Wartile Review (PS4)

Boardgames are a lot of fun, but they also involve a lot of planning. Some of them need a lot of space, various dice, and figurines, for you need thick rule books and character sheets, cards, measuring tape, paint, and decorum. Last but not least, you also need to synchronize the players' schedules. What if you could have most of the fun without any of the hustle? Playwood tries to answer the question with a game that does a good job transferring a table hobby into virtual space.

Wartile is based on a good idea, but did not manage to convince people right from the beginning. In 2017 the Kickstarter campaign of the game pretty much failed, but somehow it still managed to be published for PC about 2 years ago. Now it is available for consoles as well, proving that the developers used this time well, delivering a quality console port.

Wartile is true to its promise: it brings to life the magic of boardgames in a virtual space and does it with flair. It is charming to see in the beginning of the levels how the camera slowly spins around each diorama showing you the entire board. Even from the eagle-eye perspective, you can see that a lot of effort went into building the environment, placing the various items and units. All those details really bring to life the dioramas made up of small hexagons.

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On the other hand, the story could have used a bit more love from the developers, being the weakest link in the game. After a clumsy tutorial, you will have to follow a handful of Vikings on their adventure, sailing from location to location. The story is told through a short introduction narrated at the beginning of each diorama. These are merely excuses to introduce various new mechanics and challenges. Each of these can be completed up to three times, on harder and harder difficulty levels, success being rewarded with better gear.

The objectives are what you would expect from these types of games: gather a certain amount of objects, defeat a certain number of enemy units, capture or defend various points of interest. To successfully complete these tasks, at the beginning you will be able to rely on two units. At the end of each level, your performance will be evaluated and next to the gathered gear you will also be rewarded with gold. Gold pieces can be used for purchase equipment as well, but they are needed to acquire new figurines with which you will fill your longboat. Although limited in numbers, each of these extra characters has their own special abilities, presented as cards usable during battles.

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Next to the equipment, characters and special abilities, you will also have to pay attention to another handful of cards which can turn the tides even in the most difficult fights. These cards need to be unlocked and then put in a deck you can use during battles. The number of the cards you can have in your deck is limited, so it is best to review it before each confrontation and make the necessary changes. Some cards can be used for healing, while others can place traps or even summon creatures.

Wartile is a pretty straightforward game, inspired by tabletop RPGs and emphasizes the need to employ clever tactics rather than strategical planning to deploy a large number of units. The success does not involve relying on luck, rather than using correctly the available resources. The game is not overcomplicated, it does not have hidden depths, but it is very fun and it looks very pretty. The dioramas look very detailed, while the movement of the characters makes you feel as you are playing a real-life boardgame.

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