Author: Nathan Doverspike
EDIT: After searching the internet for recent patch notes, it appears the corrupted save file bug I ran into while playing the game has been fixed. That doesn’t guarantee that the game won’t crash, as it did for me and THEN I experienced the save corruption after 12 hours of gameplay, resulting in having to restart the game. I highly recommend this game, even if there is a chance the game can crash occasionally. The combat, art style, and exploration alone were worth another go at it, even if it means I’ll have my fingers crossed that I won’t have my save corrupted again. Also, the game hasn’t crashed for me since I restarted my save in March of 2018, which hopefully means the game is fixed and does appear to be a more stable build. Oh, and this game is just as good the second time around too!
Over twelve hours into Battle Chasers: Nightwar, and I can honestly say this is the most fun I have had with a dungeon crawler RPG since Diablo 3. This game isn’t just gorgeous (I love the art style and effects during battles); it is also challenging without being too frustrating. If you have just picked it up, or are interested in what this game is all about, keep on ready for some tips and hints.
Grinding Is a Necessary Evil
Like a lot of RPGs in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, grinding is a part of Battle Chasers. I don’t despise it since it lets me work on different strategies and leveling up characters I may not use as much as someone like Garrison (who has a great name and awesome abilities). Some may not be as thrilled about the possibility of grinding to see all the content, and I understand if it isn’t for everyone. For me, it hasn’t bothered me. I put too many hours in the original Neverwinter Nights as a kid and this is nowhere near as grind-fest heavy as that classic.
Explore, Explore, Explore
This game is set up to let you explore the world, a chunk at a time. As you progress through the story, you open up new distinct areas with their own enemies and dungeon to discover. Not all areas are crucial to forwarding the plot, and I highly recommend visiting them. You may get whooped at first, but you can always come back or talk to other NPC’s to see if they have a side quest for you to undertake as well. Who knows, maybe clearing out those spiders in the sewers gets you some much needed gear and a level or two that you need before returning to a challenging dungeon.
Plan your Attacks Wisely
The action bar on the left side of the screen shows you what order your characters and enemies will take their turn. Use this to your advantage. Each attach has an indication of how long it will take for the character to use that ability. Some are instant, while others take a turn or two before they act. Using a very fast attack to finish off a weakened enemy might just be the edge you need to defeat a boss that summons more enemies during battle. Time these wisely, as they can be the difference between defeating a tough boss in a Legendary dungeon and getting your RPG-loving rear handed to you.
Don’t Forget to Equip Perks
Yup, that’s right, I forgot to equip perks for the first four hours I played this game. Every time you level up you gain points that you can spend towards equipping perks for each character. For example, Gulley might have 4 perk points but the perks you want to equip cost 3 and 2 points, so either you grind a little until you level up, or you make a choice on which one you want to equip. All of these are passive stat boosts or enact certain conditions based on other abilities in battle. You can increase attack power, get more health from healing abilities, or even get a permanent boost to your overall defense as long as the perk is active. These can dramatically change how your characters perform in battle, so experimentation is highly encouraged.
Hopefully these few tips and hints are enough to help you glide your way through an incredibly beautiful and interesting world. While the story isn’t as integral to the game as I might want it to be, I am still really enjoying my time with it and look forward to pouring more time into it this weekend. For a small studio and a game half the price of other AAA games coming out recently, this has been a pleasant surprise of an RPG.
Did I miss anything? Did you pick up the game? If so, how are you enjoying it so far? Let me know in the comments!
Golden Age Gamers 