Summary
- Release Year: 2016
- Genres: Adventure, Indie, Role-playing game (RPG), Simulator, Strategy
- Platforms: Linux, Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)
- Developers: Blue Mana Entertainment
- Publishers: Blue Mana Entertainment
Heroes of Issachar (2016): A Unique Blend of FPS and City-Building
Heroes of Issachar is a unique blend of first-person shooter (FPS) and city-building genres. It has everything you love about RPGs – loot, levels, and action – but instead of level grinding, you will rid the land of evil, one province at a time. To do this, you must combine your skill in combat with your ability to build a city capable of withstanding the enemy’s assault and launching an attack on the enemy stronghold itself.
The game consists of two main perspectives: FPS and city-building. There are dungeons to crawl and loot to procure, but the core gameplay comes during the city-building. As you rebuild the cities in each province, the enemy will not make it easy. You must construct your city so that it not only flourishes, but is well defended. Success requires not only a savvy mind for strategy, but skill with your crossbow to cut down the enemy before they reach your walls.
Combat
The action takes place as a first person shooter. Your signature weapon is a crossbow. Throughout the game, you will modify the crossbow, exchanging parts for new ones that confer a benefit to your skill and damage. In addition, there are mounting points for frost cannons, fireball launchers, magic shields, and many more add-ons. How you outfit your crossbow depends on you.
In addition to your crossbow, you will have a magic gauntlet that augments your skills. Different gems enhance different abilities, like speed, jumping, and even gliding. Other gems allow special skills like teleport and invisibility. Between the gauntlet and crossbow, you have the freedom to customize your combat in almost countless ways.
City-Building
The city-building aspect of Heroes of Issachar is just as important as the combat. You must construct buildings to house your people, produce resources, and defend your city from attack. There are over 50 different types of buildings to choose from, each with its own unique purpose.
One of the most important things to consider when building your city is the layout. You need to make sure that your buildings are placed in a way that allows for efficient movement of people and resources. You also need to make sure that your city is well-defended, with walls, towers, and other fortifications.
As your city grows, you will need to manage your resources carefully. Resources are used to construct buildings, produce units, and research new technologies. You can gather resources by mining, farming, and trading with other cities.
Questing
In addition to the main story campaign, Heroes of Issachar also features a number of side quests. These quests can be completed to earn rewards, such as new weapons, armor, and items. Some quests are simple fetch quests, while others are more complex and involve dungeon crawling or defeating powerful enemies.
Characters
You will not be questing alone. As you travel throughout the land, you will rescue people who have been taken by the evil forces in the land. When you rescue them, they will be available to add to your party, or to reside in the main castle where their particular talents will aid your journey outside of combat. Fans of the Suikoden series will quickly recognize its influence on Heroes of Issachar.
Conclusion
Heroes of Issachar is a unique and engaging game that combines the best elements of FPS and city-building genres. With its deep combat, city-building mechanics, and memorable characters, there’s a lot to keep you busy for hours on end. If you’re a fan of either genre, or just looking for a new and exciting game to play, Heroes of Issachar is definitely worth checking out.
Review Score
8/10
Art
Cover Art
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