A Critique of Age of Wonders IV: Planetfall's Mechanics

As a long-time fan of the Age of Wonders series, I was initially excited to dive into Planetfall, the latest installment in the franchise. However, after spending countless hours playing through its campaign and multiplayer modes, I've come away feeling underwhelmed by certain design choices. In this article, I'll share my concerns about the game's mechanics and how they detract from the overall gaming experience.

One of my primary issues with Planetfall is the absence of a clear working formula for its 4x gameplay. It seems that Triumph Studios has opted to experiment more with their formulas, leading to an unpredictable and often frustrating experience. The lack of communication and announcements from the development team over an extended period only added to my frustration.

I miss the organic feel of the campaigns in previous Age of Wonders titles. Planetfall's procedurally generated giant maps and slowed-down movement speed, compared to Age of Wonders 3, make it difficult for me to become fully immersed in the game world. The strategic layer has been compromised by poorly thought-out design decisions that conflict with the RPG elements.

For instance, I often find myself forced to move my main stack away from where it should be fighting enemies and expanding, due to the conflicting demands of the plot and RPG mechanics. This creates a sense of disconnection between the strategic and RPG aspects of the game, making it feel like two separate entities rather than a cohesive whole.

As someone who has spent over 480 hours playing both Age of Wonders 3 and Planetfall, I've noticed that the latter's campaigns have become more akin to other slower-paced 4x strategies. While this may appeal to some players, I believe it has led to a less engaging and more repetitive experience. The added micro-management required to keep up with the game's mechanics has also made it feel more tedious, especially once you've mastered the basics.

In my opinion, Triumph Studios' pursuit of creating a deeper strategic layer has led them to borrow mechanics from other successful 4x games without fully integrating them into the Age of Wonders formula. This has resulted in a disjointed and less enjoyable experience for fans like myself who have come to expect more from the series.

I hope that these concerns will be taken into consideration by the development team as they continue to refine Planetfall. Until then, I remain disappointed by the game's lack of cohesion and depth.

Triumph studios planetfall