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The real-time chess of the different character classes in Bad North is truly incredible. I love how height makes a real advantage (or disadvantage if too close!) for archers' physics-driven arrows, all the details (despite being a minimalist game) like arrows getting stuck in targets' shields, your choices in what weapon specialties you can assign, the fluid and organic character movement and fighting, etc.

You also really come to care about your soldiers' survival since the death of squad leaders is (typically) permanent, so loss is extremely emotional, especially given how they're customizable with different items. And—like the world's greatest jigsaw puzzler, Glass Masquerade—almost any screenshot from the game could be made into a wallpaper, so that's awesome.

For those who have never played this game, it was just on sale at GreenManGaming for <$3 (IsThereAnyDeal rocks!). It was also given away via Epic Games some years ago, which is how I've been revisiting it.

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[-] Flagstaff@programming.dev 1 points 1 month ago

Did you beat it, though? The challenge gets awesomely intense on Hard!

[-] victorz@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I thought it was a little monotonous and stopped playing, but I could give it a go again. 😊

I think it didn't have great reviews either, and I kind of agree(d) with them, so I lost interest.

[-] Flagstaff@programming.dev 2 points 1 month ago

The reason I said that is because I found it becomes increasingly engaging and tricky the deeper you survive, breaking up similarity. Did you try different difficulty levels? Some games' enjoyment can significantly depend on a personally fitting difficulty level, whether hard or easy.

I'm not sure of what the reviews were like back then, but they're insanely high on Steam, more than even what I had expected.

[-] victorz@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Did you try different difficulty levels?

Not that I recall. Just normal I suppose. That's what I usually play games at.

[the reviews are] insanely high on Steam

Not sure we're talking about the same game?

https://store.steampowered.com/app/323580/Jotun_Valhalla_Edition/

[-] Flagstaff@programming.dev 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

We sure aren't. This post is about Bad North: Jotun Edition! I own that game you mentioned (got it through a giveaway) but never touched it and never will; I don't play games <80% in Steam review score.

I'm guessing you're downvoting me or something...

[-] victorz@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

I have no reason to down vote you. We were just having a conversation. Not sure why others are. 🤔

Anyway, I mentioned Jotun because they seemed like similar games. 😁

[-] Flagstaff@programming.dev 2 points 1 month ago

Oh, okay. And Jotun is totally different and probably more akin to Hades or any other ARPG. I'd actually liken Bad North almost to FTL, in a sense.

[-] victorz@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

I checked the reviews of Bad North on Steam as well and yeah, that is very high! Added it to my wish list and let's see if it's ever on sale. 😁

this post was submitted on 11 Aug 2025
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