Info about Songs of Conquest: Official game description: Songs of Conquest is a turn-based strategy game where you lead powerful magicians called Wielders and venture to lands unknown. Wage battles against armies that dare oppose you, hunt for powerful artifacts and expand your territory. The world is ripe for the taking – seize it! **Adventure Awaits** -------------------- Explore a wide variety of maps with diverse enemies and valuable loot. Delve into contrasting biomes with unique factions, environments and battlefields. **Build an Empire** ------------------- Manage resources, research new advancements and expand your kingdom. Plan your towns to match your playstyle – Will you enlist every archer you can to rain death from their bows, or will the eternal legions of Aurelia march to war beneath your banners? **Wage War** ------------ Dive into a deep combat system using troop abilities and powerful magic. Combine troops to maximize available spells and damage potential. March into epic siege battles and determine which faction matches your playstyle and strategy. There are many ways to conquer! **Play Your Way** ----------------- Handcrafted maps for the curious adventurer, or randomized maps for endless replayability. Conquest maps allow head-to-head battles, while Challenge maps offer strategic puzzles to hone your tactical thinking. Find a plethora of maps created by the Lavapotion team as well as our mod community. **Alone or Together** --------------------- Venture into the world of Aerbor on your own, team up with a friend, or enlist AI allies and enemies - the choice is yours. The majority of maps are playable in single player, co-op, or multiplayer through local hotseat or online. **Four Factions** ----------------- Four factions are locked in an epic conflict. Arleon, knights of old battling each other for dominance. Rana, ancient tribes fighting for survival in the swamp. Loth, necromancers raising the dead to create a glorious future. Barya, bold mercenaries and inventors dedicated to coin, gunpowder and independence. **Four Choral Campaigns** ------------------------- Listen to the bards as they celebrate your path to victory. Each campaign comes with a unique song that tells the tale of your rise and ruin. Unlock new verses as you complete missions, enjoying the full track at the end of the journey. **In-game Map Editor** ---------------------- The in-game map editor allows you to create your own adventures using the same tools the developers use to create campaign and skirmish maps. Script in-game events, control the soundtrack, write dialogue and share your creations with others! Release date: 20 May, 2024 Categories: Turn-based Strategy, 4X, Resource Management, Base Building, Tactical Combat, Exploration, Single-player Story, Cooperative Multiplayer, Competitive Multiplayer, Map Editor - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: No data - Playtime Metrics: No data - Time-to-fun: No data - Player Archetypes: No data 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: - Homage to Heroes of Might/Magic (weight 0.95): Songs of Conquest is heavily inspired by the Heroes of Might and Magic series, particularly HoMM3, with many reviewers directly comparing the two. It successfully captures the essence of the older game while introducing enough changes and improvements to feel modern and fresh. Many reviewers state that fans of HoMM will enjoy this game. - Generic positive feedback (weight 0.65): These clusters contain mostly generic positive feedback, such as reviewers enjoying the game, finding it fun, and praising its graphics and story. While positive, these points lack specific details and actionable feedback, reducing their overall importance. - Deep and rewarding tactical gameplay (weight 0.6): The game offers deep and rewarding tactical gameplay, with a unique magic system tied to army composition. Unit stack limits, terrain advantages, and diverse unit abilities encourage strategic thinking and careful planning in battles. The magic system, where units generate essence for spells, adds another layer of strategic depth and variability. - Excellent and immersive soundtrack (weight 0.41): The game features an excellent soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere and immerses players in the game's world. The music is described as epic, memorable, and fitting for the fantasy setting, with unique songs and bard tales adding to each faction's flair. The sound design is also praised for its attention to detail and contribution to the overall atmosphere. - Active development and community support (weight 0.14): The developers are actively engaged with the community, consistently releasing updates, fixing bugs, and adding new content. This dedication to improving the game and responding to player feedback is a significant positive. The game has also received numerous quality of life improvements since its initial release. - High-quality Ukrainian localization (weight 0.08): The game features high-quality Ukrainian localization, with authentic language and subtle jokes. The presence of Ukrainian language support is a major factor in the reviewer's purchasing decision. The game also has very nice polish localization. - Fun and enjoyable multiplayer experience (weight 0.07): The game offers a fun and enjoyable multiplayer experience, with no syncing issues or bugs. The hotseat mode allows multiple players to play on the same device, and online play is easy to set up and play with friends. The game also has controller support, making it convenient to play on consoles. Common complaints: - Unengaging gameplay and weak campaign (weight 0.78): Many reviewers found the gameplay loop unengaging due to overpowered enemy AI, weak player spells, and a lack of tactical options. The campaign missions are often boring and repetitive, with a weak story and uninspired characters. These issues contribute to a lack of depth and replayability. - Unbalanced and inconsistent difficulty (weight 0.66): The game suffers from unbalanced difficulty, with AI advantages and inconsistent scaling. Many reviewers found the game too easy or too hard, with few options for a balanced experience. This issue is exacerbated by a lack of clear tutorials and explanations of game mechanics. - Limited faction and unit variety (weight 0.64): The game has a limited number of factions and units compared to similar titles like Heroes of Might and Magic. This lack of variety restricts strategic diversity and can lead to repetitive gameplay. Many reviewers expressed a desire for more factions, units, and content to be added to the game. - Poor visual clarity due to pixelation (weight 0.62): The game's pixel art style is a point of contention, with many reviewers finding it difficult to distinguish objects and units on the map. The lack of visual clarity and detail can lead to missed opportunities and a frustrating gameplay experience. Some reviewers also found the graphics to be outdated and unappealing. - Inconsistent and unbalanced magic system (weight 0.59): The magic system is criticized for being both underpowered and overpowered, with situational spells and a lack of impact on battles. Some reviewers found the magic system to be complex and inconvenient, while others found it to be unbalanced and frustrating. This inconsistency detracts from the overall gameplay experience. - Clunky and unintuitive city management (weight 0.56): The city building and management system is clunky and unintuitive, lacking a proper city screen and clear building dependencies. The placement of settlement icons is unclear, and the limited building slots restrict player freedom. These issues make town management a frustrating and tedious task. - Unreliable and unfun battle system (weight 0.56): The auto-battle feature is often more effective than manual combat, disincentivizing strategic play. The AI's questionable decisions and the lack of simultaneous battles in multiplayer further detract from the overall gameplay experience. These issues make battles feel unfun and unfair. - Clunky maps and poor signposting (weight 0.55): The game's maps are clunky and lack dynamism, with slow hero movement and an overabundance of detailed objects. The poor signposting of map goals and the tedious task of hunting down the last heroes further detract from the overall gameplay experience. These issues make exploration and map management a frustrating task. - Inconsistent and cheating AI (weight 0.53): The AI is inconsistent and often cheats, giving itself more resources and using overpowered abilities. This makes the game less fun and creates an unfair playing field. Some reviewers also noted that the AI's behavior is illogical and predictable, making it easy to exploit. - Unintuitive controls and cumbersome UI (weight 0.53): The game's controls are unintuitive and require too many clicks to perform basic actions. Moving troops between entities is cumbersome, and the lack of keyboard shortcuts further detracts from the overall gameplay experience. These issues make unit management a frustrating and tedious task. - Uninspired and repetitive unit abilities (weight 0.52): Unit abilities are often uninspired and lack thematic depth, with many units sharing the same abilities. This reduces tactical depth and makes units feel indistinct. Some reviewers also noted that unit designs are taken from other games, reducing the game's uniqueness. - Complex and poorly explained spells (weight 0.51): The spell system is complex and not well explained, with counter-intuitive icons and convoluted mana systems. The small pool of spells and the ability to spam spells further detract from the overall gameplay experience. These issues make the magic system frustrating and difficult to master. - No simultaneous multiplayer battles (weight 0.51): The lack of simultaneous battles in multiplayer is a significant drawback, forcing players to wait for others to finish their fights before being able to participate. This issue makes multiplayer games feel slow and tedious. Some reviewers also noted that allies cannot watch the current battle. - Weak sound design and missing features (weight 0.5): The game's sound design lacks punchiness, and the soundtrack is forgettable. The absence of voice acting and the lack of a combat log further detract from the overall experience. These issues make combat feel less impactful and engaging. - Unfavorable Heroes of Might & Magic comparisons (weight 0.49): The game is often compared to Heroes of Might and Magic III, with many reviewers finding it to be a less polished and less content-rich version. The lack of originality and the absence of key features from the Heroes series further detract from the overall experience. This comparison highlights the game's shortcomings and its failure to live up to its inspiration. - Poor writing and uninspired characters (weight 0.4): The game's writing is often criticized for being abysmal, with characters feeling disconnected from reality and a plot that lacks depth. The absence of voice acting and the inconsistent character design further detract from the overall experience. These issues make the story and characters uninteresting and unengaging. - Concerns about DLC pricing and value (weight 0.06): Some reviewers expressed concerns about the game's DLC pricing and content, with some feeling that the DLCs are overpriced and do not add enough value to the base game. There are also concerns that the DLCs are being used to fix issues that should have been addressed in the base game. These concerns raise questions about the game's long-term value and the developers' intentions. Gameplay feedback: - Essence-based magic from unit composition (weight 0.58): The game features a unique magic system where spells are powered by 'essence' generated by units in the player's army during combat. Different unit types generate different essences, requiring players to strategically balance army composition for optimal spellcasting. This system replaces traditional mana and adds a layer of tactical depth to battles. - Core gameplay: 4X turn-based strategy (weight 0.37): The core gameplay loop involves turn-based strategy on a world map where players manage resources, build cities, recruit units, and explore. Tactical combat occurs on a hexagonal grid, with unit positioning and terrain playing crucial roles. The game blends elements of resource management, RPG progression, and tactical battles. - Unit caps prevent 'doomstacking' (weight 0.18): The game implements unit caps and stack limits, preventing players from creating overwhelmingly powerful 'doomstacks'. This encourages strategic army composition, multiple heroes, and tactical play in both early and late game. Leadership skill is required to increase army size. - Turn-based tactical hex-grid combat (weight 0.14): Tactical combat is turn-based and takes place on hex grids, with terrain and unit positioning playing a crucial role. The game includes features like zones of control and initiative-based turn order. An auto-battle option is available, allowing players to resolve battles automatically or manually. - Strategic city building with limited slots (weight 0.12): City building involves constructing various structures within settlements, with limited building slots forcing strategic choices. Cities are built directly on the map and can be upgraded to unlock more building slots and advanced units. This system encourages players to specialize cities and manage resources carefully. - Understandable mechanics, strategic depth (weight 0.07): The game's mechanics are generally understandable, with the initial campaign serving as a tutorial. However, the game also offers strategic depth and complexity that becomes apparent as players delve deeper. Some reviewers noted inconsistent map design quality. - Interactive maps, direct city management (weight 0.04): Maps vary in size and feature interactive objects, encouraging exploration and resource gathering. Building construction, unit recruitment, and hero acquisition are done directly on the map, streamlining city management. The game also includes a map editor for creating custom scenarios. - Multiple game modes available (weight 0.04): The game offers a variety of game modes, including campaigns, skirmishes, and multiplayer options. These modes provide different ways to experience the game and cater to various playstyles. The game also features an editor for creating custom maps and scenarios. - Interconnected faction campaigns (weight 0.04): The game features a campaign mode with interconnected stories for each of the four factions. Campaigns are cleared by fulfilling specific conditions, such as controlling certain locations or eliminating enemy factions. The developer suggests a chronological order for playing the campaigns to experience a cohesive story. - Limited races, flexible mechanics (weight 0.02): Some reviewers noted that the game has a limited number of races and skills, which can reduce strategic diversity. However, the flexible gameplay mechanics compensate for this limitation. Unit sizes are also limited, making the game more strategic but preventing fun steamrolls. - Heroes command armies, recruit units (weight 0.02): Recruiting soldiers follows a similar process to Heroes of Might and Magic, with side-heroes transporting units to the main hero. Cities are vulnerable without a hero present for defense. Armies are commanded by wielders who resemble RPG heroes with equipment, skills, and stats. Performance notes: - Inconsistent game performance reported (weight 0.14): The game's performance is inconsistent. Many players report smooth gameplay, good optimization, and low hardware requirements, especially on Steam Deck and M1 Macs. However, others experience performance issues like stuttering, FPS drops, crashes, memory leaks, and long loading times, even on systems that meet the recommended specifications. - Mixed opinions on graphics (weight 0.03): The game's graphics receive mixed feedback. Some find the pixelated style acceptable or even appreciate the cleaner tactical combat map, while others criticize the lack of definition and difficulty in identifying objects on the campaign map. - Few bugs or technical issues (weight 0.03): Multiple reviewers reported encountering few to no bugs or technical issues during their playtime, suggesting a stable and polished experience. - Variable Steam Deck performance (weight 0.02): The game's performance on Steam Deck varies. Some users recommend turning off handheld performance options for better frame rates, while others report the game struggling to maintain a steady 60 FPS. Battery life is reported to be around 5 hours. - Specific bugs reported (weight 0.02): Several players have encountered specific bugs, such as incorrect battle outcomes, save file corruption, crashes on certain maps, and lag when capturing large cities. - Fast-paced movement and combat (weight 0.02): The game features fast-paced movement and combat, with quick troop movement on the battlefield and minimal loading times during gameplay. - Long auto-battle, load times (weight 0.02): Some players have reported long auto-battle calculation times and excessive load times, even on relatively powerful systems, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay. - Screen tearing, rendering delays (weight 0.01): Some players have experienced screen tearing and rendering delays when scrolling around the map, which can detract from the visual experience. - Steam Deck workarounds exist (weight 0.01): Some issues encountered on Steam Deck, such as mouse and music problems, can be resolved by using a gamepad or external devices. - Multiplayer is optimized (weight 0.01): Multiplayer is optimized. - Pleasant but limited music (weight 0.01): The game's music is described as pleasant but limited in quantity. - Air M2 heats up (weight 0.01): The game caused the reviewer's Air M2 to heat up. - Map editor launches (weight 0.01): The map editor launched successfully. - Pixel art, technically 3D (weight 0.01): The graphics are stylized as pixel art but are technically 3D. Recommendations: - Enjoyable and worth the price (weight 0.68): Many reviewers find the game enjoyable and worth its price, especially when purchased on sale. They praise its addictive gameplay, solid mechanics, and the overall value it offers for the cost. Some consider it a great culmination of the genre with new ideas, while others highlight its suitability for relaxing evening sessions. - Great for HoMM fans (weight 0.66): A significant number of reviewers compare the game favorably to the Heroes of Might and Magic series, particularly HoMM3, often recommending it to fans of the franchise. They see it as a spiritual successor or a worthy alternative, capturing the essence of the older games while introducing fresh elements. Some suggest it as a good starting point for newcomers to the genre, while others believe it surpasses the Heroes series in certain aspects. - Buy on sale (weight 0.44): Some reviewers suggest waiting for a sale before purchasing the game, while others recommend it only with reservations. This sentiment often stems from concerns about balancing issues, mediocre graphics, or the feeling that the game is overpriced at full price. However, some reviewers are satisfied with their purchase, especially when acquired at a discounted price. - Promising future development (weight 0.16): Reviewers acknowledge the game's potential and express hope for its future development. They appreciate its fresh perspective on the genre and believe it has the capacity to become a great game with continued updates and expansions. Many are looking forward to seeing how the developers deepen the game world and add more content. - Comfy aesthetics and gameplay (weight 0.07): Reviewers appreciate the game's comfortable aesthetics, wonderful soundtrack, and the ability to play at their own pace. They recommend it for players who enjoy single-player and turn-based strategy games, as well as those who appreciate pixel art and casual gameplay. - Overpowered auto-battle (weight 0.02): One reviewer suggests that the auto-battle feature is overpowered and should only be helpful when the player's army is significantly stronger. This indicates a potential balancing issue that could detract from the strategic depth of the game. - Unoriginal and inferior copy (weight 0.01): One reviewer strongly criticizes the game, claiming it copies a more popular game and is worse in every aspect, including visuals and music. This negative sentiment suggests that the game may lack originality and fail to deliver a compelling experience compared to its competitors. - Potential game of the year (weight 0.01): Some reviewers express strong enthusiasm, considering the game one of the best of the year and even a potential Game of the Year contender. This indicates a high level of satisfaction and a belief that the game stands out among its peers. Other player notes: - Distinct, divisive pixel art style (weight 0.05): The game features a distinct pixel art style, often compared to Heroes of Might and Magic 3 or Disciples. While some appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic, others find it off-putting or requiring adjustments for visibility. The quality of the pixel art is generally considered pleasing. - Limited factions, more planned as DLC (weight 0.05): Currently, the game features a limited number of factions, with some reviewers finding them too similar. The developers plan to introduce new factions as paid DLC, which has generated mixed reactions. Some players feel the base game should be more solidified before adding more factions. - Extensive modding and AI support (weight 0.04): The game boasts a wealth of content creation tools and readily available community-made content. Players can enjoy a variety of skirmishes, scenarios, and maps, significantly extending the game's lifespan. The computer AI is also praised for its solid performance and adjustable difficulty. - Mixed opinions on story/characters (weight 0.03): Reviews are mixed on the game's story and characters. Some find them unremarkable, while others appreciate the humor, emotion, and coherent plot. The game is generally perceived as being made with care and attention to detail. - Campaigns with musical summaries (weight 0.03): The game features a unique campaign structure where each mission is followed by a song summarizing the events. While creative, the campaigns themselves are short, consisting of only four missions each. AI was used to help make the cutscenes between the campaign missions. - Good localization in multiple languages (weight 0.02): The game features good localization in multiple languages, including Russian and Chinese. Players may need to manually enable the desired language option within the game settings. Emotions: No emotions}