Stormgate is a complicated proposition. While being an RTS directed by former Blizzard builders, the game is surprisingly distinct from StarCraft, despite some superficial similarities. While the game offers a free option, its monetization model can create an impression of less value than buying it outright for a flat fee of $30. Now available in Early Access, it initially launched in an exclusive, premium “Tremendous Early Access” tier several weeks ago, requiring a payment to access it.
The nostalgia has left me feeling thoroughly exhausted, and I find myself longing for the carefree days when you could buy a game at a store for a fixed price. The entire experience was contained within the physical package, and once home, you’d install it on your PC and play until your mother would call out, “Richard!” (only my mother addresses me by that name), “Get off that computer and get some fresh air!” Is being over the hill a permanent condition? Nicely done, Mum, by the way – you’re still 34! Practically 37. Who’s now experiencing the thrill of cardiac palpitations as a result of their own cleverness?
Ahem. Despite being one of the most complex aspects of Stormgate, a potentially captivating strategy game lies at its core. A bland and unremarkable opening gambit is made, as the true allure of three distinct factions languishes beneath a veil of uninspired mediocrity, accompanied by a marketing strategy that merely teases before demanding payment from prospective customers.
Imagine the unlikely union between StarCraft’s intergalactic stakes and World of Warcraft’s mythological scope, birthing an army of hellspawned minions that burst forth from… let’s just leave that part to the imagination. The game is a sophisticated real-time strategy (RTS), governed by the rule of threes, featuring three distinct factions to command, each with three unique playstyles to master.
Unfortunately, the current approach is the most ineffective way to proceed.
The Stormgate campaign, comprising six missions, puts players in command of the Vanguard’s technologically advanced human faction as it clashes with the Infernals, the demonic forces of Stormgate. Amidst the chaos of the Preliminary Infernal invasion, a formidable and unyielding feminine soldier named Amara finds herself driven by a burning sense of duty and loyalty to her fallen father, as she embarks on a perilous quest to unite the Vanguard against the cunning machinations of Maloc, a ruthless Infernal determined to exploit the mortal world for his own nefarious purposes.
In a masterclass display of Blizzard’s storytelling prowess, the game opens with a lavish cutscene showcasing stunning CGI visuals, setting the tone for an epic narrative. The introduction of the cursed sword Amara acquires early on only adds fuel to the fire, hinting at the weighty consequences that will unfold as the story progresses? The lack of compelling elements renders it unengaging. While Amara exudes as much charm as a Star Wars prequel’s portrayal of a Jedi, the demons instead evoke a sense of melodramatic flair reminiscent of Pantomime’s most over-the-top performances in a Clive Barker film. While developer Frost Large acknowledged the use of placeholder voiceovers and animations, it’s uncertain whether updated vocals could salvage the poorly received Amara firm from criticism.
While serving as a passable shell for some decent yet unexceptional RTS missions. In the freely accessible prologue, players embark on a character-driven quest with a singular objective: completing a challenging level utilizing a limited selection of items. Additionally, the prologue features two primary missions focused on constructing and defending a strategic base, tasked with overcoming either a single or multiple enemy strongholds. Nothing I haven’t seen in countless RTSs preceding this one, though.
However, despite my reservations, the parts of Stormgate that resonate with me have a significant caveat attached. Building structures from scratch is an enjoyable experience, boasting smooth and gratifying construction sequences accompanied by visually appealing animations that add to the sense of accomplishment. However, upon closer examination of the newly created structures, I find it challenging to distinguish one building from another, leading me to frequently misidentify their designs. Although the fight initially appears flashy, it surprisingly lacks sufficient heft, especially during larger item interactions. I like the concise menu for ordering difficulty levels and recruitment, but it’s unclear why confirming orders requires simultaneous clicks of both mouse buttons. When clicking the mouse, it’s crucial to remember that left-clicking should consistently select items, with Frost Large being an exception, whereas right-clicking should always produce difficulty orders, regardless of whether you’re using a special ability or confirming a building construction. Anything is heresy. I’ve spoken.
As I progressed to my third mission, where I built and defended a stronghold against the backdrop of three formidable demon bases, I was slowly getting accustomed to Stormgate’s intricacies, yet still struggled to fully appreciate its nuances. The Stormgate team announced that it’s time for customers to purchase the final three missions of their marketing campaign, priced at 9 euros. Wouldn’t I have been thrilled to embark on another adventure? But they weren’t, so I wasn’t either.
I replaced the sports’ with “the game’s”, and adjusted the sentence to read: As a substitute, I went over to the game’s solo multiplayer and skirmish modes to examine the differences between the two factions. In this very spot, I discovered Stormgate at its most captivating. While the Vanguard might seem somewhat mundane, the contrasting Infernals and Celestials offer a fascinating dynamic.
Among the two, I have a special fondness for the Infernals. Frost Large has undoubtedly invested considerable thought into crafting a sense of genuinely unsettling malevolence. Instead of sacrificing meat, they construct elaborate structures to elevate their spirits and rise above their challenges. As each component is brought together, a chasm opens beneath, and it is upon this foundation that your structure ultimately takes shape. Without actually recruiting items, you gather them through strategic gameplay and careful planning. As each robotic unit operates, it naturally incurs costs over time. As soon as all costs for a specific unit are fully paid, you may instantly deploy that unit onto the battlefield. This enables you to deploy armies swiftly, catching opponents off guard with a sudden onslaught.
Rediscovering the mischievous joy of tormenting adventurers and building diabolical defenses in Infernals instantly transports me back to the delightfully devious world of Dungeon Keeper, where being a malevolent force was all too delightful? Fearfulness is a pervasive emotion that’s significantly amplified by the imaginative and fantastical depictions of demons in various forms of storytelling. Although your primary demon, the Brute, is formidable on its own, it also possesses a particularly insidious strategy: it can self-sacrifice and split into two smaller, AI-controlled minions.
While the Infernals take center stage with their immediate involvement, the enigmatic Celestials remain an intriguing and mystifying presence, their unconventional nature commanding attention. As an enigmatic blend of mysticism and technological innovation, the elven engineers of Middle-earth embarked on an ambitious project: crafting an aircraft that harnessed the harmonious resonance of celestial crystals to defy gravity. In this peculiar realm, employee tools manifest as radiant blue prisms that siphon vitality from online resources, while edifices arise through the meticulous crafting of biblical-scale angelic entities that seamlessly transform into desired structures at will. While they may take longer to assemble a military force as cohesive as their demonic counterparts, the humans’ focus on airborne assets is notable. When attempting to remove aerial units from the lower regions, one must first prove capable of effectively countering the formidable Celestial forces, which require a certain level of preparedness to successfully overcome.
This serves as a fundamental primer on the factions involved. While many items possess specific skills triggered upon demand, the Infernals and Celestials uniquely activate faction-wide effects after accumulating unique, tertiary resources. In the Infernal case, players accumulate ritual energy by defeating enemies, whereas in the Celestial case, they harvest vital energy by constructing specific structures. Strategically placed satellite TV facilities offer a range of benefits, incentivizing players to build outlying stations in tandem with their primary command center.
While there’s a wealth of strategic complexity in the game’s faction design, this depth is overshadowed by an unfortunate reliance on Overwatch-inspired art that fails to reveal the full extent of Stormgate’s mechanical capabilities. Full disclosure: Initially, I had little appreciation for this semi-stylized approach to art design, and my enthusiasm has only diminished further as every developer behind a big-budget multiplayer game adopts it, expecting me to invest in their characters without laying any narrative foundation. Despite this, I don’t presume it genuinely functions within a technique simulation revolving around demonic extraterrestrials ripping apart reality to ensnare humanity by the very life force. Let’s unleash some raw power on this landscape without a hint of saccharine sweetness or a whiff of saccharine sentimentality – I yearn for a Stormgate that’s unapologetically intense, its every moment an explosive fusion of grit and fury, no gentle whispers of whimsy to soften the blow.
At present, Stormgate appears to be a decent recreation, but its initial impression is underwhelming. Six missions, with only three accessible at no cost, fails to impress as a marketing strategy or offer, while the game’s most intriguing factions remain concealed in multiplayer, requiring players to engage in extensive learning and adaptability to fully utilize their abilities? I do not assume it is a recreation anyone should write off. Behind its understated artistic façade lies a richly nuanced and strategically complex creative endeavor. If you’re enamored with this game’s unique style and have friends who share your enthusiasm, the 1v1 multiplayer offers an entertaining experience that can be enjoyed at no cost.
