Battle for Wesnoth (Review by Various)

From Linux Gamer Guide - StrangeGamer.com

[edit] Intro

Battle for Wesnoth (Wesnoth) is a turn-based strategy Free software game set in a fantasy realm with a focus on tactical battle rather than resource management. Wesnoth has a comparatively simple yet unique interface that supports a surprising depth of gameplay.

Gameplay is deliberately simple in comparison to many turn-based strategy games. Wesnoth has only one resource; gold. Chance to hit is based solely on the target unit's defence in a specific terrain. There's no complex spell system. But the interaction of unit types, damage types, terrain, etc. make for an interesting and diverse gaming experience.

[edit] Interface

Wesnoth utilises a top-down hex-based view. The basic interface is simple and intuitive; left-clicking on a unit selects it, left-clicking on a target location moves there, left-clicking on an enemy brings up the attack dialog, and right-clicking on anything brings up a context sensitive menu. Some of the advanced features (eg. display how far the enemy units can reach next turn) aren't well documented and you have to look through the preferences to familiarise yourself with them.

Important game information (turns remaining, amount of gold, income per turn) is displayed at the top of the screen.

The graphics are of dated style, but are high quality, and well-suited to the style of play.

[edit] Gameplay

[edit] Basics

Wesnoth's only resource is gold. A captured village provides 2 gold per turn. A unit costs 1 gold per turn per unit level. Thus tactical control of villages is usually vital. Villages also heal units sitting in them. Leader units (whose loss ends the game) can use gold to recruit units from their keeps.

Units have differing movement speeds on different terrain (elves faster in forests, etc.), differing combat defence in different terrain, and differing resistance against different attack types. Some units are also designated 'lawful' or 'chaotic' meaning that they fight better in the daytime or the nighttime part of Wesnoth's time cycle. In addition, some units have special abilities; poison, backstab, drain, healing, etc. These differences make for a complex juggling act. Formation is also an important element of play.

[edit] Combat

Perhaps the most unusual aspect of Wesnoth for the new player is the combat system. Units can have either or both of melee and ranged attacks. However, both attack types can only be used from an adjacent hex! Instead, the difference serves as a tactical choice; the attacking unit can decide whether to engage using ranged or melee attacks, and his opponent must respond in the same way. This often entails a choice between inflicting a lot of damage quickly (but at greater risk) vs gradually wearing an enemy down (but risking a powerful counter-attack).

[edit] Single-player Campaign Play

Units earn experience from being in battle and even greater experience from scoring a kill. Earning sufficient experience causes the unit to advance a level, often offering a choice of upgrade path. This leads to one of the more interesting (and sometimes frustrating) aspects of the Wesnoth exerience.

Units that survive a scenario can be recalled in future scenarios. Most of the gold earned will also be carried over into future scenarios. This means that the goal is not only to successfully complete scenarios, but to simultaneously amass an experienced army, and enough gold to recall them! This makes for an interesting tactical challenge, as well as a personalised combat force, but sometimes means you reach a level with too weak a force to complete it, and need to return to earlier levels to improve your army strength. The default campaign "Heir to the Throne" is unfortunately particularly bad for this, and not a very good beginner's campaign (though this is being improved). There are, however, numerous other campaigns available (some high quality official and unofficial ones and some unofficial ones of lesser quality) and "Heir to the Throne" is an enjoyable challenged for the seasoned Wesnoth veteran.

[edit] Multiplayer Play

Wesnoth supports internet and LAN gaming and a public internet server is available. Wesnoth also supports LAN gaming, multiplayer vs any combination of computer and human players (either via network or hotseat).

[edit] Summary

Overall Wesnoth is an interesting, addictive game that you can easily spend hours playing. It is the highest ranked game at The Linux Game Tome, and with good reason.

[edit] Supported operation systems & License

[edit] Rating

+ Simple rules resulting in complex gameplay

+ Six official single-player campaigns and many unofficial ones

+ Well balanced factions

+ Highly active Wesnoth player and developer community at wesnoth.org

+ Now, documentation is almost complete (and constantly improving)

- Comparatively steep learning curve

- Sometimes you have to backtrack levels

[edit] Links

Battle for Wesnoth info page on LinuxGamerGuide