Tahira: Echoes of the Astral Empire (PC) Review

By Thom Compton 23.09.2016

Review for Tahira: Echoes of the Astral Empire on PC

Tactical RPGs are definitely not everyone's bag. They require deep understanding of the battle field, and planning several rounds ahead, not to mention that they are just as difficult to get into as they are to actually make. Tahira: Echoes of the Astral Empire may just have what it takes to be among these niche juggernauts, but is it really worth exploring?

Tahira: Echoes of the Astral Empire is a tale of loss and revenge. Like any good tale of revenge, it becomes evident early on that protagonist Tahira is not just fighting for her own gains, but for those of her people. Along with her horse companion, Irba, she sets out to avenge those she loves, and prevent the loss of those who depend on her.

Now, let's get this out of the way. This is, if nothing else, absolutely gorgeous looking. The fluidity of the animation is high, and the detail is crisp and clean. Never once does the game appear choppy or the frame rate bogging. Perhaps some computers will drop the occasional frame, but visually this is a highly pleasing experience.

Screenshot for Tahira: Echoes of the Astral Empire on PC

The core gameplay is that of a typical tactical RPG. The player navigates the battlefield by moving around on a grid. It's very important to pay attention to the tutorial, because even just moving around can be a complicated thing. A lot of the combat is deep, but grasping it can feel like an unnecessary hurdle. Just this facet alone could lead to a lot of people walking away early on.

Outside of combat, Tahira speaks to various denizens and her faithful companion, Irba. Irba doesn't have dialogue, and instead simply makes faces. He's an irritating travel companion none the less, being a caricature of a better companion. Fortunately, one doesn't have to speak to him often enough for it to wear too thin. The other characters are pretty standard companions, and NPCs are rarely very interesting. It doesn't destroy the experience, or even drag the story down, it's just that it never feels like anyone but Tahira is worth caring about.

This is clearly the game you'll want if you want complex gameplay, beautiful art work, and a decent story only hindered by the dialogue. Getting a grip on the battle system would be a treat, as sometimes there's nothing more enjoyable than learning a system. If this sounds up your alley, jump in, just make sure you're in it for the complexity.

Screenshot for Tahira: Echoes of the Astral Empire on PC

Cubed3 Rating

7/10
Rated 7 out of 10

Very Good - Bronze Award

Rated 7 out of 10

Tahira: Echoes of the Astral Empire is a niche title. It is for the people who enjoy learning deep systems, aren't too hung up on narrative imperfections, and want to unleash some justice. This will clearly not appeal to everyone, and many will find the barrier of entry simply not worth for what waits beyond. As for the rest, here lies an interesting and compelling tactical RPG, if there ever was one.

Developer

Whale Hammer

Publisher

Whale Hammer

Genre

Strategy

Players

1

C3 Score

Rated $score out of 10  7/10

Reader Score

Rated $score out of 10  0 (0 Votes)

European release date Out now   North America release date Out now   Japan release date None   Australian release date Out now   

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