the banner is a motif, representing perseverance
It's been a long time since I've played a game backed by a strong narrative filled with heavy choices to make.
The experience to me felt more of like reading a profoundly written choose-your-own-adventure game with bits of combat added in, so I'm going to be spending more time discussing the presentation and various themes and messages the game communicates rather than waddling too deep into the game play.
godstones- an old offering to the gods
The Banner Saga takes place in a fictional, richly cultured land. Inspirations from Nordic and Viking mythology combined with an art style derived from Walt Disney's 1959 film Sleeping Beauty create this universe that feels as if it had always existed.
The player is plopped into the the middle of everything, and instead of painstakingly explaining everything that has ever happened leading up to your beginning, the game takes an effective pace at revealing little at a time, filling you in on the important bits as the situation calls for them. As you read about the different landmarks, mountain ranges, rivers, forests, and cities that dot the map and talk to people from small villages all the way up to bustling trade centers, you get the feeling that there are generations of culture and history behind the places and people you see and meet.
that's bambi's mom
Players experience the near-end-of-the-world taking on the role of different characters. The story alternates between the characters, often contrasting the situations they are in. The Banner Saga's prominent theme to me was rising to the occasion. One character, Rook, is a father trying to protect his daughter, Alette, after failing to protect her mother from harm. As a seemingly genocidal invasion from the dredge nears, Rook is suddenly placed into a position of control.
Escaping with a caravan of men, women, and children from his village, Rook is faced with many conflicts which explores what kind of man Rook becomes, wishes to be, what it means to be a leader, and what kind of sacrifices one is willing to make to ensure security of the community.
That's the meat of the game. The choices are hard- and not everyone is going to make it. Through my experiences as Rook, I found that his whole world was his daughter. I found myself becoming very protective of Alette in the shoes of Rook. I was willing to leave behind some fighters if it meant drawing dredge away to protect the rest of the caravan. But eventually, you come to ask yourself: where do I draw the line? Alette needs to become strong and self-sufficient (after all, Rook isn't going to be around forever), but at the same time she needs guidance and protection, as she is still a young girl.
and the band keeps playing- also: very nice minimalist UI
And that's just one of the many myriads of complex situations you'll find yourself in, as one character, with many more in the game. In The Banner's Saga's story, it is explained that many believe the gods to be dead. Do you look up to them for protection of your caravan, or do you really believe that they have left the world? Do we really always have a choice in what seems to be impossible situations? And what about the dredge? Are they invading, or are they running from something too?
Rook is just a man looking out for his daughter and community. Is it his job to help save the world? Rook can just take Alette far away, get away from it all, and yet, there is this sense of unseen responsibility to the world.
I've never had a game tug at my heartstrings so much before. During the downtime while the caravan is traveling, I often think to myself "What would've happened if I had done things differently? Maybe things could have been different." You'll contemplate about your decisions a lot. The choices you make throughout the game affect how characters act toward you and how the universe takes shape.
before and after: final fantasy football
Game play wise, it's very simple. You control your traditional RPG party of heroes and you beat up stuff when the situation calls for it. The combat can be a bit difficult at first as you fumble around with the armor/strength mechanics, but after awhile it does become a bit stale. Don't get me wrong: the dredge look and feel formidable, and they're not the only enemies you'll face. It's just that after awhile, it feels like there isn't much variety in the combat system. It's fine, but you're not playing the game for the combat. The narrative and setting of the game is what you're there for.
If I have to gripe about the game at all, it's probably going to be the lack of graphical options you can tweak with. I do own a lower end gaming laptop and there are occasional frame rate hiccups, but nothing that takes away from the experience. The lack of a quick-save function annoyed me at first, but I came to enjoy it- it encouraged me to stick with the consequences of choices I made.
The soundtrack creates an unforgettable mood. The music complements the artistic style, providing moments of solace as your caravan trudges through the snow and ice, moments of despair as you realize you've royally fucked over your entire group with decisions you've made, and moments of glory as you manage to just barely hack yourself a victory with the last hero standing.
The writing is natural, the characters various and complex. The Banner Saga is an experience I will never forget. This game reminds me how much fun reading is, if only I could.
you can click on images to enlarge them
As a side note, this game is available on Good Old Games, a digital distribution service similar to Steam. GoG sells games DRM free and often with soundtracks, avatars, concept arts, etc. I'm starting to use GoG more than Steam. Links are available in the intro paragraph. I recommend you check it out!
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