Nightwar Introduction:


"Battle Chasers: Nightwar is a turn-based role-playing video game developed by Airship Syndicate and published by THQ Nordic. It made its debut in October 2017 on platforms such as Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, followed by a release on Nintendo Switch and Linux in May 2018. The game draws its inspiration from Joe Madureira's Battle Chasers fantasy comic book series, placing the comic's characters on an island where they must thwart the schemes of an evil sorceress to secure their escape.


Critics lauded the game's graphics and visual style but voiced concerns about its challenging difficulty balance and the need for extensive grinding.

Gameplay:


The game's central characters include Garrison, a brooding swordsman; Calibretto, a kind-hearted war golem; Red Monika, a rogue; Knolan, a witty and aged mage; and Gully, a young girl equipped with magical gauntlets, searching for her father. Their airship crashes on a mysterious island teeming with ne'er-do-wells drawn by the discovery of a rich source of mana, including the malevolent sorceress Destra.

Players navigate the game's linear overworld, encountering enemies at predetermined locations until they venture into dungeons. Inside these dungeons, they explore an isometric view reminiscent of Diablo, battling foes and avoiding traps using special abilities. During battles, the game introduces an "overcharge" mechanic, allowing players to use accumulated non-magical attacks as a substitute for mana. The player can adjust dungeon difficulty settings before entering, with higher difficulties yielding greater experience points upon completion.

Notably, Battle Chasers: Nightwar represents the maiden venture for Airship Syndicate, formed by former Vigil Games staff. Although the development team is based in the United States, the game adheres to the conventions of traditional Japanese role-playing games, incorporating elements like procedurally generated dungeons. Funding for the game was partially secured through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, which successfully raised $856,354 in October 2015 to support its development.

Final Words:


Reviewers had positive remarks for the game, with Rich Meister of Destructoid awarding it an 8/10 rating, praising its enjoyable gameplay and striking visuals but critiquing a noticeable spike in difficulty leading to grinding as players progressed deeper into the game. Bryan Vitale of RPG Site similarly gave the game an 8/10 rating, noting that while the narrative and gameplay were somewhat unoriginal, the game's unique presentation elevated it beyond its individual components. TJ Hafer of IGN also bestowed an 8/10 rating upon the game, describing it as a skillfully modernized retro-style RPG. However, Hafer criticized the characters as somewhat two-dimensional, lacking significant character development or personal growth."