The new turn-based strategy game Ultimatum by Unknown Person is the best game on BYOND, regardless of category. No contest. I played the game for the first time today, and based upon the screenshots I had high expectations. I’m happy to say that it more than exceeded my hopes in terms of gameplay, presentation and polish.
Gameplay
Why hasn’t there been a quality TBS game on BYOND up to this point? Here we have people wasting time on 3D or isometric games that will never work while games that are perfectly suited for BYOND never get made. The fact is, turn-based strategy fits BYOND like a glove, and Ultimatum is a perfectly executed example of the potential for TBS games on BYOND.
The game is simple and easy to get into, and that is half the battle. I typically log out of games if they appear too complicated or tedious to learn. Just for the record- there is a big different between a deep game and an overly-complex game, and Ultimatum is the former.
You really have to play the game for yourself. It is just flat out fun. Even in this early beta stage, the balance is decent and there is definitely a lot of strategy involved in winning. You create units, capture towns for income and wage war on your opponents. As they fight, units gain experience and levels… so there is a lot of motivation to keep your units alive.
The game has a tendency to move at a slow pace. The forthcoming turn-timer should help with this problem quite a bit… but other features such as a max unit number cap could help with this. Being able to perform some sort of group attack on enemies who you surround with multiple units would be sweet, and also help to solve this problem.
As it stands, the game’s biggest problem is the slow pace.
Presentation
Rarely do you see a BYOND game that looks and plays like a professional game. Well here you have it: the most professional looking game on BYOND.
The graphics are excellent, but at the end of the day the graphics don’t matter. What really shines here is the interface. Unknown Person’s browser based interface is flat out crazy awesome. It suits the game well, and it looks great.
Dragging units for movement and attacking is intuitive and works well. Clicking on units brings up their stats in the onscreen HUD, which is very convenient.
The music and sound effects really complete the package. This is a real game, and it looks, feels and plays like one.
Is the game perfect? Absolutely not. That said, it's not totally fair to be reviewing a Beta. There is tons of room for improvement, but Ultimatum is definitely on the right track.
I feel 100% confident calling this the best game on BYOND right now after only a few hours playing it. Quite frankly, there isn’t much competition… but even if there were, this game would still hold its own. Aspiring BYOND developers could learn a lot from what Unknown Person has done with Ultimatum.
I'll have to try that game myself but have you ever tried D4RK3 54B3R's 'Faction Wars' Silk? That game is very impressive in my regard, though it isn't hosted often.
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Inspired by another game or not: still the best new BYOND game at this point.
For the record, Proelium was heavily inspired by Team Fortress Classic. Granted, it took a lot more to translate that game from 3D to 2D, but still. I haven't played Faction Wars... I'll have to give it a look. | |
It looks like UP is trying to create a Byond version for it. Not really, though Wesnoth was my inspiration and the battle system was based on it. I plan on having other things that will make the two different. ;P | |
Sorry, I wasn't trying to imply that you're stealing ideas or anything. My mistake.
(I was only teasing you about that one icon, and you made your own version to replace it anyway) Edit: What the hell is wrong with me tonight. I reread this and it sounds sarcastic but it's not. :( | |
Sorry, I wasn't trying to imply that you're stealing ideas or anything. My mistake. Heh, yeah, that was pretty mean (the remarks about Ultimatum being "wesnoth-byond"); but I know you were joking about that. ;P Anyway, Silk, thanks for the support! I'm pretty flattered to have someone thinking this is the best game on BYOND. Motivation++ :P | |
TBS game? Sweet cant wait to see it in action! Any open beta or a release date on it?
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The public beta is actually on right now, and will be on until 10:00 PM EST (50 minutes or so from now). I try not to make any release dates for myself so I can't rush myself, but I hope to have it sooner than later. :P
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I must agree with this post. I have played since the early testing of the game and have fallen in love with it. Although a few of the factions need some nerfing... coughelvescough. >_>
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Yeah I think it is one of the better games on BYOND, you can also have many games going on without any if little lag.
->Calus CoRPS<- | |
I really enjoyed it. I think everyone who reads this puts in on there blog as their favorite game. 2 hours ago it was rank 28 now its 22, lets see it get number one, because this is WAY better than seika.
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I agree. :]
But what about AA now Silk? | |
i would thing AA would take number 1. Heck, people already added it to their favorite games before it came out. After all the work Silk put into AA, I think it will be number 1. It also has a hge fan base aka the dwo community.
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I wouldnt say it is even ranked until it comes out to the public.
->Calus CoRPS<- | |
it is ranked
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I agree. He doesn't mean it literally Dark Wizard. I never rate games before they come out. Ultimatum has been #1 on my favorites list since the first testing day. It will probably stay there as well. Many huge updates have been planned for the game. I'm waiting for transport units/vehicles. Then, the game will have earned it's place in the #1 spot. >:D
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Ultimatum is not a good game...Its a GREAT game! I only played about 30 min of it and loved it. I love how UP made the hud system, it gets the job done plus some. Right now, I'd agree with silk, its the best game out there right now on byond.
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Killerdragon:
But what about AA now Silk? Oh don't worry, that's still chugging along. I'm actually working on it right now. I don't think that Ultimatum is in any sort of competition with AA, because they are completely different games. Even if it were in direct competition with AA, I wouldn't be afraid to acknowledge how great a game it is. Worthy competition is a good thing! As far as the ranking system goes: it doesn't mean a damn thing. Acheron's Awakening could be ranked #1 or #1000 and I wouldn't care less. | |
my pager blinks ever 5 seconds, this is going to be one of the 70+ post topics.
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http://www.wesnoth.org
Edit: I should add to say that UP's game looks very fun. I don't mean to give a wrong impression with this post.