Strategy Sunday: Siege Survival Gloriavictus: Starvation Simulator
1Hello boys and girls, today we play a wonderfully interesting new release called siege survival. In this unique game you get to play as a lowly peasant trying to survive during a siege.
Facing starvation, dehydration, disease and the enemy, you not only need to feed yourself, but also feed and support the defenders of the castle; if they are overwhelmed the game is over!
Primarily a medieval this war of mine, this game spices things up with a new setting and a unique bastion mechanic that forces you to decide between scavenging for resources for yourself or the castles defenders.
Although I'm not usually a fan of these games (TOO STRESSFUL) the constant time pressure, resource shortages and tough decisions really lures you into feeling the desperation of a siege survivor, and as the resources begin to dwindle you'll slowly become more and more desperate, and forced to make more difficult decisions.
Some minor issues, like the comical enemy patrols does lighten the mood, and I suspect that once you learn the correct prioritisation of resources and areas to scavenge the game will become a cake walk. However it's the trial and error of this game which will probably aid in it's longevity, as you try and optimise your scavenging and building to achieve the best results.
Also, if you're a babby like myself, there's sandbox and easy modes which will give you a lot more supplies and resources, allowing you to at least finish the game, if gruelling defeat and stressful decisions are not your thing!
Fundamentally a fun game to play, and with a workshop you may expect some future scenarios to be introduced by more enthusiastic players of the game, depending on the game's success and fanbase of course.
So in terms of reviewing it (after 2 hours and 30 mins of gameplay so it's a pretty shallow review tbh as it's not my cup of tea) it's got an interesting setting, fairly interesting mechanics and a gameplay loop that slowly increases in difficulty. Sure guard ai is naff, but the rest is pretty solid. So, if your a fan of resource management, crafting, decision making and medieval settings, then this will be right up your street. Especially if you enjoyed this War of Mine.
If you prefer a more casual Sunday afternoon, more warfare and less stealth/scavenging, then it won't really be your cup of tea.
Personal opinion, a solid 7.5/10, though I suspect it should be higher but my personal opinion's got in the way. In short, pretty fun, very stressful and unique. Worth it for £16 if it's your first foray into these sorts of games.
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