Thank you for this fun review! Enjoyed the spoilers and the way you handled them :D Really looking forward to get this finally played only need to wait for translations to be finished. My gaming friends are not English speakers and translating on the fly for so much text is a no go ^^ To add to the discussion: replayability in campaign games should just reflect how much incentive there is to go to the next chapter :) Nobody asks if a book or a movie is infinitely rewatch-/rereadable - it is enough to get to the ending :P Asking for replayability is quite different for Euro-style games. There needs to be enough variation to make it interesting despite the number of times you play - best example is Terraforming Mars and anti-example is Kingsport Festival (one of my favcourite games for the game mechanics. Sadly I can table it only once a year ^^) In my experience people bringing up things like replayability are often repeating tag words they cought in other discussions ... maybe it is a way to allow yourself take part in a discussion while feeling clever :) Do not get hung up too much if if it is brought up. Maybe just humor them with stating how much fun you had on the journey :D Nobody asks for replayability in Escape Room games anyways :P Infinite replayability is a myth imho. - with time even the best mechanism will feel outdated or samey particularly if games get overplayed ^^ Thnak you again for taking us on the journes! Happy gaming to you :)
I think replayability is a bad argument. It's good to have, but it certainly isn't necessary for the experience to be good. Like a movie doesn't change when you watch it but you might still watch your favorite movie over and over, you could shelve Oathsworn for years and break it out later and enjoy it all over again. More than that though, you wouldn't not watch a movie just because you could only be surprised by it once, you'd just enjoy it for what it is and move on.
This Review nails it just perfectly!! While i was listening to the spoiler part i was constantly saying: yes, that is exactly what we have experienced. Even if it comes to the puzzle and minigame section i had to smile, because the same things where the top 3 for us, in the same order. Great Review of a great Game!
Man, I cannot WAIT to dig my teeth into this. I'm setting aside that 50 minutes soon, because the problem with most reviewers and campaign games is they do the review after 5-10 plays and assume the rest of the game is like the beginning - and I get it, it is for practical reasons. But to see a complete review of the whole Oathsworn campaign?! Like I said. Can't wait to check it out. I'll throw another comment out after I settled in at the 19th hole in my basement with a fine beverage by my side to soak this all in. THANK YOU.
I absolutely LOVE this games and loved our campaign. For a first time game company they put out one of the best games ever. Cannot wait to see what they produce in the future. I do see us going through the campaign one more time with different characters and making some different decisions. I also do plan to just go back and do some boss battles with different Oathsworn.
The fact the solo didn't work for you def makes me hesitant on this one, as finding friends for campaign games that aren't actual TTRPGs is tough. Thanks so much for filming this tho.
I think the way you handled the “spoilers” here was perfect. Mark them, give warning, and let people decide whether they want to hear them. I typically choose not to for a game that I am playing or would play, but like to hear them on a game that I’m unlikely to play.
Finally a review from some one who beat it. I just beat this game. I actually loved it solo. I used 2 full characters and 2 companions and had a blast.
I watched your entire review even though I'm only 8 scenarios in. I have no issues with your "spoilers" especially since it doesn't ruin any decision-making points or plot. If anything, it actually makes me more excited for what's ahead. Thanks.
Near the end, you avoided saying something to avoid sounding "snooty". We NEED critics like you to share your opinions to get better and better games. You are great at this!
If you put a 'spoiler' disclaimer on it, and even time stamp it, it's on the person watching whether they want to see or hear about spoilers. And they could watch the parts without the spoiler. People are way too uptight about it.
Wellity! Excellent. About 2/3rds done with my kids (well, they're in their 20s, sew...). Let's see if we can get this done before they hit 30s :) Awesome "Complete Review", Joel. Top quality, as always.
I skipped the spoiler sections because I have the game and I'm trying to figure out when I can play it with friends. It seems like the game review portion is to discuss how the game is played and how that feels for those who haven't played it, and the spoiler sections are like a book club to discuss what happens with others who have played it or just want to hear more about what happens. I'm solidly in the first camp, to get a better feel of what other players think of it and not get into the game's plot and themes yet. After playing it I'll come back to this video and watch those parts and probably comment about them. I think the game discussion and plot/themes discussion are for different audiences, and second audience is going to be much smaller than the first (with "no spoilers" reviews reflecting this).
@@whennerdsgobad Mine tended to average 3 hours for set up, play the scenario and the combat and then pickup etc. Took us about 70 hours to complete the campaign.
When I try to talk about stuff I try to keep away from what I feel are spoilers but it's all information. When there's a new film or whatever I try to not learn much about it at all if I'm already determined to go, but I know the information is there when I want it. Games are weirder than more analog formats, though. Break what rules need to so you can talk about your experience, warn the people who need to be warned, you're OK
I am kind of mixed on oathsworn. It has the signs of a great game but ultimately I saw it as very mediocre, not terrible by any means but fell quite short for me. Fights feeling very samiesh, character growth outside of new gear is almost nonexistent and I was very, very lukewarm on the story. Overall whilst I don’t outright regret my purchase , let’s just say I am glad I only went for the standee version.
Lots of nice ideas in this game. I regret that the gameplay mechanics during the encounters was so repetitive and basic tactic. I had the component, the story, the atmosphere and lore… but I didn’t get the gameplay. Had to accept this game was not for me after 11 plays. I need more impactful choices during my turn to be really invovled. This + the dull character progression made me sell the game.
Thank you for this fun review! Enjoyed the spoilers and the way you handled them :D
Really looking forward to get this finally played only need to wait for translations to be finished. My gaming friends are not English speakers and translating on the fly for so much text is a no go ^^
To add to the discussion: replayability in campaign games should just reflect how much incentive there is to go to the next chapter :) Nobody asks if a book or a movie is infinitely rewatch-/rereadable - it is enough to get to the ending :P
Asking for replayability is quite different for Euro-style games. There needs to be enough variation to make it interesting despite the number of times you play - best example is Terraforming Mars and anti-example is Kingsport Festival (one of my favcourite games for the game mechanics. Sadly I can table it only once a year ^^)
In my experience people bringing up things like replayability are often repeating tag words they cought in other discussions ... maybe it is a way to allow yourself take part in a discussion while feeling clever :) Do not get hung up too much if if it is brought up. Maybe just humor them with stating how much fun you had on the journey :D
Nobody asks for replayability in Escape Room games anyways :P
Infinite replayability is a myth imho. - with time even the best mechanism will feel outdated or samey particularly if games get overplayed ^^
Thnak you again for taking us on the journes! Happy gaming to you :)
I think replayability is a bad argument. It's good to have, but it certainly isn't necessary for the experience to be good. Like a movie doesn't change when you watch it but you might still watch your favorite movie over and over, you could shelve Oathsworn for years and break it out later and enjoy it all over again. More than that though, you wouldn't not watch a movie just because you could only be surprised by it once, you'd just enjoy it for what it is and move on.
This Review nails it just perfectly!!
While i was listening to the spoiler part i was constantly saying: yes, that is exactly what we have experienced. Even if it comes to the puzzle and minigame section i had to smile, because the same things where the top 3 for us, in the same order.
Great Review of a great Game!
Man, I cannot WAIT to dig my teeth into this. I'm setting aside that 50 minutes soon, because the problem with most reviewers and campaign games is they do the review after 5-10 plays and assume the rest of the game is like the beginning - and I get it, it is for practical reasons. But to see a complete review of the whole Oathsworn campaign?! Like I said. Can't wait to check it out. I'll throw another comment out after I settled in at the 19th hole in my basement with a fine beverage by my side to soak this all in. THANK YOU.
I absolutely LOVE this games and loved our campaign. For a first time game company they put out one of the best games ever. Cannot wait to see what they produce in the future. I do see us going through the campaign one more time with different characters and making some different decisions. I also do plan to just go back and do some boss battles with different Oathsworn.
The fact the solo didn't work for you def makes me hesitant on this one, as finding friends for campaign games that aren't actual TTRPGs is tough. Thanks so much for filming this tho.
I think the way you handled the “spoilers” here was perfect. Mark them, give warning, and let people decide whether they want to hear them. I typically choose not to for a game that I am playing or would play, but like to hear them on a game that I’m unlikely to play.
Finally a review from some one who beat it. I just beat this game. I actually loved it solo. I used 2 full characters and 2 companions and had a blast.
I watched your entire review even though I'm only 8 scenarios in. I have no issues with your "spoilers" especially since it doesn't ruin any decision-making points or plot. If anything, it actually makes me more excited for what's ahead. Thanks.
Near the end, you avoided saying something to avoid sounding "snooty". We NEED critics like you to share your opinions to get better and better games. You are great at this!
You made me re-watch. I think I was tempted to call the game "important". I loathe that kind of language :D
If you put a 'spoiler' disclaimer on it, and even time stamp it, it's on the person watching whether they want to see or hear about spoilers. And they could watch the parts without the spoiler. People are way too uptight about it.
Wellity! Excellent. About 2/3rds done with my kids (well, they're in their 20s, sew...). Let's see if we can get this done before they hit 30s :) Awesome "Complete Review", Joel. Top quality, as always.
I'm starting this game right now perfect timing
I skipped the spoiler sections because I have the game and I'm trying to figure out when I can play it with friends. It seems like the game review portion is to discuss how the game is played and how that feels for those who haven't played it, and the spoiler sections are like a book club to discuss what happens with others who have played it or just want to hear more about what happens. I'm solidly in the first camp, to get a better feel of what other players think of it and not get into the game's plot and themes yet. After playing it I'll come back to this video and watch those parts and probably comment about them. I think the game discussion and plot/themes discussion are for different audiences, and second audience is going to be much smaller than the first (with "no spoilers" reviews reflecting this).
Fantastic, Joel. I am still at the beginning so I couldn’t watch ALL of your video. Great insights per usual.
Oathsworn was my #1 from 2022 and is one of my favorite games. Another campaign would be awesome.
Outstanding. Thank you!
I used primarily cards for the monsters unless their deck was clearly stacked to be strong, I would mix in some dice to give myself a chance.
Did you do the partial glue for the minis? or was it not an issue? or did you bother?
I glued all the base loadouts for the heroes. I didn't get the extra weapons.
It must be played minimum once a week for at least 5 generations or the replayability is trash 😂
:D
You played 21 sessions (21 scenarios) - how many hours was it for one scenario/session, on average?
I played half a dozen scenarios. I would say it is around 1h for story part and 90min for the combat. And a few more min for set up.
@@whennerdsgobad Mine tended to average 3 hours for set up, play the scenario and the combat and then pickup etc. Took us about 70 hours to complete the campaign.
The other replies are about what we experienced. Depending on the story mode, it's either 45-60 minutes for story, 90 minutes for encounter.
When I try to talk about stuff I try to keep away from what I feel are spoilers but it's all information. When there's a new film or whatever I try to not learn much about it at all if I'm already determined to go, but I know the information is there when I want it. Games are weirder than more analog formats, though. Break what rules need to so you can talk about your experience, warn the people who need to be warned, you're OK
I am kind of mixed on oathsworn. It has the signs of a great game but ultimately I saw it as very mediocre, not terrible by any means but fell quite short for me. Fights feeling very samiesh, character growth outside of new gear is almost nonexistent and I was very, very lukewarm on the story. Overall whilst I don’t outright regret my purchase , let’s just say I am glad I only went for the standee version.
Lots of nice ideas in this game. I regret that the gameplay mechanics during the encounters was so repetitive and basic tactic.
I had the component, the story, the atmosphere and lore… but I didn’t get the gameplay. Had to accept this game was not for me after 11 plays. I need more impactful choices during my turn to be really invovled. This + the dull character progression made me sell the game.
That is exactly where I am with oathsworn. Character development, growth lol what is that…