I'm late to the uptake with some game releases as there are so many. This isn't something I've minded for a while now because even folks that professionally review video games can't play everything. Recently I heard a glowing review for a, new to me, retro turn based strategy game called Wargroove that takes the formula that Nintendo perfected in Advance Wars and gives it a fun fantasy spin.
Wargroove is Hard by Default
Generally speaking modern triple A games or indie titles, unless they are a rogue-like, have a normal degree of difficulty by default. If you want more of a challenge in a typical shooter you can raise it and lower it if things are too hard. Typically I keep the difficulty at the default setting for most games because, again, the default difficulty is fine for my play style. Right away I found the default difficulty of Wargroove to be quite challenging. So challenging that during the first "real battle" (third battle or so) I was shutdown six times in a row. I imagine for some turn based strategy gurus the difficulty of Wargroove is just fine, but for a more casual player it was a bit too hard. The good news is that it's easy to tune the difficulty down at anytime but I do wonder how many players keep it at the default difficulty and how far they advance in the main campaign?
Wargroove Is Loaded To the Hilt With Things to Do
Since Wargroove's initial launch in 2019 Chucklefish started with a ton of things for players to do but recently just launched the Double Trouble free campaign DLC. Since you might not know what features Wargroove has i'll paste them for your ease here:
* Choose from one of 12+ Commanders from 4 warring factions – the Cherrystone Kingdom, Heavensong Empire, Felheim Legion, and Floran Tribes.
* Strategically use your Commander’s unique “groove” ability to sway the battle in your favor.
* Battle your way through the Campaign Mode to discover the story and motivations behind each faction.
* Challenge your friends to local and online multiplayer skirmish modes with complete rule customization, as well as local and online competitive and co-op play.
* Design and share online your own complex series of battlefields, with branching story paths using easy to master in-game map and campaign editors.
* Learn more about each character you encounter through a trial of boisterous bouts in Arcade mode, fighting 5 different opponents in quick succession.
* Outwit the enemy in Puzzle mode, using your strategic skills to complete tricky challenges in just ONE turn.
* Discover the history and lore of the world of Wargroove and its inhabitants in the Codex, as well as handy strategy tips and rules for use in battle.
* Seek out hidden in-game content and unlockables – old school style!
The Double Trouble DLC comes with the all new:
* All new 15 hour co-op campaign.
* 3 new commanders.
* New thieves and Rifemen units.
The Best Part of Wargroove Might Be The Built-in Editor & User Made Campaign Maps
One huge upside to Wargroove is that Chucklefish included an incredibly rich campaign editor and tools to upload and share your creations. This "Mario Maker" toolset seems like it's rich enough to create campaigns as intricate as the ones they shipped with. From a really early look I found several high quality maps created by the community that seem to be quite good. So if you tear through the base campaign, the new Double Trouble campaign then the user downloadable maps and the ability to make your own should keep you in a turn based strategy coma for quite some time.
Wargroove is Perfect on the Switch
Wargroove is out on the PC on Steam, the PS4, XBox One and the Switch and I think it's perfect on the Switch. Wargroove is flawless in handheld mode on the Switch and since it's in 2D is very light on your Switch battery making even longer play sessions possible. When you dock the Switch you get even more screen available, and Wargroove provides that through a really cool framing technique in full 1080p mode that isn't available in 720p mode and doesn't sacrifice gameplay because of.
If you are a collector of physical games Wargroove has a pretty fun release that comes with a downloadable soundtrack and some other goodies making it much more than just the game in a box. At the end of the day if you like turn based strategy and are looking for something to fill that itch you must try Wargroove. I also want to thank Chucklefish for getting me a review copy on Switch!
Wargroove is Hard by Default
Generally speaking modern triple A games or indie titles, unless they are a rogue-like, have a normal degree of difficulty by default. If you want more of a challenge in a typical shooter you can raise it and lower it if things are too hard. Typically I keep the difficulty at the default setting for most games because, again, the default difficulty is fine for my play style. Right away I found the default difficulty of Wargroove to be quite challenging. So challenging that during the first "real battle" (third battle or so) I was shutdown six times in a row. I imagine for some turn based strategy gurus the difficulty of Wargroove is just fine, but for a more casual player it was a bit too hard. The good news is that it's easy to tune the difficulty down at anytime but I do wonder how many players keep it at the default difficulty and how far they advance in the main campaign?
Wargroove Is Loaded To the Hilt With Things to Do
Since Wargroove's initial launch in 2019 Chucklefish started with a ton of things for players to do but recently just launched the Double Trouble free campaign DLC. Since you might not know what features Wargroove has i'll paste them for your ease here:
* Choose from one of 12+ Commanders from 4 warring factions – the Cherrystone Kingdom, Heavensong Empire, Felheim Legion, and Floran Tribes.
* Strategically use your Commander’s unique “groove” ability to sway the battle in your favor.
* Battle your way through the Campaign Mode to discover the story and motivations behind each faction.
* Challenge your friends to local and online multiplayer skirmish modes with complete rule customization, as well as local and online competitive and co-op play.
* Design and share online your own complex series of battlefields, with branching story paths using easy to master in-game map and campaign editors.
* Learn more about each character you encounter through a trial of boisterous bouts in Arcade mode, fighting 5 different opponents in quick succession.
* Outwit the enemy in Puzzle mode, using your strategic skills to complete tricky challenges in just ONE turn.
* Discover the history and lore of the world of Wargroove and its inhabitants in the Codex, as well as handy strategy tips and rules for use in battle.
* Seek out hidden in-game content and unlockables – old school style!
The Double Trouble DLC comes with the all new:
* All new 15 hour co-op campaign.
* 3 new commanders.
* New thieves and Rifemen units.
The Best Part of Wargroove Might Be The Built-in Editor & User Made Campaign Maps
One huge upside to Wargroove is that Chucklefish included an incredibly rich campaign editor and tools to upload and share your creations. This "Mario Maker" toolset seems like it's rich enough to create campaigns as intricate as the ones they shipped with. From a really early look I found several high quality maps created by the community that seem to be quite good. So if you tear through the base campaign, the new Double Trouble campaign then the user downloadable maps and the ability to make your own should keep you in a turn based strategy coma for quite some time.
Wargroove is Perfect on the Switch
Wargroove is out on the PC on Steam, the PS4, XBox One and the Switch and I think it's perfect on the Switch. Wargroove is flawless in handheld mode on the Switch and since it's in 2D is very light on your Switch battery making even longer play sessions possible. When you dock the Switch you get even more screen available, and Wargroove provides that through a really cool framing technique in full 1080p mode that isn't available in 720p mode and doesn't sacrifice gameplay because of.
If you are a collector of physical games Wargroove has a pretty fun release that comes with a downloadable soundtrack and some other goodies making it much more than just the game in a box. At the end of the day if you like turn based strategy and are looking for something to fill that itch you must try Wargroove. I also want to thank Chucklefish for getting me a review copy on Switch!
