Empire of Sin (1920s turn-based strategy from Romero) - Game Pass (Xbox and PC) from 18/3

Last edited by rinks on Sat Mar 13, 2021 9:45 pm, edited 3 times in total.

I’ve not seen any interest in this whatsoever, but I really liked the look of it when I first saw it, and I love a bit of TBS. Out tomorrow. Anyone thinking of trying it?

Empire of Sin is an upcoming strategy video game being developed by Romero Games and published by Paradox Interactive. It is expected for release on December 1, 2020 for Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. In the game, the player takes the role of one of several mob bosses inspired by real-life figures in Chicago during the Prohibition era. The player uses their boss to control the actions of their underlings to take over opponents' business and recruit new members to their cause while defending their own empire from the other bosses.

It got a Eurogamer Recommended, which I usually find to be quite a reliable gauge.
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020 ... erwhelming

I've read some previews and it really interests me, not sure if I'd get it for a while yet though, got a few other titles to play through. I have been feeling something of an XCOM-esque fix, and I'd rather try something new than just go back to XCOM. A lot of the empire building stuff really appeals to me too, and it's a fabulous aesthetic.

I was interested but the reviews have been all over the place. PC Gamer gave it 49/100 for example

It looks like Omerta which was fun if unpolished.

I like the style and settings, might pick it up when it drops down in price. Isn't it on Switch as well?

Still showing as Coming Soon on the Xbox store, and CDKeys haven’t put it on sale yet either. Bit odd.

rinks wrote:Still showing as Coming Soon on the Xbox store, and CDKeys haven’t put it on sale yet either. Bit odd.

CD Keys had it for £19.99 the other day I think. It was definitely cheaper than it is now.

Memento Mori wrote:
rinks wrote:Still showing as Coming Soon on the Xbox store, and CDKeys haven’t put it on sale yet either. Bit odd.

CD Keys had it for £19.99 the other day I think. It was definitely cheaper than it is now.

The regular edition is still only £20.99 on PC, and that version is actually on sale now. God knows what’s going on with the Xbox version.

Seems more like a PC, best played with a mouse kinda title so I’ll probably buy it next year when I get my MacBook.

Crumbled and grabbed this.

First off, I'm playing with a controller. It's not your typical management sim, and most of your interaction with the world is done by physically steering your Boss around. So, it's a perfectly viable console purchase.

Secondly, I'm really enjoying it so far. It's absolutely dripping in atmosphere and can look extremely pretty at times. I'm also surprised at how story driven it is. The management stuff itself seems pretty simple right now (raid/buy building - XCOM combat - turn into racket - spend money to upgrade) but I haven't really entered any conflicts with neighboring gangs yet.

A good start.

Tafdolphin wrote:Crumbled and grabbed this.

First off, I'm playing with a controller. It's not your typical management sim, and most of your interaction with the world is done by physically steering your Boss around. So, it's a perfectly viable console purchase.

Secondly, I'm really enjoying it so far. It's absolutely dripping in atmosphere and can look extremely pretty at times. I'm also surprised at how story driven it is. The management stuff itself seems pretty simple right now (raid/buy building - XCOM combat - turn into racket - spend money to upgrade) but I haven't really entered any conflicts with neighboring gangs yet.

A good start.

That’s really good to know. I think I remember reading that Romero said everything they added had to have a good controller solution or they wouldn’t add it, to make sure it wasn’t compromised on any platform. I know that won’t please the mousey purists, but it’s good for everyone else. Now I just need CDKeys to start selling the Xbox version.

For whatever reason I though this had already been out for a while (maybe just because Romero seemed to tweet about it a lot for the last year!)

It does look right up my street, interested to see further thoughts from anyone playing it!

I might crumble and grab this from cdkeys for just over 20 snoops.

The XCOM style of TBS game is well suited to controllers so it's really no surprise to have seen something in that vein come out pretty much every year since the 'first' XCOM got it started.

I'll be interested to see some longer play impressions of this as it's been on my radar since some decent first impressions a while back.

Played more and it really ramps up. I'm only a few hours in but I'm overflowing with missions and feeling really pressed for time on most of them (a good thing).

The combat is basic but fun and I continue to be surprised how story driven it is; I've already encountered a loyalty mission for one of my gangsters and had another refuse to join me as he has beef with one of my current crew.

I really do wish there was a speed up time option though. It's not a huge failing, but a lot of stuff takes time, including amassing funds, and although I'm in the thick of it now at the start there were a few times where I had nothing to do but raid buildings for cash.

Played a bunch more and...I don't disagree with the negative reviews. The management layer is extremely light: lots of numbers and options that amount mainly to creating rackets and pumping money into them. I mean, that's literally how you win. Everything else feels like aesthetic padding. The Sitdowns with other bosses are cool but don't add anything but random buffs, and relationships will ebb and flow seemingly at random.

The combat doesn't seem to be advancing in that it's still XCOM lite and although my crew is getting more and more advanced moves, their opponents aren't and I'm just ploughing through them.

Hmm.

Already down to £17.99 on CD Keys.

And down to £14.99 now (PC), if that’s anyone’s biting point.
https://www.cdkeys.com/empire-of-sin-pc-steam

Using PACKUP20 code for 20% off:

£16 on Xbox:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Empire-of-Si ... 4767484675

£18 on PS4:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Empire-of-Si ... 4767483397

A seriously lousy 4/10 in OPM this month. "Al Kaput".

Yeah, think I'll pass actually.

Empire of Sin (1920s turn-based strategy from Romero) - Game Pass (Xbox and PC) from 18/3

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