Taken for a quickie | Jon Shafer's At the Gates

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Welcome down to the paradise city, where we’re pumping At the Gates in our latest quickie.

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by Rob Holt

@acousticmagic

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Developer: Conifer Games
Publisher: Conifer Games
Platforms: PC
Players: 1

Erm, who’s Jon Schafer?

He’s a former Civilization designer/programmer/guru, lending his name to the project for the gravitas it adds to any turn-based tactics game.

Turn-based tactics, you say?

Aye. You’ll be forming a clan, building up a settlement, bashing the Romans, and managing resources in this brave new (Kickstarter-funded) world.

Sounds like it might be a bit dense?

The genre’s somewhat niche (there aren’t many “casuals” who drop in for a spot of the ol’ Tropico), so the short answer would be yes, it is. Those of you who are new to the genre, or making their first steps back after a long hiatus (see yours truly), be warned: much reading and many menus await thee, and the pace of the game is certainly on the slower side.

You are warned during the opening segment that ATG is hard as peanut brittle in the early stages, before you find your footing in the world, so do bear that in mind.

Alright. How does the blighter play? 

Exactly as you might expect, especially if you’re familiar with Civ. You’ll be constructing your clan, learning new professions and skills, expanding your horizons, meeting and fighting other factions, plus loads more. 

The game is still in its early-ish stages, mind, so watch out for bugs and crashes (we’ve already had a few of those). 

How’s the presentation?

Really lovely, to be honest. The map’s rendered in a beautiful, hand-drawn art style and has neat touches like concealing undiscovered areas under tea-stained map paper. You can add to the pile fabulous character drawings, some solid sound effects, and musical interludes that all round out the charming audiovisual package nicely.

Is it accessible, or do diehards only need apply?

Colonel Indecisive says it’s a little bit of both. Yes, it’s dense, and the opening hours might feel impenetrable to a complete layman, but persevere and you’ll find a decent game full of things to explore and get lost in. At £25, this definitely isn’t for everyone, but it’s worth a punt if you’ve a taste for the turn-based.

Bring on the crash fixes, too, Jon-boy!