Not since Dungeon Keeper for PC have we seen a game as complex or as entertaining as Impire. Both a role-playing game and a tycoon-style simulator, Impire has you managing a massive dungeon replete with hordes of nasty monsters (not to mention your main character). While the game has you building dungeons and micromanaging like Dungeon Keeper, it also has you foraging for resources such as food, materials and treasures. There’s also the task of fending off wannabe heroes as they scavenge your dungeon for treasure.
Unlike other dungeon management games, you can travel outside your dungeon to other locations to participate in side quests. You can also raid for resources and other materials to help to further expand your dungeon. As you expand your dungeon, it will attract stronger, more powerful heroes that are searching for fame and fortune.
Gameplay is based on tried and true RTS mechanics. While you can send your minions into combat, you can’t actually command their actions. The outcome of the battle is determined by your squad’s strength. As a rule, low-level minions are less likely to survive a hero encounter.
You spend a lot of your time designing, developing and customizing your dungeon. Heroes can lay siege to your dungeon anytime during the game; there are no warnings before this happens either. Impire takes a non-linear approach to an otherwise linear concept. The game does have a story that must be completed, but it’s not necessarily the main objective.
There are plenty of objectives and side quests to complete. You don’t have to focus on the main story right away, but you will have to complete the main objectives to finish the level. The game gives the player enough flexibility to explore the content that is available.
As you level up, you can spend character points on three different talent trees – warrior, commander and mage. Like with all role-playing games, each class has its purpose and some are better off when assigned to supporting roles in the party.
You can easily micromanage everything inside your dungeon. When combat occurs, you can use any of your units to preview what they are doing in a ‘Preview Window’. This allows the player to keep track of their minions while focusing on the dungeon. Plus, you don’t have to scroll through different camera modes to keep track of your units. This makes things a lot easier when a hero attacks your dungeon, too. You can watch your units fight the invader while you continue working; it’s a great feature.
The single-player and multiplayer campaign(s) work together to form a seamless experience. All single-player campaigns appear in a multiplayer-style lobby. This means you can turn any campaign – whether it’s single-player or multiplayer – into an online co-op game or vice versa.
The graphics are simply incredible. Everything, from the character models to the cobblestone walls of the dungeon, look incredible. You can even watch your main character, Baal, grow and transform whenever you add new talent points. Impire also contains hours of narration that is divided between the cut scenes and gameplay. You will recognize voice acting from standup comedian ‘John Pinette’ as well as other famous voice talents.
Impire offers the right blend of role-playing, strategy and micromanagement. There are few games available today that have successfully utilized so many different genres in a single game. Paradox has truly done the dungeon crawl genre justice with this release.
James ‘Daripp3r’ Pittaro
Platform: PC
System Requirements
Minimum:
OS: Windows XP/Vista/7
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E8400 3.0GHz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+,
Memory: 3 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 or ATI Radeon HD3000 video card with 512MB of dedicated memory
DirectX: 9.0
Hard Drive :3 GB HD space
Sound: DirectX Compatible Soundcard
Other Requirements:Broadband Internet connection
Additional: 3-button mouse, keyboard, speakers, Internet connection for multiplayer
Developer: Cyanide Montreal
Publisher: Paradox Interactive
ESRB: N/A
Price: $19.99
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Graphics |  |
| The graphics are absolutely beautiful and the attention to detail is simply mind-blowing. | |
| Sound | |
| Superb voice acting really helps set Impire apart from other games in the genre. | |
| Gameplay | |
| A truly impressive gaming experience, whether you play online or offline. | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Paradox interactive has done it again . If you are looking for an authentic dungeon crawler with original gameplay, then look no further than Impire by Cyanide Montreal. | |
