Armello isn’t like other games: it’s a magical combination of genres. Armello is a fusion of a strategy game, a table-top game, and a card game. This game mixes ideas well to form quite the game. Armello isn’t a game that pulls any punches and knows that it’s a hard one. The game will even push the player to play through its tutorial, which shows it knows how hard it is. Armello tells the tale of a fantasy world where animals are living in the Middle Ages. These creatures can walk and talk like humans and a Lion King Rules over them. The Rot, a wicked curse has afflicted the King, and due to this, he’s dying. This Rot has also made the King evil and will cause him to do things he wouldn’t normally do. It’s up to the people to stand up and take him down.
The tutorial for this game is helpful because it is so in-depth. Players will control a different character for each section of this tutorial. They will start with Thane the Warrior Wolf, then Mercurio the Cunning Rat, followed after by Amber the Rabbit Mage, and Sana the Spirit Master. Each of these characters plays differently and has their reasons for taking down the King. This game has eight different characters to control. Each of them has different skills and abilities. Besides the four introduced in the tutorial, there are four others. River the Wolf is a respected warrior, Barnaby the Rat, Braun the Bear, and Kosha the Rat Assassin. These characters are a little more advanced than the others, which is why they are absent in the tutorial. It’s worth mentioning that while they all play differently, players can play as they want too. It will just make things harder for them in the long run. Some characters thrive on doing certain things, so it is best to stick with what they know. These characters have been living their lives before the player showed up, so the player ought to do as they would.
Players will learn how to do a bunch of different things in the tutorial. The first tutorial chapter is all about movement. Players will learn about the grid system for moving and AP. AP stands for Action Points, and they are used to traverse the map. Forests are useful for stealth, and mountains can protect players but cost 2 AP. Players need to be wary of using their AP to without reason as it could lead to unnecessary battle. Players have different skills and abilities that help them traverse the world. Kosha and Mercurio work better at night while Amber is happier in the day. Depending on the character, players will need to adjust their thought and guide them the right way. Kosha, for instance, works better at night and can attack enemies for more damage if he goes in for an assassination attack. Think about the character and use their skills to the fullest to win.
Players will also battle other characters. They can take on the Knights that roam the land, the other animals, and even the King. Players duel by rolling dice. The number of dice changes depending on the character, their possessions, among other factors. Players will need to be sure of they prepare for each battle as some opponents can be tricky. Players can burn cards during many parts of the game. Burning cards is necessary as it can help a player in dire situations. During the battle, burning cards give the player a die, which depends on the symbol in the corner. Six symbols correspond to the different dice symbols. The sword is for attacks, the shield for defense, there is a Wyld symbol which explodes and rerolls, Rot is a miss, and the sun and moon hit depending on the time of day. Burning cards is even more necessary in surviving perils. Players can burn cards instead of rolling for it. They can often ensure victory by burning them. The penalty for failing perils can lead to death, which while not permanent can lead to the player losing the game. Perils pop up sometime, and the characters can activate them too. The card system is also quite helpful in achieving victory. Players can hold up to five cards in their hands; these cards can be Items, Magic, or Trickery cards. Everyone draws cards at the beginning of their turn and can pick from any of the piles. Again focus on what makes the character special; pick from the best deck.
Players will want to equip armor and weapons using items cards, so have a few on hand. Depending on the character, they might have more magic points these characters; need magic cards. If the player has a lot of dough, the trickery cards are gold because they require gold to play them. Using cards wisely in conjunction with equipment and magic will lead the hero to victory. As the players play, they will gain fame and prestige. This prestige is great because the player with the most will gain an audience with the King. This audience allows the player to pick a boon or catastrophe for the world. Sometimes the King can help their ally, or they can also make it impossible for the others to win. If the King dies, the character with the highest prestige will be King, so beware.
Players will slowly unlock achievements as they play. There are quite a few of them, so players will have reason to keep playing the game. Some of them involve beating the game as Thane, for instance, but others require strategy. These achievements might take multiple rounds to achieve, but for the consummate player, this will all be fun. Players can play Armello multiplayer. While the AI-controlled characters can be fun to play with, adding friends might be more fun. Players can take on up to three friends offline or online. Players will want to be on guard with whoever they play with because even the closes of friends can fall to the Rot. Once the tutorial is complete, players will play game after game. The story is self-contained to each game and will change depending on how the player and the AI play. While it might be detailed, players are sure to learn and grow with every match, making victory all the sweeter.
Armello is a fantastic strategy game. It relies on the player learning the rules and understanding how things work. Players will enjoy delving into this world and choosing their favorite character; they might even enjoy playing as different characters, as they try out different playstyles. The world of Armello is in danger, will the player stand up and take out the King?
Disclaimer: A review key was provided