Empire of Ember

There aren’t many games that can claim to combine the action of an RPG, the tactical nature of an RTS, and the allure of a resource gathering, city-building management game. Empire of Ember is one of the few that step up to this plate, and it is a massive adventure that joins all of these experiences into one massive game that will satisfy fans of any of these genres. Let's take a look at some of the compelling features of this melting pot of video game genres and gameplay.

Dungeon Crawling Mayhem

Empire of Ember’s most prominent feature is its first-person fantasy RPG gameplay in which you explore randomly generated fields and dungeons. Heavily resemblant of games like The Elder Scrolls’ Skyrim and Oblivion, Empire of Ember allows you to engage in combat in which you can wield a weapon or spell in each hand, creating wild melee/magic combos.

Fight all kinds of creatures in the environments you march into to expand your kingdom’s influence, gather materials, and grow your own powers. In combat, use dodges and blocks to gain crucial advantages over enemies lest you be overpowered. Ranged weapons like crossbows can help by taking out enemies before they can outnumber you. Destructible environments can also provide you with advantages in combat. Use all of the tools at your disposal to become a successful explorer of the inhospitable lands you call home.

An Army at your Beck and Call

When engaging in larger-scale conflicts, you can choose to fight as a single warrior in first-person combat, or you can choose to zoom out into a tactical mode, revealing a real-time strategy system in which you deliver commands to armies of up to one hundred units. Designate areas to attack or defend, tell your troops to push forward or hold back, and even instruct them to form a shield wall to defend themselves from a hail of falling arrows.

Create-A-Kingdom

The tactics you choose and the points in the battle where you choose to employ them can be the difference between an uplifting victory or a crushing defeat. Be conscious of how many poor decisions you make, as success or failure in battle affects the morale of your entire kingdom. Don't risk your kingdom falling over hasty decisions made in battle!

Pros

• Deep city-building gameplay
• Dungeon crawling is just as compelling as Skyrim
• RTS gameplay is lots of fun

Cons

• Simple graphics