Well, it’s clear to me that Lavapotion and Coffee Stain Publishing have put their all into Songs of Conquest. Taking cues from the positive user reviews, it seems people are really appreciating their take on the turn-based strategy genre. It’s compared to Heroes of Might & Magic multiple times. The game’s high level of strategic depth and detailed world-building is definitely a standout feature. Yet, some critiques indicate the map and graphics could be better, and there are mixed feelings about the magic system, which we will delve into later.

I completely agree, PlayerProX. I’m impressed by the unique gameplay mechanics in this game. Exploring the map, interacting with the environment, and utilizing the multitude of available items make it quite engaging. However, I agree with one of the user reviews; it can be a bit challenging to interact with certain elements due to the cluttered and pixelated map display. What stood out for me was the essence system and use of spells. But being unable to save buffs for showdowns against AI can be a real bummer.

pixelated map display

Yes, and that richness rolls over into the game’s story and narrative, too. Each of the four campaigns unfolds in an engaging manner, with unique songs celebrating the path to victory. I like that narrative approach, serious or not. That said, I did believe it to be a bit short; more scenarios per campaign could have been a plus.

Visually, I must appreciate the appealing pixel art and varied map environments, albeit with the need for some polish. However, the crowded nature of the map does pose a challenge for speedrunning, especially when chasing enemy heroes around, as one user review pointed out. I found this can sometimes disrupt the sense of immersion.

It’s interesting how aesthetics can impact gameplay. Audio-wise, the soundtrack doesn’t go unnoticed. Not everyone seems to be a fan, but it serves to underline the tactical combat which I find robust and well-balanced. Some mentioned they missed the intense, more lopsided battles of HoMM3. Personally, I enjoyed strategizing within the unit cap and found it increased the overall challenge, especially during siege warfare.

On the topic of characters, I think the game makes a great effort to produce diversity, especially through the four unique factions. Each has their distinct set of units and abilities which brings added depth to gameplay. Even the AI allies and enemies add a sense of unpredictability and excitement to the experience.

character inventory

The challenge level of the game seems to be well-received by users. The combat difficulty, puzzle complexity, and the sheer amount of strategic decision making required offer the right amount of challenge. The presence of head-to-head battles and strategic puzzles in Conquest and Challenge maps respectively add to the game’s allure.

On the subject of replay value, the random generator, and the in-game map editor for creating personalized adventures do add quite a bit. However, it would have been interesting if different difficulty levels or maybe even branching paths were incorporated. That would have taken the replayability up a notch.

I agree with all of you! Compared to games in the genre such as Heroes of Might & Magic, Songs of Conquest offers a fresh take with its unique magic system, different campaigns, and unit mechanics. However, the pixelated graphics and crowded map could see improvement. There’s potential for a better unit capping system to add intensity and maybe more varied difficulty levels for replayability.

I’m looking forward to seeing the evolution of this game. If Lavapotion keeps listening to its fans and taking inspiration from great strategy games from the past, they have an excellent road to follow.

Absolutely, and I’m hopeful they’ll add more content to the campaigns, giving us even more detailed and engaging narratives.

I can’t wait to see what improvements they can bring to the game graphics, map design, and the cluttering issue. This will definitely help in making speedrunning in this game even more exhilarating.

Songs of Conquest has been a good start for Lavapotion in this genre. With some updates and perhaps sequels, they have a bright future ahead and a loyal fanbase to back them up. Let’s see how it evolves.

Add Songs of Conquest to your Steam Library today!