Full disclosure, I typically loath doing game reviews. Testing hardware typically can be done along side of me working on something else, for example, I can test the comfort of a headset while benchmarking a video card, while also writing when tests are running. Games on the other hand require days and sometimes weeks of gameplay for testing. I know some of you might think I’m crazy, because playing games and getting to call it work sounds amazing. But when we have to publish multiple articles a week, it’s just impossible. That being said, a new game called Banished launched just a few days ago and has so far had been extremely popular on steam (it is as I write this the top selling game over a half priced Call of Duty: Ghosts and a whole bunch of games that are 75% off from Ubisoft) and Reddit. I have been playing it non-stop and many of you hit me up on Facebook and on steam asking for my thoughts on the game. Why not put it all together for everyone to see!
Game: Banished
Developed by: Shining Rock Software
Review Sample Provided by: Wes
Platforms: PC (Their website, Steam, GoG, and the Humble Store)
Genre: City Builder / Simulation / Strategy
Release Date: February 18th, 2014
Written by: Wes
Screenshots by: Wes
Story
Typically in our game reviews we would go into the story line of the game. However, with Banished, the only back story you know going into the game is that you are controlling a group of exiled travelers who are restarting their lives in a new land. They start with the clothes on their backs and a cart filled with supplies from their homeland. The homeland and the rest of their history is completely unknown. Normally I would say that this is a really weak story line. But let’s be honest, this is actually more of a story line than you get from most city builder / simulation games. I do think that a short video or audio story similar to what you give in Civilization 5 would do Banished a lot of good, but most people who play this genre aren’t looking for a heavy story line in the first place. I know for me, I tend to come up with my own story as I go, especially when things start to go sour.
Really the most interesting story that came from Banished is the blog from the developer himself as he went through the games development. Yes, that is correct only one person made Banished, over a period of three years. I can only imagine how much stress the developer is going through now that the game is launched and has been successful.