Mars: War Logs — Pre-Greedfall
The Technomancer is a rather strange oddity in the midst of an equally obscure set of titles. Technomancer is, while not a direct sequel to Mars: War Logs, in the the same universe. Mechanically, similar with some additional features that feel like demo or beta features that were more fleshed out in what became Greedfall — a completely unrelated game — narratively speaking.
What is a Technomancer, anyways?
It's got nothing to do with the class in Outriders for starters.
At any given point, you're able to switch between a quarterstaff, a mace/shield or a dagger/gun weapon set (or the the sci-fi version of a mace — a big wrench). The game refers to them as stances. A sort of AoE, 1v1 and ranged stance respectively, you're able to use techomancer powers while in any stance. Anecdotally reminds me of Witcher 1 combat — though I don't find it quite as janky. Not from its outset. These stances are also what you will level into with XP. Traits vs attributes. You will also have more base stats, if you will — these are the attributes. Your standard sorts of things, Agility, Strength, Constitution and Intelligence. These will increase passive stats and allow you to equip stronger equipment. If you find you're using the Rogue stance more often, it might behoove you to put more points into agility for example.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2756477157
The stealth may feel familiar if you've played the Styx games as Spiders actually worked on “Of Orcs and Men” with Cyanide Studios — Styx's origin game.
The game is comprised of open HUB cities and other more linear areas where most missions take place. You can have up to 2 companions that you're able to outfit. They've got a relationship status with the main character and increasing that will unlock more abilities with them. There's also a vague morality system beyond that where you can drain serum from fallen enemies that will kill them instead of incapacitate them. Serum is used as currency.
Beyond the the 3 stances, you have an active pause wheel with the ability to hot key specific actions without pausing. Things like health of focus injections or your Technomancer abilities. Interestingly, it felt the game was slightly inspired by Dark Souls as using injections takes a some time and slowly recharges health instead of instantaneously. There is even a window to get interrupted before the injection actually occurs — which is more frustrating than it sounds.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2756478555
Spiders!
The games mentioned are all from 'Spiders', a veritable powerhouse of Double A games ranging from middling to below average. Greedfall being their biggest budget so far, Steelrising we'll come to see. And I think that's something to consider regarding these titles, they simply aren't triple A games — they're going to lack polish around the edges. That said, Technocmancer seems to have missed the mark on almost every level.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2756478101
The Gist:
Even at a discount, I have a hard time earnestly recommending The Technomancer as I find it to simply not be worth your time. While I did enjoy Mars: War Logs, it is a much more focused game whereas Technomancer is, expressed cordially, too ambitious. Something Greedfall suffers from as well to a lesser degree.
As someone wiser than me once said:
— Lost money can be found, lost time is lost forever.
It is still interesting to visit the game to see its curiosities and how ideas got developed over time through Spiders' history. Beyond that, I wouldn't bother.
Zitat:
If you've read this far, consider following my curation —
Station Argus
Reviews for other games mentioned:
Mars: War Logs
Greedfall
Of Orcs and Men
