Where do I begin?
Everyone's a critic... so here's mine:
In the beginning, I was entrapped by the artwork, music, and the voicing - as expected from JAZZA products. The storyline is well-thought out too, and progresses with talking to others in the Keep. Since the gameplay is a bit different from what I've experienced and the rating was high, I decided to give this game a try and a chance. Right now, however, I starting to really hate it.
Starting out was fun. Getting to try out the moves 1 and 2 - it was fun to see those weak enemies torn apart and left as a bloody mess. That's as far as the fun gets though. It's a real pain in the ass struggle to keep up the hordes of enemies coming from every direction. This is especially true at Week 8 with the Catapults and massive amount of crossbow archers. There are no Health Bars, I don't have a clue as to the damage I'm dealing to any of the enemies & thus makes it feel semi-hopeless in performing my attacks. About the attacks, I don't really have time to adjust to them: 1) they are pre-arranged, which means I don't get to choose what I believe to be the most important; 2) when you mouse over them, there is no description or name after they are introduced - I'm not going to remember what a move does from an order I don't like while being pressed for time; 3) you can't upgrade the strength of the moves, #2 is only useful during the first couple of weeks; 4) the special 'red' one-time moves are virtually useless, the arrows are so scattered that not even half of anything dies & I can't figure out what good 'R' is if I can't use it on a catapult; and 5) how come I don't get to see my moves while in the camp?
My suggestions on moves: 1) allow the players to arrange them; 2) add the name to each of the moves, so they show when moused over; 3) perhaps add skill trees or simply add upgrades to improve the strength of the attacks; 4) really? one time use specials? how come they don't work as trump cards?; 5) maybe add a training area in the camp, where I can practice using them without the fear of failure.
The allowable upgrades really don't show any special improvements either, and they aren't cheap either. The amount of coin you make from the battles won't give you any kind of upper-hand for the next battle. At least, 1/3 or 1/2 will be spent repairing the wall - which leaves barely enough to upgrade one other option, but there is a worry that the next battle will be harder so you spend what you have to improve the wall. Apart from it 'looking' more fortified, it's still a useless barrier - perhaps allow an upgrade that give it spikes or something to deal slight damage to attacks at the gate. Improving Argus doesn't make him faster, or seemingly any stronger or well defended... so it's a waste of funds too.
Yay, week 5 or so... the camp finally gained some minor reinforcements! Yet Argus is still the only one fighting... Fan-Freakin'-Tastic! >.<
Lastly, for a game that requires the player to have what is suggested under the DISCLAIMER, how come there are not quality controls? I'm able to play it relatively smoothly, but there is lag and it is annoying. Along with being able to pause it, I should be able to access options to turn off the music or sound effects. I understand that the music in the game is made specifically for the game, but I should have the option of turning it off without having to mute all sounds on my computer - nothing spells annoying more than 'the gate is under attack' repeated several dozen times and not being able to listen to music that I like... plus, I'm not standing where the enemies spawn, I can see the gate and there's obviously no way the gate IS NOT under attack.
I feel that the focus for Battle of Wayland Keep was more for the art and story, rather than for the gameplay. Either this was rushed to meet a deadline to be presented, or lacked testing and suggestions on improvements... whatever the reason, it could be much better. It has great potential, but how it is now kills it for me. The review from "starwarsjunkie" also has some great points.
Thanks,
~BZ