About the most famous “delays” and the deaf pilot
“The delay of the U.S. election results is pathetic!
In Russia, everybody knows who won before the elections!”
– Anonymous
Truth be told, it isn’t always easy to find a good topic to talk about every month. Usually, I try to find ideas by looking at the month’s games. Sometimes, to be honest, none of them are that inspiring. Nonetheless, there is a topic I was planning to talk about for quite some time now. I’ve always postponed it, though – patiently waiting for the right occasion.
Now, thanks to King Arthur: Knight’s Tale, I have a chance to share my thoughts on the delays in the video game industry. Mind you, I’m not complaining about King Arthur. It’s been delayed just one or two times – and for a good reason, I’m sure. I’m just seizing the opportunity to finally talk about an interesting subject.
So, let’s play a game: If I ask you what was the longest delay in the gaming history and how many years was it, what would you answer?
Yes, I know, the answer is rather easy. Even a child knows that the champion of the world is Duke Nukem Forever – announced back in ’97 and released in 2011, and with a very moderate success!
A bit harder might be to guess who takes the second place. Many forget that there is this really cult game (for many, not for me) known as “Diablo 2” – with a delay of eleven years, considering that the development started back in 2001! But (surprise!) this time, the delay didn’t affect the game’s success. So, this means that the “delay” in itself in not always a bad thing. What then makes the difference?
I think for players, a delay – even a short term one – is always bad news and a reason for disappointment. They eagerly await their favorite game for months, even years. Then, just a few weeks before the release, they end up empty-handed. This is always unpleasant. However, sometimes a delay is the only way to eventually play a decent game.
Think about Dying Light 2. It’s been released on February 4th, 2022 – after uncountable delays. In the end, though, it came out in a good, even if not perfect, state. (Well, staying on the subject of zombie games, Dead Island 2 is a different kettle of fish…)
So, I think we can safely say that a delay can be a good – or a bad thing. It all depends on how that extra time is used by the software house.
This brings to mind an old joke that could help clarify what I mean:
“So I was stuck in a line at the airport and the lady at the check-in said, ‘There is a four-hour delay.’
So I asked, ‘Why’s that?’
She answered, ‘The pilot heard a funny noise from the engine. It’ll take us about four hours to find a pilot who can’t hear it.'”
So, when we next hear about a delay, we can only pray they are using their time to find the “noise” – not a “deaf pilot”.
Top Turn-Based RPGs & Strategy releases of April 2022
UNDOING EVIL (E.A.) – 1st April
Well, despite the date, this isn’t a joke!
Undoing Evil is an interesting Western RPG in the vein of the good old classics.
Here, you are a King without a kingdom, exiled far from home, struggling against an ancient evil. To avoid your demise, you’ll have to explore a vast land full of danger and mystery.
Travel through towns, forests and dungeons; meet people and find out whom you can trust – and, when it’s unavoidable, fight monsters in strategic turn-based battles!
Very soon on Steam!
DEMEO PC VERSION – 7th April
Demeo: PC Edition is a version of a popular tabletop RPG which was exclusively for VR. Therefore, it’ll include everything players enjoyed from the VR release – with the added comfort of mouse and keyboard, and cross-platform support.
Demeo is available on PC through VR headsets. So, players can already experience the full game through Early Access – including crossplay. Unlike most Early Access games, Demeo is in the compatibility phase, which means that the developers must now be working on Steam compatibility and extra content.
Soon on Steam.
BRITANNIA (E.A.) – 8th April
Britannia is, at its core, a digital version of a historical wargame from which it takes its inspiration. In it, you will rule for over a thousand years: from Roman conquests – to William the Conqueror’s Norman invasion!
The developers grant us an “easy learning curve” with fast and simple rules to follow. As well as a “grand campaign” and two bonus campaigns – designed specifically for the digital version.
Quite soon on Steam.
MONSTER GIRLS AND THE MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURE 2 (E.A.) – 8th April
Being the second chapter of an apparently well-known series, MGatMA2 (oh my God, I’ve got to stop using acronyms…) can be defined as a “typical J-Roguelike”. So, as you might imagine, the game offers randomly generated content, turn-based fights and a grid-based map.
What appears to be the most interesting feature of the game takes the name of “Friend System”. In other words, you can turn enemies into allies, in a way that reminded me of the Pokémon series.
Not exactly my favorite game of the month, but nonetheless a potential surprise!
On Steam in its E.A. version.
THE IRON OATH (E.A.) – 19th April
For sure, The Iron Oath by Curious Panda is one of the most anticipated games for many of us.
For those who don’t know, The Iron Oath is a tactical turn-based RPG about a mercenary company. The hired warriors will live and die by the player’s hand, guided through their hard and brutal lives. Death isn’t the only concern, however. Throughout the years, as your soldiers age, they can retire or become less effective in combat. This will force players to adapt to the ever-changing scenarios of life. The Iron Oath looks to soothe that itch for those who need something more tactical to play.
The good news is that – despite a very long development period – The Iron Oath will be released. The bad news is that we’ll be able to try it only in its E.A. version. Anyway, it’s better than nothing. And, if you don’t want to buy it right now, you can still try the free demo that was just released.
On Steam.
SIX ASPECTS (E.A.) – 22nd April
Well, this is officially the month of the most absurd acronyms… Reading the description of Six Aspects I just learned that – in addition to TBS, RTWP and RTS – now we also have STS!?! I’m getting more and more confused…
Anyway, in case you’re curious, “STS” stands for Same Time Strategy, and I’m still not sure whether it’s just an “extravagant” way to define simultaneous turns or not.
According to the developer, this feature should represent the perfect blend of turn-based systems with the challenging demands of real-time strategies.
On Steam.
TIMELINE – 22nd April
Timeline is a turn-based strategy spanning almost the entire history of civilization – from the Stone Age to modern times. In this game you’ll command a wide range of units – making them collect resources, build cities, explore the map, and meet other, AI-controlled players.
Features:
- Real Earth map – or a randomly generated one.
- Technology tree with over one hundred technologies.
- Resource system; you can collect resources from the terrain or produce them in your buildings. The resources are required to learn technologies, and to produce and maintain units and buildings.
- Global market that lets you sell resources you don’t need and buy those you are missing.
- Diplomacy with AI-controlled civilizations.
- Combat system which is affected by terrain, generals, unit type, and other variables.
- Customizable interface, key shortcuts, map zoom level, etc.
On Steam!
KING ARTHUR: KNIGHT’S TALE – 26th April
Based on Arthurian mythology, King Arthur: Knight’s Tale is a turn-based tactical role-playing game – a unique hybrid between turn-based tactical games and traditional, character-centric RPGs. Its narrative is a modern retelling of a classic Arthurian story, filtered through the dark fantasy tropes – a twist on the traditional tales of chivalry.
If you want to know more, just check our great preview!
At the end of the month on Steam!
KAIJU WARS – 28th April
Honestly, I had some difficulties writing down the title of this game, and that’s basically because I didn’t know what a “Kaiju” really was. Then, thanks to the never sufficiently praised Wikipedia, I learned that Kaiju is a giant monster from Japanese folklore. It often pops up from out of nowhere to destroy entire cities! In other words, we’re talking about Godzilla and all his sons!
Looking at the screenshots, it’s almost impossible not to think about Into the Breach – and that’s not necessary a downside. However, the developers assure that the gameplay is completely different. From what I’ve learned, reading the press kit and the forum, in this game the opportunity – but also the necessity – to construct and defend buildings is of a strategic importance.
I’m not very fond of Godzilla & co. but the game did look interesting enough – even to me.
At the end of the month on Steam.
DORFROMANTIK – 28th April
I’ve heard many good things about Dorfromantik, especially about it’s relaxing effects. (Ohh, God knows I need to relax!)
At its core, it looks like the perfect blend of puzzle and turn-based mechanics, and finally, after almost a year in Early Access, Dorfromantik is ready for its full release!
So, if you are curious and want to know more, you can read the great preview by LootHunter here.
JACK MOVE: I.C.E BREAKER – April
Maybe you’ve already heard of Jack Move – a nice cyberpunk JRPG with top-notch pixel art.
Well, if you’re eager to try it, this is your best chance. During April the developers, So Romantic, will release a prologue to the main game, called “I.C.E. Breaker”. It tells the story of Noa – a young vigilante hacker from Bright Town. Her mission? Save her father, kidnapped by the same old mega corporation.
Features:
- Gorgeous “Hi-Bit” pixel art inspired by retro RPGs and enhanced using modern techniques.
- Battle your foes in cyberspace; take them down using a multitude of sweet hacking software.
- Explore the dangerous world of Monocity-1 and take down Monomind, the evil mega corporation that controls it.
- Play as Noa Solares, a sassy hacker out to save her father and the world.
- Fight your way through a bunch of dungeons filled with all sorts of cyberpunk villains. Street punks, gangsters, corporate militia, secret service agents, and horrific cyber-experiments-gone-wrong will all be battling against you!
On Steam, for free!
That’s all folks! See you next month!
