I wonder how many people complaining about not ever buying Double Fine games again ever even bought DF-9 (or any other of their games) in the first place. *grumble grumble* Spacebase failed, end of story.
This game though, made by a completely different team with a completely different business model (AKA funding 'til 1.0) is actually really really good. The promise of X-COM meets Crusader Kings is totally there. The battles are fun and tactical, getting out without being hit really requires skill and planning on both the immediate stage and the generational breeding/building/research part.
I got my ass handed to me in the first game. I mismanaged my resources, I put way too many heroes in keeps, crucibles and guilds. Then when one of my guilds was invaded, I noticed I had only two heroes capable to fight. Needless to say I lost, everyone in the guild died and the whole area sunk to the corruption. Second game I wasn't much smarter, I had more heroes available, but was way too greedy with setting up my buildings, the invasions were brutal and I wasn't ready.
Now I'm in my third game going on year 120, with 4 strong bloodlines and multiple relics being inherited through them. Even though I managed to make Hunter bloodline where almost everyone is clumsy (-Dex). I'm currently trying to cut that particular branch out of the Voxalis family tree.
I'm not sure how the Steam reviewers complaining about randomness are playing the tactical combat. It really is a game about being sneaky, positioning well and using abilities smartly. I guess they might be the people thinking that 90% shots always hit because the percent is so high.
Man, Massive Chalice really excited me when it was announced. On paper it seems like my ultimate game.
Unfortunately Doublefine has completely sullied its reputation and goodwill, and I am genuinely leery to purchase even a completed Doublefine game at this point.
How is the game worse from a different project that has nothing to do with it?
Sorry for being so snappy, it just baffles me why people are rating a game based on a different games failed business model, instead of say, the actual game's gameplay or anything really having to do with this game? It feels like people are thinking about games as company shares.