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War For The Overworld Is Redecorating With Expansion

Heart Stealers

Also known as Dungeon-Keeper-without-the-copyright, War for the Overworld [official site] left Alec's glasses bright pink - it was just similar enough to the old dungeon management game to make him nostalgic of the old days, but it didn't manage to conjure up the magic of the original.

Since release in April 2015, though, the developers have been busy renovating. Yesterday marked their 40th patch, and the cumulative changes are indeed impressive. (I guess that's what the new Steam Reviews are for) Yesterday also saw the release of the game's first paid expansion Heart of Gold (though it's free for backers and customers who purchased the game before May 2nd). If you've dismissed it at launch, it may be time to don your adventurer cap and take another look.

In an earnest dev diary written right around launch, the devs had readily admitted that their game wasn't fit for release, and that they had to rush it out the door due to financial woes. In time, WftO has started to look more like what they had envisioned in the first place, with patches adding "4-player multiplayer; a map editor with Steam Workshop support; balance passes to improve single-player and multiplayer; addressing player feedback on the UI, room efficiency, adjustable game speed and more."

The full notes for yesterday's Patch 1.4 are this-a-way, but these are the highlights:

  • Revamped Titan system
  • Revamped combat
  • New unit voices, VFX, animations and behaviours
  • Significant performance improvements
  • New systems such as the peace warband to keep specific units out of combat
  • Improved AI which makes use of Titans and Artefacts properly
  • Improved UI including a new payday overlay
  • Many balance improvements including a revamp of the unit leveling system, making high level units more valuable
  • Many more gameplay improvements
  • Some of those actually do address points that Alec felt were lacking, like the UI, character design, and the game's balance being excessively skewed towards frantic RTS strategy as opposed to lived-in dungeon.

    Cover image for YouTube video

    Heart of Gold, the new paid expansion released alongside patch 1.4, brings a new 4-level campaign played from the perspective of the Underlady Kasita. Also, the usual bag of goodies: a new spell, a new defender for your precious gold, new decorations and skins.

    As mentioned, Heart of Gold is free if you purchased the game before May 2nd, or if you bought the special edition. Otherwise, Steam demons demons will loot treasures worth £5.59/$7.99 from your vault/other gold-hoarding location. Wirelessly and without spilling blood. How convenient!

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