The Banner Saga Reviews
The Banner Saga has flaws, but that does not stop it from being a worthwhile epic that gets so much right that its issues with railroading and combat variety are minor obstacles in the path of this dark, compelling giant of an RPG.
The renown mechanic was a huge misstep and the Dredge become a bit dull after 15 hours of slaughtering them, but Stoic has still managed to weave a compelling tapestry of epic conflicts with emotionally engaging characters. When I found myself with a dagger in my back courtesy of characters I trusted, I was enraged. When I saw my warriors survive against the impossible odds, I was elated. It's a rollercoaster of agonising decisions and hard-won battles, and as filled with sadness as it is, I was just as sad to step off the ride.
The Banner Saga is an absolutely gorgeous, engrossing RPG that features well-balanced and pleasingly tactical turn-based combat. It's a linear journey, but one that's definitely worth taking.
Ultimately, the steep learning curve and focus on statistics management which could be considered a hindrance is vastly outshined by The Banner Saga's absolutely memorizing production value.
If you've got a hankering for strategic role-playing and an epic narrative with plenty of player choice, The Banner Saga should become one of your priorities on PS4. The combat, while a little uneven difficulty-wise across the game's campaign, nevertheless manages to hit the sweet spot between simple accessibility and strategic depth. You'd also be hard-pressed to find an indie with as much artistic inspiration: gorgeous character art, painterly backgrounds and an exceptional put to rest the misguided notion that indies can't turn out aesthetic appeal on a limited budget. Sure, it's not always perfect — the game's lack of guidance, difficulty spikes and voice acting may occasionally leave you feeling a little lost and alone — but perhaps that's just in keeping with the unforgiving Norse world that inspired it.
The Banner Saga is an excellent game, driven by a wonderful score and a moving story. It's a perfect fit for the Switch too, and the port itself is handled well.
With beautiful hand-drawn animation and combat, The Banner Saga is a welcome relief to a gaming environment that is full of fast-paced and realistic scenarios. Making decisions and not knowing what the consequences of your decision keeps you on your guard through out the game. Given the slow pace of turn-based combat, I wish the game included a save function in the middle of combat. I also had a problem figuring out when the game last saved, but who needs saving when you are immersed in this epic story of hope and survival.
An experience I advise no one to miss.
The negatives aren't that big of a negative for me, however, I do love role-playing games where you actually control your character and can move freely around the map. This game is one of the best tactics rpgs I have played in my life. I would recommend this game to anyone who wants to try it out whether you get it for Switch or not.
The Banner Saga is a highly worthwhile addition to any Switch library.
The Banner Saga can be unforgiving at times but it is worth all the effort.
[D]espite all its strengths, it somehow falls slightly short in simply being fun to play. Due to the bleak landscapes, the depressing situations your characters find themselves in and the challenging tactical combat, this is a game for those who will find the challenge rewarding rather than those looking for lighter entertainment.
The Banner Saga's combination of well-designed strategy gameplay with grand storytelling make for an exceptional title.
Anyone who plays games to get lost in a world and its story will love The Banner Saga.
The Banner Saga, for all its visual elegance, stumbles onto the PS4 with a very spare, workmanlike port that falls short not through any single big problem, but from the accretion of smaller issues. from the interface to the controls to the loading times. For all its faults The Banner Saga is clearly a labor of love.
A beautiful journey with a few stumbles
The Banner Saga's strong narrative, exquisite visual design and distinctive thematic approach to RPGs coupled with its insistence on making every decision and conversation have an impact on player experience make it a must-buy for Strategy-RPG fans.
The Banner Saga is a beautiful, exemplary game that you owe it to yourself to play.
The Banner Saga's first chapter opens a window to the potential this series has, but now Stoic need to work on solving the issues for the sequel so that this series can become a truly great strategy RPG.
If you're getting tired of swords and sorcery, or just looking for meaty tactical battles, few RPGs will satisfy you better.