Age of Wonders: Planetfall – Premium Edition

Age of Wonders: Planetfall – Premium Edition is a 4X turn-based strategy game set in a sci-fi universe where the collapse of the Star Union has left various factions vying for dominance. Players lead customizable commanders, explore procedurally generated worlds, manage cities, engage in diplomacy or warfare, and uncover the mysteries behind the Union’s fall. The game features diverse factions like the dinosaur-riding Amazons and the melee-focused Kir’ko, each with unique units and playstyles, as they expand across biomes, gather resources, and battle for supremacy in a post-apocalyptic galactic setting.

Age of Wonders: Planetfall – Premium Edition: A Comprehensive Review

Introduction

Age of Wonders: Planetfall – Premium Edition is a bold and ambitious entry in the long-running Age of Wonders series, marking a significant departure from its fantasy roots to embrace a rich, sci-fi universe. Developed by Triumph Studios and published by Paradox Interactive, this turn-based 4X strategy game blends empire-building, diplomacy, and tactical combat into a cohesive and engaging experience. The Premium Edition bundles the base game with the Deluxe Edition Content Pack and the Season Pass, offering players a complete package with additional cosmetics, factions, and expansions. This review will delve into the game’s development history, narrative depth, gameplay mechanics, world-building, reception, and legacy, providing a thorough analysis of its strengths and weaknesses.

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Development History & Context

The Studio and Vision

Triumph Studios, known for its work on the Age of Wonders series, embarked on Planetfall in mid-2015, seeking to break away from the fantasy setting that had defined the franchise since its inception. The decision to shift to a sci-fi universe was driven by a desire to explore new themes and ideas, drawing inspiration from franchises like Star Wars, Fallout, and Hyperion. The game’s lore and timeline are distinct from the main series, allowing the developers to craft a fresh narrative centered around the collapse of the Star Union, a once-powerful intergalactic human government.

The acquisition of Triumph Studios by Paradox Interactive in 2017 played a pivotal role in shaping Planetfall. Paradox’s expertise in grand strategy games, such as those developed by Paradox Development Studios, influenced the expansion of diplomacy and faction interactions in Planetfall. The game was designed to appeal to both longtime fans of the series and newcomers, with a focus on accessibility and depth.

Technological and Design Challenges

One of the primary challenges during development was creating a cohesive setting that tied together the game’s diverse factions and units. The concept of the Star Union served as the unifying thread, providing a shared origin for the factions and a backdrop for the game’s narrative. The developers also aimed to enhance the tactical combat system, making it more vertical and destructible compared to Age of Wonders III. This included introducing new mechanics like “grazing,” where missed shots still deal partial damage, and “staggering,” which disrupts enemy actions.

The game’s procedural generation system was another focal point, ensuring that each playthrough offered unique maps with varied biomes, resources, and neutral factions. The economic system was also expanded to provide players with more meaningful choices, though some critics argued that it lacked the depth of other 4X games.

Release and Post-Launch Support

Age of Wonders: Planetfall was released on August 6, 2019, for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with a macOS version following in May 2020. The Premium Edition included the base game, the Deluxe Edition Content Pack, and the Season Pass, which granted access to three major expansions: Revelations (November 2019), Invasions (May 2020), and Star Kings (November 2020). These expansions introduced new factions, units, and gameplay mechanics, further enriching the game’s content.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

The Premise and Setting

Planetfall is set in a distant future where the Star Union, a vast intergalactic empire, has collapsed due to an unknown cataclysm. The game’s narrative revolves around the factions that emerged from the remnants of the Star Union, each vying for dominance in a galaxy fractured by war, betrayal, and survival. The factions are diverse, ranging from the cryogenically preserved humans of the Vanguard to the insectoid Kir’ko and the cybernetic Assembly. Each faction has its own unique backstory, motivations, and gameplay mechanics, which are explored through a series of quest-driven story scenarios.

The game’s setting is richly detailed, with procedurally generated planets that feature a variety of biomes, from lush jungles to ruined cities. The narrative is delivered through a combination of in-game dialogue, lore entries, and scripted events, providing players with a deep understanding of the game’s world and its inhabitants.

Factions and Characters

The six primary factions in Planetfall are:

1. The Vanguard: A human faction that emerged from cryosleep after the fall of the Star Union. They are the most conventional of the factions, relying on traditional warfare with guns and tanks.
2. The Amazons: An all-female human faction that uses dinosaurs as mounts and weapons, blending primitive and advanced technology.
3. The Assembly: A faction of cybernetic zombies that can assimilate fallen enemies into their ranks, creating a relentless and adaptable force.
4. The Dvar: A dwarf-like faction with a penchant for explosives and mining, capable of tunneling beneath battlefields and demolishing terrain.
5. The Kir’ko: An insectoid race with psionic abilities, emphasizing melee combat and hive-mind tactics.
6. The Syndicate: A faction of criminals and mercenaries, specializing in covert operations and sabotage.

Each faction is led by a customizable commander, who serves as the player’s avatar on the strategic map. These commanders can engage in diplomacy, espionage, and combat, and their actions shape the narrative and gameplay experience.

Themes and Storytelling

Planetfall explores themes of survival, rebirth, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. The collapse of the Star Union serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of centralized power and the fragility of civilizations. The factions’ struggles to carve out a new future for humanity reflect the broader human experience of resilience and adaptation in the face of adversity.

The game’s storytelling is primarily delivered through its campaign mode, which features handcrafted scenarios that introduce players to the factions and their unique playstyles. These scenarios are well-written and engaging, offering a mix of exploration, combat, and diplomacy. However, the randomly generated maps in the skirmish mode lack the narrative depth of the campaign, which some critics noted as a missed opportunity.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Gameplay Loop

Planetfall follows the traditional 4X formula of eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate, but with several innovations that set it apart from other games in the genre. The gameplay is divided into two main layers: the strategic map, where players manage their empire, and the tactical combat system, where battles are resolved in turn-based, XCOM-style encounters.

1. Strategic Map: Players begin by establishing a colony on a procedurally generated planet. From there, they must explore the surrounding territories, annex new sectors, and manage resources such as food, energy, and research. The strategic map is divided into sectors, each with its own biome and resources. Players can specialize sectors for different purposes, such as food production, energy generation, or research.

2. Tactical Combat: When armies clash, the game transitions to a tactical combat mode, where players control individual units on a hex-based grid. The combat system is deep and tactical, with a variety of unit types, abilities, and environmental interactions. Units can take cover, use overwatch, and employ special abilities to gain an advantage. The combat is turn-based, with each unit able to perform up to three actions per turn.

Combat and Unit Customization

One of Planetfall‘s standout features is its unit customization system. Players can outfit their units with a variety of modules and equipment, allowing for a high degree of specialization and strategy. Units can be upgraded with offensive, defensive, and support modules, and heroes can equip unique items that grant special abilities.

The combat system also introduces several innovative mechanics, such as:
– Grazing: Missed shots deal partial damage, adding a layer of unpredictability to battles.
– Staggering: Units can be staggered, disrupting their actions and reducing their effectiveness.
– Doomsday Tech: A skill tree that unlocks powerful weapons of mass destruction, providing a dramatic late-game option for players.

Diplomacy and Faction Interactions

Diplomacy plays a significant role in Planetfall, with players able to form alliances, trade resources, and engage in covert operations. The game’s reputation system tracks the player’s actions, influencing how other factions and neutral NPCs interact with them. Neutral factions can be befriended or antagonized, and completing quests for them can yield unique rewards, such as access to special units or technologies.

Victory Conditions

Planetfall offers multiple paths to victory, including:
– Conquest: Eliminate all opposing factions.
– Diplomacy: Form alliances and achieve political unification.
– Doomsday: Research and deploy a weapon of mass destruction.
– Supremacy: Achieve dominance through technological and military superiority.

The variety of victory conditions ensures that players can approach the game in different ways, catering to both aggressive and diplomatic playstyles.

UI and Accessibility

While Planetfall‘s UI is functional, it has been criticized for being somewhat opaque, particularly for newcomers to the 4X genre. The research tree and unit customization menus can be overwhelming, and the in-game codex does not always provide clear explanations of mechanics. However, the game’s tutorials do a decent job of introducing players to the basics, and the streamlined base-building system helps to keep the gameplay accessible.

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World-Building, Art & Sound

Setting and Atmosphere

Planetfall excels in world-building, with a richly detailed sci-fi universe that feels both familiar and fresh. The game’s procedurally generated planets are diverse and visually striking, featuring a variety of biomes, from lush forests to desolate wastelands. The ruins of the Star Union are scattered across the map, providing players with opportunities to uncover lost technologies and secrets.

The factions are equally well-designed, each with its own distinct aesthetic and cultural identity. The Vanguard’s sleek, futuristic designs contrast with the Amazons’ primitive yet advanced technology, while the Assembly’s cybernetic horrors and the Kir’ko’s insectoid forms add a layer of alien intrigue. The game’s art direction is consistently impressive, with a high level of detail in both the strategic and tactical layers.

Visual Design

The visual design of Planetfall is a standout feature, with a vibrant and diverse color palette that brings the game’s sci-fi setting to life. The unit models are detailed and animated fluidly, and the environmental effects, such as weather and lighting, add depth to the gameplay experience. The tactical combat maps are particularly well-crafted, with destructible environments and dynamic lighting that enhance the immersion.

Sound Design and Music

The game’s sound design is equally impressive, with a dynamic soundtrack that adapts to the player’s actions and the game’s narrative. The music, composed by Michiel van den Bos, is atmospheric and evocative, blending orchestral and electronic elements to create a sense of grandeur and mystery. The voice acting is generally well-done, with each faction having its own distinct vocal style and accents.

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Reception & Legacy

Critical Reception

Age of Wonders: Planetfall received generally positive reviews upon release, with critics praising its deep tactical combat, diverse factions, and engaging narrative. The game’s Metascore on Metacritic is 81, indicating “generally favorable” reviews, while the user score is 7.5, reflecting a mixed but largely positive reception.

Critics highlighted the game’s strengths in blending 4X empire-building with XCOM-style tactical combat, as well as its richly detailed sci-fi setting. However, some reviewers noted that the game’s UI could be overwhelming for newcomers, and the randomly generated maps lacked the narrative depth of the campaign scenarios.

Awards and Nominations

Planetfall was nominated for several awards, including:
– PC Game of the Year at the 2019 Golden Joystick Awards.
– Best Strategy Game at The Game Awards 2019.
– Game, Strategy at the NAVGTR Awards.

While it did not win any of these awards, the nominations reflect the game’s critical acclaim and its impact on the strategy genre.

Commercial Performance and Community

The game’s commercial performance was solid, with strong sales on PC and console platforms. The Premium Edition and subsequent expansions helped to sustain interest in the game, and the modding community has contributed to its longevity with custom maps, factions, and gameplay tweaks.

The game’s community remains active, with players sharing strategies, custom content, and feedback on platforms like Steam, Reddit, and the official Paradox forums. The developers have continued to support the game with updates and patches, addressing balance issues and adding new features based on player feedback.

Influence and Legacy

Planetfall has had a notable influence on the 4X strategy genre, demonstrating the potential for blending empire-building with tactical combat. Its success has paved the way for future entries in the Age of Wonders series, including Age of Wonders 4, which builds on the foundations laid by Planetfall.

The game’s emphasis on faction diversity, unit customization, and narrative-driven gameplay has also influenced other strategy games, encouraging developers to experiment with new mechanics and settings. Planetfall stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of the 4X genre and the potential for innovation within it.

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Conclusion

Age of Wonders: Planetfall – Premium Edition is a triumphant entry in the Age of Wonders series, successfully transitioning from fantasy to sci-fi while retaining the core gameplay elements that have made the franchise beloved by strategy fans. The game’s deep tactical combat, diverse factions, and richly detailed world-building make it a standout title in the 4X genre.

While the game’s UI and accessibility could be improved, and the randomly generated maps lack the narrative depth of the campaign scenarios, Planetfall offers a compelling and engaging experience that rewards strategic thinking and experimentation. The Premium Edition provides excellent value, bundling the base game with expansions that add even more content and replayability.

Final Verdict: Age of Wonders: Planetfall – Premium Edition is a must-play for fans of 4X strategy games and a worthy addition to the Age of Wonders legacy. Its blend of empire-building, tactical combat, and sci-fi storytelling makes it a standout title that will keep players engaged for hundreds of hours.

Score: 8.5/10