A Survival RPG That Builds on History
We may all think that we are at a terrible point in our timeline, with the threat of global war, the climate crisis, and divisions in politics brought about by social media. But, looking at history, there have been even worse moments; disease has struck people down for long periods, followed by constant war and strife.
Take the Sengoku period in Japan for instance, which had a series of uprisings and wars that ripped the country apart and changed its social fabric over a century.
It is that which is a nice starting point for a survival RPG game set in that time. Let’s build a new future in Sengoku Dynasty.
The Story of a Burnt-Out Village
In Sengoku Dynasty you play as a villager that you can make and name in your own image, who is escaping a civil war in their homeland. Escaping in a boat that then sinks, they find themselves washed ashore, naked aside from some small pants. You find your friend who is injured, and then decide to go out into the world to look for help. As you reach the next village, you are tasked with bringing this burnt-out husk back to life. And so the story begins…
For a game in this genre, there is more story than you would normally find. There are people to meet and talk to, each of whom have their own main objectives and side quests for you to complete. The writing is good, and the world is engaging enough to explore what it has to offer. But mostly this is a game in which you are left to craft and create your own stories; your own Sengoku Dynasty.
Scavenging and Crafting
Straight away, it’s all about trying to scavenge around you for resources and start to craft. You need an axe first, which requires stones and sticks. Then a fire can be built after chopping down some trees and getting some logs. Now you have something to cook with, because you need to eat and drink, cooking up everything from eggs and fish to local delicacies, at least if you can get hold of the ingredients.
Soon you are crafting a hammer and then building houses and other things for the village, like wells, shrines, and storage units. And from there, you’ll want to focus your time on farming, feeding everyone, and watching your population grow.
All of this is very familiar territory, especially if you have played anything like Ark: Survival Evolved or the countless other games in this genre. But I found this one slightly different in its tone, and I very much appreciated the real historical and spiritual elements at play.
Expanding Your Dynasty
As the village starts to hum along nicely and you have recruited people to live there and assigned them all jobs and houses, you will begin to think about expansion into new territories. That means going out there, exploring, and taking over new villages. But there are bandit leaders that you need to fight, and that is where the combat mechanic comes in.
You can craft weapons like spears and knives to fight with, and unlock new ones later on from crafting recipes. The combat itself is okay, but it is not the strongest part of the gameplay. But involve yourself in it and you’ll discover the opportunity to properly attack and block, even if the enemy AI isn’t the best. Don’t go looking for God of War-type mechanics in this game.
Character Progression and World Building
There is a decent and interesting skill tree too, full of differing categories to focus on, like “The Way of the Leader” or “The Way of the Monk.” As you level up by doing tasks and quests, you can add points to things like ensuring you have the chance to become a better crafter, or to aid your combat skills or farming. There is also a Dynasty mode which shows how much of the region you are taking over, and it goes towards you becoming a Daimyo – a great lord.
The graphics for Sengoku Dynasty are decent without ever being spectacular. The lighting effects are good, and the world you explore is varied, full of wildlife and plant life. I liked how you can design your house and play around with colour and textures. And the characters you meet are interesting too, even though their design is quite basic. I didn’t notice any frame-rate drops, which is surprising for a game with so much going on.
Audio-wise, it’s fairly simple, with some nice building effects and wildlife going about its business. There’s regional folk music underneath the action, but I’ll be honest, I forgot all about that after a while.
A Survival RPG for the Long Haul
Sengoku Dynasty is a game for the long haul. You could spend many hours exploring and just surviving. But the opportunity to play Sengoku Dynasty how you so wish is the real draw, ensuring you can create your own narrative in the process. The story elements and historical world are strong, but I do feel that the combat is the weakest part; it’s okay and didn’t destroy my experience. After all, I am a lover, not a fighter.
Mostly though, if you are itching for that next survival crafting RPG, then Sengoku Dynasty should be in your sights.
Important Links
Journey to Feudal Japan: Sengoku Dynasty’s Console Release Announced – https://www.thexboxhub.com/journey-to-feudal-japan-sengoku-dynastys-console-release-announced/
Build a Life, Cultivate a Community – Sengoku Dynasty Arrives on Xbox & PS5 – https://www.thexboxhub.com/build-a-life-cultivate-a-community-sengoku-dynasty-arrives-on-xbox-ps5/
Buy Sengoku Dynasty on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/sengoku-dynasty/9nv9mz4r744p
