“Baladins” is a delightful fusion of whimsical Paper Mario aesthetics and the immersive storytelling of Dungeons & Dragons. As a player, you’re thrust into a captivating world where you assume the role of various classes, each with its own unique stats and quirks. In my playthrough, I took on the role of the lovable cook, armed with my trusty frying pan and a flair for culinary creativity.
The game’s turn-based mechanics are seamlessly woven into a narrative that is both simple yet captivating. The overarching objective? To thwart a time-eating dragon, whose voracious appetite threatens to consume not only you but time itself. What sets “Baladinst” apart is its ingenious use of a time loop mechanism, where players are granted a six-week window to outsmart, or feed the dragon enough so that it loses appetite for time in order to avoid inevitable doom.
One of the game’s standout features is its emphasis on character progression. Throughout each loop, players have the opportunity to enhance their skills, those being similar to a dungeons and dragons character. Each character will start with a different set of stats that they are “‘proficient’ in and can be improved when completing certain tasks in all major stops on the game board. These skills aren’t just vital for taking down the dragon; they also come in handy when aiding the eclectic cast of characters populating the game world.
This leads to one unfortunate issue I have with the game. It’s clearly made with the intention for co-operative play and by all means that is always great for a game and makes perfect sense in a party based paper D’n’D , I can’t help but notice how unfair it is if someone finds it hard to fill in their party roster for what ever reason. I have reviewed “Baladins” on steam and for some reason the game does not take advantage of steams share play mechanics in which you can ‘couch co-op’ with anyone from your friends list, fortunately with the games nature I didn’t have much issue convincing a friend to get the game and join the adventure. After we played through a couple loops and our voices started to disperse because we decided to voice every single character we came across I then realised that the game is considerably easier with more people , I can only imagine with a full party it would be a completely different game. You see the game gives you time constraints and the more rumours overheard and the more information gathered the player will start piecing it together and create tasks for the next loop. That means planning what skills to improve, items to take and path to travel, but your time, skills and distance you can travel is double with a friend, or quadrupled with a full party. A simple fix would be to let solo players fill their parties with up to 4 characters either way regardless if one player controls them all or if there a friends joining the adventure.
All that being said , there is more to praise about “Baladins”. Visually the game is a feast for the eyes. The charming paper-inspired graphics lend a whimsical touch to the game’s vibrant environments, while the meticulously crafted game board serves as the perfect backdrop for your some times questionable escapades. Every location is teeming with life, brimming with unique characters just waiting to share their stories and quests.
Despite its simplistic writing, “Baladins” shines thanks to its witty humour and engaging dialogue. From quirky NPCs to laugh-out-loud moments, the game’s narrative never fails to keep you entertained as you navigate through the intricacies of the time loop. Some quests given by the multitude of characters you meet will have nothing to do with escaping the time loop but will have you locked in either way , from meddling in a fortune tellers relationship to helping crooked artists win over the theatre, “baladins” will have you hooked on solving these issues only for you to find yourself a week before the time loops resets, realising you have done nothing to stop it.
In conclusion, “Baladins” is a delectable treat for fans of turn-based RPGs and narrative-driven adventures alike. With its charming visuals, engaging gameplay, and captivating story, it’s a game that’s sure to leave you craving for seconds. So grab your over the top role playing friends, sharpen your skills, and embark on a journey like no other. After all, time waits for no one!
The game is available from 15th May 2024, on all platforms and at the time of writing is $26.72 on Steam.
