Crasleen: Drums of War Demo

Wargames are usually set in modern wars and conflicts, such as the first or the second World War. Hence, the hex grid is most commonly observed in games that feature tanks and rifle infantry, although one can name the Heroes of Might and Magic series as well. In essence, fantasy scenarios are not the first thing you think about when the wargame genre is mentioned.

Crasleen: Drums of War is not your typical wargame, on the other hand, because it features an interesting set of ideas and gameplay mechanics. As such, while the interface and the map might look familiar at first, you may be surprised to see goblins and skeletons duking it out on the battlefield instead. However, the fact that it’s new does not mean it’s automatically good, unfortunately.

As such, the game provides you with a few different campaigns, each one of which features a different set of missions and environments. The goal of the missions is always the same, on the other hand, which is to kill every enemy on the map. To do that, you must arrange your units in strategic positions and use their special abilities as efficiently as possible, while also relying on a bit of luck.

Thanks to the fantasy theme, the designers had the liberty to include a few interesting mechanics as well, such as magic spells and powerful artifacts that provide you with bonuses. Not only that, but your units also gain experience after a successful scenario, which can be used to unlock new skills and abilities. Thus, the campaigns never get a chance to become too repetitive.

However, it is worth mentioning that the actual gameplay feels a bit lackluster and dull, given the fact that not much is happening on the screen. The stories are also quite washed off and not intriguing in the slightest, which is always a bad sign. Visually, the top-down perspective is to be expected in the genre, but the environments still look a bit too blocky to create the proper atmosphere.

While Crasleen: Drums of War is not at all a bad game, it lacks the necessary elements to make you play it over and over again to come up with new strategies and tactics. Hence, it’s certainly a good choice if you do not expect anything more than a temporary thrill.