Tyranny Review: A Refined RTwP game

Tyranny is good.

Tyranny: The Refined Interplay Experience

Obsidian Entertainment’s Tyranny is their latest old-school Interplay/Infinity Engine style Western RPG. It contains: real time with pause combat, semi-voice acted characters, choices, factions, and a simple story to follow. Most scenarios are brutal. As such,  killing a lot of people, right before either getting them angry, or terrifying them to death (with your various overpowered magical methods of killing completely justified actions), tends to happen when communicating, right or wrongly.

Fatebinder of Choice

Tyranny puts you in the role of a Fatebinder, a judge, jury and more often executioner of the laws of the land. Anyone attacking an agent of the law is a death sentence. So, most choices involve resolving disputes, no matter how aware of the Law you are or not, on pain of death.  Thus, for good or ill, we have a sense of uninformed freedom.

I AM THE LAW, whatever that is

This is confusing when coming across the various interpersonal disputes. Can merchants sell appropriated items back to soldiers? Without a permit? Can  soldiers freely reacquire their gear? Are they justified in killing this merchant because he stole from them? How do merchants  acquire a permit?  While I don’t have enough information to make a judgement, the fact I can save the merchant, or put him into the service of the army, and get first dibs on whatever new things he’s found, is great. It’s a simple way Tyranny colors it’s world. You’re the one with authority, even if you’re just some guy in the service of Tunon’s court.

A rose by any other name, would smell like dried human carcass

While in a different setting and genre, your role would be the same as let’s say a wild west sheriff, a beat patrol officer or even a grade school teacher, Tyranny grants the player freedom to decide simple disputes, almost like a community leader jumping in before things get out of hand; or, even escalating them to murderous magical mob destruction. Obey my ruling, or be blown to pieces. Think a magical-medieval Judge Dredd.

Coloring your world (red & brown, mostly)

These little moments are miniature worlds of engagement for me, in the role I’ve been assigned. Whereas the real-time with pause combat is where the refined Infinity Engine combat system, D&D warts and all, rears it’s ancient head. (I’m talking about you, critical misses and hits…) Dodge, parry, and other such conventions exist. Skyrim hops on board, as the more you use a certain weapon (normal attack with whatever you’re equipped with = +1 to that weapon type) or category of skill (use fire magic? +1 to fire skill), the better you get. Running over traps increases your dodge, parry, or “resist trap-damage-type=du-jour.” While not amazing, it’s the most digestible version of RTwP/exploration I’ve seen.

It’s like multiple 3-way Social Links, where everyone is the Death Tarot

Unity attacks, with you and your companions  are unlocked as you befriend them. This creates Loyalty or Fear points through game choices. This unlocks perks that involve a 1-day-use attack or ability specific to that character. Non-ability perks involve passive bonuses to stats, or other battle related instances through this system. So, it’s always best to go for one path in a playthrough for maximum bonuses. That’s hard to pick up on as every choice is so detailed. Nor is it very clear who will like or dislike your actions. Similarly, the Power system, which was sadly not developed enough, uses equipment that gains charges. These fuel a single combat ability.

It’s really still about choices

When you make choices, small interpersonal ones and plot ones, those small choices will impact if your companions will hang around after the plot choices. Forks in the road appear, and you will piss off at least one of two companions half the time.

Factions

3 main factions exist, as do sub-factions, cities & villages, for a total of 10 major ending groups and other small factions that all need a little bit of brutal justice their way. Everyone must deal with the two armies of the Overlord deal with the fallout of a brutal force. The main problem, though, are Kyros’ edicts.

Edict?

An edict is a magical spell a Fatebinder casts upon a region. These call forth perpetual wind storms, convert the land into stone, or make people unlucky. It appears Tyranny’s Overlord is a little bit random with their absolute magical power. This is the basis of the plot for Tyranny; how do edicts impact a Fatebinder, what happens when tasked with enacting several?

The Overlord

They’re never present, though always talked about. Kyros’ mystery remains. This sets up a sequel for further lore and exposition. And, hopefully learn the results of our choices.

And talking about a sequel…

The ending is questionable. The development or plot reveals are clichéd and unfortunately nothing new. This isn’t a huge problem. Almost as if the premise of “the bad guys have already won” would be a sufficient enough selling point. So, if Obsidian can keep releasing quality, solid stories, in a fun and refined RTwP world, I’d be on board.

 

It’s the little things

The one thing I loved about Tyranny’s dialogue was the tool-tip on hover box. I certainly can’t recall every canon term. Thus, having a quick popup helps when figuring out who and what these term are.

Tyranny Overall

I can state that the graphics or visuals are not as attractive as Obsidian’s other titles, like Pillars of Eternity, but it’s still a beautiful looking game. My bias is toward storytelling. Thus, the plot, the characters, the conflicts, all are reasonably satisfactory. The story doesn’t make me hurt myself; which is pretty impressive in 2017.

And for those who like a rating system. here’s my rundown.

Premise & Execution	8.5
Protagonist/Antagonist	6
Characters	7.5
Themes	9
Choices	8.5
Setting	9.1
Factions	9.2
Deus Ex	7
Storytelling	8.5
Game play	9
Overall:	8.23

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Pick it up on Amazon.com:

Tyranny Commander Edition (PC DVD)
Or Amazon.ca:

Tyranny Commander Edition (PC DVD)