85
Tactical movement as conversation and combat is intriguing, and inkle has masterfully incorporated this innovation into a truly wonderful blend of narrative and tactics.
70
Pendragon merges narrative and roguelike in a wise way, letting the player create their story with decisions on battle. However, the narrative part is much fulfilled than the strategy part.
80
After 80 Days and Heavens' Vault, Inkle shows again its talent with Pendragon, a narrative experiment set in the Arthurian legend.
0
Just under 1 hour I managed to be acquainted with strange and unresponsive battle mechanic, had conversations about nothing and made it to final boss. In rogue-like. I just don't understand this game.
6
Pendragon has a good idea but flawed execution and fails to play to the strengths of the team at Inkle. There are good moments and some interesting writing but the actual mechanics of the game make it feel slower and more un-engaging that it should be. Unlocking new characters past the two initial ones feels clunky and they open up limited new gameplay avenues. More replayability and more focus on the narrative would have made the game worth more than a few hours of play.
Pendragon
Released On:
Sep 22, 2020
Metascore
Mixed or Average
74
User score
Available after 4 ratings
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All Platforms
Metascore
Mixed or Average
74
55% Positive
11 Reviews
11 Reviews
40% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
5% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Sep 21, 2020
90
However flawed your party members may be – and they are flawed – they carry on to Camlann because they share a belief in Arthur. They believe in each other, and believe in something better for Britain. It’s hope that moves the game forward, and mechanically speaking, it’s morale that keeps your pieces on the board, and resolve that lets them rely on each other and enact their unique abilities. Pendragon is built on balancing tensions that would break a lesser game to pieces, but instead creates something new and worthwhile in that space.
Oct 18, 2020
84
Even though Pendragon’s short roguelike format doesn’t allow for sprawling sagas, as all stories are quite abridged and simplistic, this game is absolutely engrossing, and there is enough excellent content to last you for several years.
Oct 3, 2020
76
Pendragon utilizes the Arthurian Legend as a backdrop to bring forth an intriguing coalescence of chess-like tactics and interactive fiction. Challenging yet accessible and addictive.
Oct 15, 2020
70
If you’ve ever enjoyed Inkle’s games in the past, I think you’ll find something to like about Pendragon. Its flat art style, delightful music, and surprising tactical depth mix well to spin a tale that you’ll remember long after you put it down. However if you’re looking for your next tactical challenge, this won’t be fore you. Pendragon is definitely more about the journey, and oh what a journey it is.
Sep 28, 2020
70
Pendragon excels in mixing procedural storytelling with a roguelike structure and the fascinating story of the last days of King Arthur, but it gets a little repetitive in some combat moments.
Oct 8, 2020
40
Dull, expressionless character art and contrived strategy combat make for a bad impression right off the bat. I can respect what Pendragon tries to accomplish, but for a game that heavily relies on its procedural story telling and replayability, there is barely enough content here to justify a third run. The writing truly shines in the final battle between Arthur and Mordred, but the dialogue during the main chunk of the game is too interchangeable and devoid of personality to be engaging. Ironically, the attempt to tell a different story every time makes every playthrough feel the same.
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SummaryAD 673. Camelot has fallen. The Round Table must rally to save King Arthur. Narrative strategy game from the creators of 80 DAYS, with elegant tactics and a unique, dynamic story every time you replay.
