Baladins – Charming, Yet Imperfect, Time-Loop RPG Adventure

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• DEVELOPER: Seed by Seed
• PUBLISHER: Armor Games Studios
• PLATFORMS: PC
• GENRE: Tabletop RPG / Adventure
• RELEASE DATE: May 15, 2024
• STARTING PRICE: 24.50€
• REVIEWED VERSION: PC

Baladins, developed by Seed by Seed, takes players on an addictive, choice-driven role-playing adventure in the chaotic, fantastical land of Gatherac. Here, you play as one of the members of the titular guild, the Baladins, on a mission to save the land and the Festival of Peace in their hometown from an evil temporal dragon named Colobra. This adventure takes you through various cities and kingdoms as you strive to break the six-week time loop that Colobra has trapped you in. You might be surprised by how beautiful the world looks, with many details showing how well-thought-out this game is. However, I still doubt the replayability of this title after spending 10 hours playing it and whether the single-player experience is actually sustainable or not.

Premise, Gameplay, and Characters

Each Baladin is named after their associated class, such as the Bard, Cook, Pyro, Luxomancer, or Dancer. Every class has a high stat in a specific skill which will be helpful as you progress through a new loop. The skill system in the game is similar to those found in other RPGs, where higher skill numbers increase your chances of success in random encounters or ensure a “good” outcome for quests.

In fact, each character is quite unique, bringing different playstyles to focus on. Moreover, you can always choose different characters with each new loop, so you won’t be stuck with one character forever. As much as I liked this approach, it left me questioning the fact that I might never be able to fully uncover my character’s potential, especially since you lose most of your items with every loop.

Baladins offers a range of skills beyond standard Strength and Knowledge, including Destruction, Creativity, and Finesse. Destruction can wreak havoc in encounters or missions, Creativity can solve problems with innovative ideas, and Finesse can be used for stealth-based actions. Indeed, this diversity allows for multiple approaches to challenges and keeps the game fresh.

Performing actions like traveling, practicing skills, talking to characters, or completing skill-based challenges requires Action or Travel Points. You get six points for each loop, and each one represents a week in-game until Colobra’s arrival ends it. This turn-based system necessitates strategic planning and resource management to maximize progress within the time constraints. However, it takes some time to fully master the game, as each playthrough requires completing certain quests, and randomly exploring the world is not always helpful. This is where the single-player experience truly suffers, as Action Points are used for everything in the game.

Also, visiting various town squares and caravans allows you to buy potions that increase your Action or Travel Points or temporarily boost skills. This is crucial for completing quests, gathering information, or delaying Colobra’s arrival. But it never seemed to be enough. Yes, there is a lot to discover within the game, which was personally enjoyable, yet everything seemed quite tedious after a while, and having too much on your plate can be stressful.

Skill checks, which are performed by rolling a three-sided die, add an element of randomness and risk to the gameplay. In most cases, I always got a positive outcome; whether that was my luck or the game was favorable to me, I will never know. Also, most quests in Baladins have multiple endings, encouraging you to explore all possibilities through different loops. Some quests can have bad endings where characters face misfortune, while others have good endings. This makes the game interesting, but as stated, you probably won’t be that hooked or motivated to discover all potential outcomes.

Multiplayer and Solo Play

Here lies my biggest issue with the game. As is known, it supports co-op multiplayer, where players can share items and give bonuses to each other with every move. However, the multiplayer lacks depth and strategic complexity. The game is, in fact, designed to truly shine in a multiplayer setting. With multiple players, the experience becomes more enjoyable and balanced.

However, when multiple players are not an option, the game feels heavily skewed. Despite claiming to support 1 to 4 players, solo players face significant drawbacks. Steam Remote Play is not available, local co-op is limited, and solo players must use as many controllers as the characters they wish to control. This means that to play with the same level of fairness as a four-player game, a solo player would need four separate controllers, which makes the game less accessible. I will never understand why multiplayer games like this do not have Steam Remote Play…

Solo players cannot achieve even half of what a full party can, given the limited movement, fewer actions, and the need to prioritize completing missions alone. This results in a stressful rush, whereas multiple players can call others or teleport to someone else’s location. Four sets of skill points and legs to move across the board are always better than one, and the game offers no compensation for solo players.

Final Thoughts

Baladins features a colorful art style that is reminiscent of paper cutouts. This charming aesthetic, combined with the fun music, creates an inviting and whimsical atmosphere that sets Baladins apart from more traditional RPGs. Indeed, the game’s visual style and character design contribute to its unique charm, making it visually appealing and easily recognizable in a crowded genre. Additionally, the game’s humor shines through character interactions and dialogue, providing lighthearted moments even while facing the looming threat of Colobra.

In conclusion, Baladins is a charming, addictive, and strategically rich RPG that offers a unique take on the time loop mechanic. Its whimsical art style, engaging humor, and deep gameplay make it a standout title in the RPG genre, despite some minor shortcomings. Whether playing solo or with friends, Baladins promises a unique adventure worth exploring in depth.

Review copy provided by the publisher