The first thing youll notice aboutAgainst the Stormis its bleak dark fantasy setting.
To make matters worse, the entire land is ravaged by a magical scourge called the Blightstorm.
Its dramatic and engrossing stuff, luring you in with a setting full of mysteries and intrigue.
Who is the queen?
Whats underneath the seals?
What causes the Blightstorm?
However, this is far from a relaxing countryside stroll.
The forest itself is also hostile.
The more you meddle, the tougher itll get for you and your villagers.
Villagers may leave if you fail to keep their spirits up.
Sometimes they might die outright.
This serves to light a fire underneath you as you play.
Braving tricky curses and powerful debuffs, I wasnt sure my plucky townsfolk would make it.
Reforging my first seal with moments to spare felt like a staggering achievement and left me hungry for more.
However, as much as shes a threat, the queen can also be a lifeline.
As time goes on, new Orders slots open.
Against the Stormis all about such pivotal decision points.
It can also be used in place of pigment to make scrolls.
Unfortunately,Against the Stormhas little by way of accessibility options.
Camera, keyboard, and mouse sensitivity can be adjusted, but theres no support for colorblind players.
That said, Motion Blur can be disabled and keybindings can be freely reconfigured to your personal preferences.
However, this complexity reveals a weakness inAgainst the Storm;namely its steep learning curve.
To the games credit, the tutorial missions are fit for purpose, if a little by the numbers.
However, theyre also time-consuming, meaning thatAgainst the Storms first few hours can drag.
Though the game never feels unfinished, it does occasionally feel dated.
However, despite these niggles,Against the Stormis a fantastic entry in the strategy library.
Want more intense gaming experiences?
Check out our guides to thebest PC strategy gamesand thebest single-player games.
