Stormgate reviews: disappointing early impressions and growing concerns
As we follow the Ablight news closely, the reviews for it's direct competitor Stormgate paint a bleak picture of a game struggling to live up to its potential and the expectations of its backers. Across multiple reviews, common themes of disappointment with the game's core mechanics, art direction, and writing emerge. Players who participated in early beta tests and provided extensive feedback report that their suggestions were largely ignored, leading to little improvement in the game's overall quality. Many reviewers express a sense of unfulfilled promise, noting that despite considerable playtime and effort, the game's development has not progressed in a meaningful way."Everything is dull, safe, generic and/or badly implemented. I had high hopes for this game, but I don't think it is possible to fix so many flaws."- ChillFlame, one of the Steam reviewers for Stormgate
A major point of contention among the reviewers is the game's art style and visual presentation. Described as a poor mix of influences from games like Fortnite and Valorant, the art direction is criticized for being both aesthetically unappealing and technically flawed. Reviewers highlight issues with animations, unit design, and the overall visual experience, comparing it unfavorably to much older RTS games like Warcraft 3 and Red Alert 3. The lack of impact and engagement in the gameplay further exacerbates these visual shortcomings, leading to a pervasive sense of boredom.
Another significant concern is the game's writing and story, which are described as cliched, incoherent, and poorly executed. One reviewer likened the narrative to a collection of random tropes thrown together without any meaningful cohesion. The dialogue and characters are seen as especially weak, making it difficult for players to stay engaged with the campaign. This lack of narrative quality, combined with the lackluster gameplay, makes it hard for players to recommend the game.
"Please, devs, give this game some soul, some excitement to be had in it. Otherwise, I worry it will just be a project that dies on the free to play market with little to no player base."- Germican, another reviewer on Steam
The game's monetization strategy also comes under heavy fire. Players who invested in founder packs or supported the game during its Kickstarter campaign feel misled by the developers' promises. The shift in messaging from being "funded until release" to only being funded until early access has left a bitter taste, with some accusing the developers of deceptive practices. The cost of additional content, such as co-op commanders and campaign missions, is considered exorbitant, especially when compared to other RTS games like StarCraft 2, further alienating supporters.
In conclusion, while Stormgate shows some promise, particularly in its multiplayer aspects, the overwhelming sentiment among these reviews is one of frustration and disappointment. The game suffers from a combination of uninspired design, poor implementation, and questionable business practices, leaving many early supporters doubtful about its future success. Despite hopes for improvement, the current state of the game suggests that it has a long way to go before it can meet the expectations of its RTS fanbase.
