Endless Legend is a 4x strategy game by developer AMPLITUDE Studios. Still in the early stages of alpha on Steam Early Access, Endless Legend is very similar to other 4x strategy games. It shares some similarities with the Civilization series (i.e. building structures, expanding your race, etc.), but that is where the similarities end. The gameplay is so deeply entrenched in strategy that it places Endless Legend into a category all its own.
The player can choose from one of four available races – Wild Walkers, Broken Lords, Vaulters and the Necrophages. Each race is unique; they come with their own abilities, skills and units. But most importantly, the race you choose will play differently than the others; this adds diversity to the gameplay.
There are many features that still need to be implemented, including an in-game tutorial and a standalone single-player campaign. In its current state, Endless Legend’s gameplay is skirmish-based and resembles an online multiplayer match with the CPU controlling enemy teams. An online multiplayer feature still needs to be implemented, but if the single-player skirmishes are any indication of what we can expect, then gamers are in for a treat once the game is completed.
Like any strategy game, the main objective is to develop your race so it can conquer everyone else. Endless Legend can be confusing to play early on, but if you possess a basic knowledge of strategy games, you can overcome these hurdles rather quickly. The main concern when starting out is to find a location that is habitable for your first city; this is crucial to your success. The game world is separated into millions of hexagons that comprise a gigantic grid; each grid contains its own bonuses and resources that can be harvested. This requires the player to place their cities in strategic locations to harvest resources and use any bonuses that are available.
Like Civilization V and Age of Wonders III, it’s important to research new technologies. Endless Legend contains multiple eras and time periods, and the only way to advance to the next technological level (i.e era) is by researching new technologies and advancing your master race. This results in stronger units and structures that are more difficult to penetrate.
Combat takes place in real-time on the world map. When you encounter a combat sequence, a request window pops comparing the units from both armies and outlining the encounter. You are then given the option to automatically resolve the battle or initiate manual combat. Opting for manual combat grants the player control over the entire battle (including the placement of units and planning your strategy).
Endless Legend is shaping up to be a great game. As it progresses through the many stages of development, updates and gameplay tweaks will be implemented to shape what is already a compelling 4x strategy game. Endless Legend is unique enough to be considered one of a kind. Once you start playing, you can’t stop.
James ‘Daripp3r’ Pittaro
Platform: PC (Available on Steam Early Access)
System Requirements
Minimum:
OS: Windows Vista / 7 / 8 / 8.1
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.50Ghz or equivalent
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: nVidia Geforce 460 1GB or ATI Radeon HD 6850 1GB
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Hard Drive: 4 GB available space
Sound Card: DirectX 9 Compatible Audio
Developer: AMPLITUDE Studios
Publisher: AMPLITUDE Studios / Iceberg Interactive
ESRB: N/A
Price: $34.99
Endless Legend’s Official Website
Endless Legend’s Steam Page
