real-time tactics genre, as well as those unfamiliar with previous games in the series.
- Good value for money (weight 0.19): Reviewers find the game worth its price, with some specifically recommending it when on sale for under $20 or even under $5.
- Tactical stealth gem (weight 0.11): Reviewers praise the game as a true gem for stealth tactics fans, suitable for those who love well-thought-out plans and stealth tactical gameplay.
- Buy on sale advice (weight 0.1): Some reviewers recommend buying the game when it is on sale, with specific price points mentioned like under $20 or under $5.
- Shadow Tactics comparison (weight 0.09): Some reviewers prefer Shadow Tactics over this game, and a few recommend playing Shadow Tactics instead, especially if expecting something new.
- Not for action seekers (weight 0.07): The game is not recommended for players who want constant action, fast pacing, or shooting, as it focuses on slow, tactical stealth.
- Appeals to Western fans (weight 0.07): The game is recommended for fans of Westerns and gunslingers, as well as those who enjoy thinking through strategies.
- Strategy enthusiasts love it (weight 0.07): The game is highly recommended for strategy enthusiasts and those interested in strategy games in general.
- Desperados 1 fans approve (weight 0.06): The game is recommended for fans of the original Desperados games, particularly Desperados 1 and 2.
- Genre enthusiasts must-play (weight 0.06): The game is considered a must-play for enthusiasts of the unique real-time tactics and stealth genre.
- High rating implies quality (weight 0.05): A rating of 8 out of 10 from some reviewers implies a strong recommendation and overall quality.

Other player notes:
- Studio disbandment impact (weight 0.06): Players express regret that the developer studio Mimimi has disbanded. This raises concerns that similar high-quality games from the same studio will not be produced in the future.

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.13): Players feel satisfied due to the rewarding learning curve, well-designed levels, and engaging gameplay. Successfully executing complex plans and solving tactical puzzles provides a sense of mastery and earned accomplishment. The game's overall polish, challenge, and variety of mission approaches contribute to a highly fulfilling experience.
- Frustration (weight 0.1): Frustration stems from high difficulty spikes, lengthy missions, and punishing save systems that can cause significant progress loss. Clunky controls, AI pathfinding issues, and the requirement to replay long sections for perfection also irritate players. Managing multiple characters simultaneously is a persistent pain point.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.09): Players enjoy the game's easy-to-pick-up yet fun gameplay, with excellent tactical mechanics and varied mission designs. The engaging story, interesting characters with unique abilities, and multiple strategic approaches add to the fun. The game is praised as a polished improvement over its predecessor, Shadow Tactics.
- Excitement (weight 0.08): Excitement arises from the game's deep mechanics, surprising challenges, and the thrill of pulling off perfectly coordinated assassination plans. The addictive core gameplay and upgraded features keep players engaged for hours. Discovering new character combinations and strategies well into the game generates sustained enthusiasm.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.07): Nostalgia is driven by strong memories of classic Commandos and Desperados games, as well as childhood gaming moments shared with family. The prequel setting and classic Western music evoke a sense of connection to the franchise's roots. Completing the game after years of wanting to play it parallels the character's journey with the player's own growth.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.07): Nostalgia is driven by strong memories of classic Commandos and Desperados games, as well as childhood gaming moments shared with family. The prequel setting and classic Western music evoke a sense of connection to the franchise's roots. Completing the game after years of wanting to play it parallels the character's journey with the player's own growth.
- Disappointment (weight 0.04): Disappointment comes from poor voice acting, missing classic characters, and the game's similarity to Shadow Tactics without significant innovation. The separate paid DLC is seen as overpriced for its small content, and the lack of features like camera tracking frustrates some. The developer's shutdown also fuels disappointment about no future installments.
- Admiration (weight 0.04): Players admire the game as a masterpiece and one of the best in the tactical stealth genre. The detailed level design, excellent music, and multiple approach options for stealth and assassination are highly praised. It is considered a carefully crafted experience that surpasses its predecessors.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Appreciation is expressed for the distinct character abilities, flexible difficulty settings, and the clear investment of time and creativity from the developers. The Western soundtrack, detailed visuals, and overall polish (UI, level design, VFX) are also highlighted. Legacy of the studio is a contributing factor.
- Sadness (weight 0.03): Sadness primarily stems from the disbandment of Mimimi Games, the studio behind the game. Players express regret over the studio's short journey and the loss of potential future titles. The crying Mimimi logo in-game serves as a poignant reminder of this closure.
- Surprise (weight 0.03): Surprise comes from the game exceeding expectations, especially for players not usually drawn to the tactical genre. The discovery of new characters and mechanics many hours into the game is unexpected. The overall quality and longevity of the experience pleasantly surprises newcomers.
- Engagement (weight 0.03): Engagement is driven by the need for careful planning, multiple level solutions, and the immersive Wild West atmosphere and soundtrack. Experimenting with different character combinations keeps the experience fresh. The thinking process itself is highly engaging for players.
- Interest (weight 0.02): Interest is sparked by the engaging story and mission variety, which motivates players to explore other similar games like the original Desperados and Commandos series. The unique save/load mechanic, which contrasts with games like FTL, also piques curiosity.
- Love (weight 0.02): Explicit love for the game is expressed through direct statements and a strong appreciation for the Wild West theme. Players love every moment of the main story, indicating a deep emotional connection to the experience.
- Regret (weight 0.02): Regret is centered on the disbandment of Mimimi Games and the resulting unlikely prospect of seeing similar excellent RTT genre works in the future. Players mourn the loss of a studio that revitalized the genre.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger arises from the game being in an unplayable state for some, frustrating story moments (e.g., a character's behavior leading to harm), and losing significant progress due to the save system. These issues cause strong negative emotional reactions.
- Fun (weight 0.01): Fun is derived from challenges that utilize different character abilities and from the overall gameplay and optimization. The core loop provides a consistently enjoyable experience.
- Amazement (weight 0.01): Amazement is expressed over the incredible value and quality of the game, especially for its low cost. The creative final mission, rich content, and visible skill improvement through replay all contribute to this feeling. Discover the genre through this game was overwhelming.
- Praise (weight 0.01): Praise is given to Mimimi Games for being the best tactical stealth developer, and the game is considered superior to other titles like Assassin's Creed. It is recognized as the best stealth game in its class.
- Impressed (weight 0.01): Impression is made by the polished mechanics tailored for the tactical isometric stealth genre. The impressive visuals, achieved on the Unity engine, also stand out as a technical achievement.}