Capes - Full Review After 40 Hours

[@danebramage04]

Thursday is May 30th... this drops Wednesday!! Sorry to point out an error!

[@SlanderedGaming]

Whoops good call out thank you! I will pin this comment.

[@SirDiesel]

My bad also, I'm driving so I couldn't read the comments.

[@trevalyon8610]

Most of the game reviewers I typically frequent didn't review this game. Thank you for picking it up and covering! Liking and subscribing, in gratitude ^_^

[@SlanderedGaming]

My pleasure! Welcome to the channel!

[@TheCrimsonRevenger]

When I played the Demo in 2022, I actually liked the writing except for one element: So much profanity. Used the right way, you get iconic lines like John McClane's 'Yippy Ki Yay Mother****". But used casually it drags down the vibe HARD. In 2022 the game used profanity very casually. Is that still the case?

[@SlanderedGaming]

I would say there are a couple of specific characters who use profanity a lot but it's not across the board.

[@bloodrunsclear]

Watchmen has a lot to answer for

[@dannyslag]

I really hope the developers watch this video. This is the kind of valuable feedback that improves games. When the point of the game is all the unique and wild heroes, having them level up individually pushes you to not try out a variety of combinations. Having heroes who aren't in a battle still earn maybe a percentage of the xp, would be an excellent change, and should be fairly simple to do.

[@SlanderedGaming]

Yup I think that would make it significantly more enjoyable.

[@biggleazy]

Great review, glad to see you covering this one. Been curious about it simply because, like you said, we rarely see games superhero games in this genre. I'm hoping someone will make one where you create your character at some point, but this may scratch the itch for the time being. Thanks for sharing.

[@SlanderedGaming]

My pleasure!

[@Omega068]

Great review! It looks fun and I might pick it up on sale. I can't really justify paying full price personally because the bad writing in Midnight Suns kind of killed my desire to be generous on that point. But the rest does look compelling so we'll see.

[@SlanderedGaming]

Nice I hope you enjoy it.

[@camko11]

Hey man, thanks for reviewing this. No one else is, and out of the few who are, yours was the best. Take my like good sir

[@SlanderedGaming]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@EnglishInfidel]

Very good video, direct, thought out, earned a sub here 👍 I've been looking forward to this game and I wanted a straight-to-the-point review and you delivered.

[@SlanderedGaming]

Thank you! Welcome to the channel!

[@demoniovargas1093]

Fantastic review.Thanks for sharing your thoughts

[@SlanderedGaming]

My pleasure!

[@arkuspendragon]

Midnight suns was perfect.

[@SlanderedGaming]

Stop it! 😂

[@arkuspendragon]

@@SlanderedGaming way better than recent comics books and movies from marvel especially lol

[@SlanderedGaming]

@@arkuspendragon Now that I can see. LMFAO

[@jessemccaughey4231]

Combat -excellent Bird watching-not so much

[@willemverheij3412]

Thanks for the review, I will keep the game on my wishlist for now to see what kind of improvements the devs might be making in the coming months. I hate how this seems to become more of a common thing these days, games getting released way too early and we just have to wait and see if it will get fixed or not. It's why I rarely buy games on release any more. It's just not worth it if you're barely going to play it for months as you wait for big patches, better to just wait a year or less, get the game for half price and without having to wait for those crucial updates. Blockbuster Inc is currently also on my wishlist in the same situation, and Crown Wars: The Black prince probably should have been there too but I was starving to play something new.

[@Vigilluminatus]

Very detailed and nuanced, thank you!

[@SlanderedGaming]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jonathanpickles2946]

Freedom Force wasn't even turn based, which was a shock when I last went back to it. I really liked the demo for this, despite not really being a fan of the puzzly into the breach type of combat. I can see levelling being a pain, I'm not big on farming xp or loot or anything. I'll certainly grab it when I get a pc again

[@SlanderedGaming]

Nice I hope you enjoy it.

[@shinnyshin7792]

Really appreciate reviews like this--the way you contextualize the pros and the cons makes it very easy to make an informed choice. In my case, the pros are all things I love and the cons, though valid, aren't that big of a deal. I've a very low view of all video game writing and rarely find even "good" writing all that good, but am willing to cut older-style comics that roll into the zanier storytelling elements a lot of slack if they go about it with style. I was the one person who didn't hate Midnight Suns writing. Slow pacing isn't a downside if you're looking for something to relax with alongside a movie or show, and I just finished my last low-energy game off and was looking for another. Etc... Perfect review for what I needed to know, thank you!

[@SlanderedGaming]

Awesome glad you enjoyed it!

[@Vagran]

A couple of build guides for the Heroes would be fun, also guides like that are usually popular with bringing in viewers.

[@SlanderedGaming]

Yup I plan to review all the party member mechanics.

[@isdatdalord1622]

I was waiting for this one.

[@SlanderedGaming]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@isdatdalord1622]

I very much did enjoy it, sir! 👍🏾

[@SirDiesel]

Great video, very helpful. However you did make me freak out because of my job, this game released yesterday on Wednesday the 29th not Thursday.

[@SlanderedGaming]

Yup I pinned a comment at the top that called that out. My bad!

[@Markoul11]

Even the text font used in the dialogues is similar to the one used in the Freedom Force 2002 game.

[@SlanderedGaming]

Oh nice didn't know that. LOL

[@leopoldkain6815]

Thank you for this review. I really enjoyed watching the video you did a really great job explaining the video game to me. And I'm pretty sure that I'll wait until I see it on sale on Xbox Live . Hopefully the creators of the game will see reviews like this and take some of the suggestions to Heart Like Making It optional to have to see those cutscenes that you were talking about. Again thanks for the review really great job

[@SlanderedGaming]

Thanks glad you enjoyed it!

[@leopoldkain6815]

@@SlanderedGaming for that reply. Take this follow 👍

[@jda2692]

I loved Freedom Force. Going to give this game a try. Good job on the review!

[@SlanderedGaming]

Thank you!

[@Outmind01]

Sounds like a mechanically satisfying but otherwise flawed game. I might give it a go since a cheesy story wouldn't really bother me much, especially since that often comes with superhero territory. Slandered, you said there hasn't been a super hero game like this since Freedom force. And while yes, the PCs aren't technically superheroes, you should DEFINITELY check out Troubleshooter: Abandoned Children. Simply put, the game is amazing. Imagine the new X-Coms or this but 10x mechanically more complex with a lot of freedom on how to structure your builds. There are LITERALLY 1,000+ skills for your characters to pick up. I've sunk 100 hours into that game last year and loved every moment. Your plate is likely already full with work obligations and upcoming games you want to cover, but do keep Troubleshooter in mind if you're a fan of this genre since it's a stand-out title.

[@Omega068]

Oh right I forgot that was a thing. Mortismal did a review on it. I'll check that out. (And I agree, I would love to hear what Slandered thinks of it!)

[@SlanderedGaming]

Somebody else on the discord just called that out. When I get some time I'll have to give it a try.

[@omegashadowtemplar]

@@SlanderedGaming you should absolutely play it.

[@h8den_]

One of best friends from high school did the character design and concept art for this game!!

[@SlanderedGaming]

Awesome! They did a great job!

[@paulemccullough]

Great review!

[@SlanderedGaming]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@OrionisPi]

You mentioned superhero strategy games: Sentinels of Freedom came out in 2020.

[@SlanderedGaming]

Nice I've actually never heard of that game before.

[@OrionisPi]

I really like the world from their tabletop games & lore podcast, but I also enjoyed the video game on it's own merit. I'm curious what others, who might not be fans of the universe, think.

[@billc.8569]

Thank you for another great review!

[@SlanderedGaming]

My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@4everhumbl36]

This game is awesome 8.5/10 for me

[@SlanderedGaming]

Yup I think Spitfire did a great job. Looking forward to a sequel!

[@Esmoure]

I feel like it doesn’t allow for as much creative strategy as I would like. It’s unforgiving and I absolutely hate the fact that I spent an hour on a mission to fail all the sub goals.

[@SlanderedGaming]

If you want to get the sub goals then you definitely have to be rigid in your playstyle. Once you reach midgame, if you just want to complete the missions, there's more flexibility in how you approach combat.

[@Esmoure]

@@SlanderedGamingoh okay, I have been kind of ignoring the sub goals and I was just going to come back later.

[@KINS1KINS]

I finally have enough Capes to bench Facet lol, with there being no healer so far the way he builds ult sucks I feel like if growth gave him some ult charge that would help.

[@SlanderedGaming]

Yeah he cannot tank endlessly so you need to pair Facet with a heavy damage dealer who can take the pressure off. I have a video coming out tomorrow that walks through all the heroes, including one who is a healer. :)

[@michaelclapp6573]

Good stuff

[@aftertheshowmoviepodcast]

Is this anything like Midnight Suns, I loved that one.

[@SlanderedGaming]

Yup it's definitely similar. :)

[@jedhaney3547]

I think they missed a major seller by not allowing you to make a customized superhero, as a MC or the like.

[@SlanderedGaming]

I agree that would've added to the appeal of the game. Maybe we'll get that in a sequel.

[@humbleguy1533]

I would say more lack in features than flawed. It’s more like Xcom:chimera squad than xcom. Or like Showgunners that came out last year. Not a lot of customization. If you don’t like the story or characters, it can be a grind.

[@SlanderedGaming]

I feel like the grindy elements are a big part of what makes it flawed. The story doesn't motivate you to continue.

[@JPAYMENT]

🎉🎉🎉

[@SlanderedGaming]

Hope you enjoyed the review!

[@Bluefooted23]

Another great review.

[@SlanderedGaming]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kbar4462]

Appreicate the full thorough review. Would love to see yhe full breakdown on characters you mentioned potentially putting together. That might be the saving grace for me since a weak written story and that leveling system is really off-putting. Also, youre the man for giving the Freedom Force a shout out lol

[@SlanderedGaming]

Glad you enjoyed the review!

[@SenorHeisaCoolguy]

Do you get to customize your own hero? or is it predetermined character?

[@SlanderedGaming]

Nope all predetermined.

[@bcroscros8919]

Not a super hereo rpg, but if you are looking for a good tactical rpg, I would check out Wartales, probably one of my favorites of last year excluding bg3 and rogue trader.

[@SlanderedGaming]

I heard that Wartales heavily emphasizes combat and consequently, the story suffers. Would you agree?

[@bcroscros8919]

Definitely more of a make your own story game, every region has its own storyline, but it definitely isn't focused in the narrative. But the gameplay is awesome, building your mercenary troop.

[@wackywarrior001]

man wish we could make our own heroes, forcing you to use premade is a real disappointment

[@SlanderedGaming]

Yeah one day I hope we get that game.

[@wackywarrior001]

I went up and looked up Freedom force, I sued to love that game. did you know you can buy it and still play it on steam? crazy... anyway I looked and remember that game forced you to play as goofy fake captain America, at first, was not thrilled, today freedom 100% one of the top ten games I've played. I'm going to give capes a try , =D

[@thefearmakerlive]

Turn based Superhero RPGs? Of course, Midnight Suns. The tactics combat was excellent, then the character leveling via it's card system which created it's combat variance, was such a good system, with characters you could spec in multiple ways. Add to that the Xcom base building, with base decorating,a story steeped in Marvel Comics lore, a 3rd person adventure game to fill out some story elements, and a Persona like friendship system. You're missing out of you like Tactics games and didn't play Midnight Suns.

[@SlanderedGaming]

I played Midnight Suns and loved the gameplay but the writing was atrocious. I talked about that in this video.

[@thefearmakerlive]

@@SlanderedGaming I have to ask, what was atrocious about it? At the beginning is it a little Saturday morning cartoon expository? Yes. But any medium that's trying to get you caught up to 60 years of history with these characters, has to be, for people who have no idea who Doctor Strange is, and to keep the plot moving. But after that, you have real arcs for the characters, from Magik getting over her comfort with isolation, to Peter wanting to help Eddie, not hurt him, to even Captain Marvel talking about how she feels out of place at times. Some of the issues are tried and true tropes from these characters, that have been addressed before, like Tony's control problems and the man he used to be, to how Cap views himself as a man out of time. Is it PG dialogue for a teen rated game? Sure. And if you want something more adult tinged, like X-Men 97, the dialogue can feel very after school special. But each character is true to their comic counterparts, they're multifaceted,3 dimensional people as you learn about them in the various clubs,, and the story brings out the worst and best of some characters. The 2nd act is about Iron-Man and Dr. Strange, failing.

[@MrStatistx]

Too bad, one thing i enjoyed about xcom nad even more midnight suns, was the in between missions basebuilding and whatnot and this looks like it basically goes from mission to mission, with maybe a few menus and cutscenes in between, but no base stuff otherwise

[@SlanderedGaming]

That's true it doesn't have a base building component and that was a big draw of Midnight Suns.

[@welmancreations]

Well flushed out review. Thanks

[@SlanderedGaming]

My pleasure!

[@Eskaton93]

Troubleshooter: Abandoned Children is a pretty decent superhero (anime flavoured) game. Starts slow but it's absoultely massive and has extrremely deep mechanics. Story is not to my taste tho'

[@SlanderedGaming]

Wow you are the third person to bring that game up. I'll definitely have to give it a try.

[@Forsaken66666]

DEI DETECTED. SWEET BABY INC DETECTED. Avoid this game at all costs.

[@SlanderedGaming]

What does DEI have to do with this game?

[@fatefan1440]

​@@SlanderedGaming What do you think too many black people

[@dianhyouvideo]

😧😧😧😧😧😧😧 what? That's the reason?​@@fatefan1440

[@violau8550]

Get use to cringe writing...i guess its one of the most common problems on most games now.

[@SlanderedGaming]

I cannot get used to it. LOL If I hadn't liked the gameplay so much I probably wouldn't have finished this.

[@violau8550]

@@SlanderedGaming Well, game play is the king, ALWAYS!

[@blackfistxu7953]

Great review!

[@SlanderedGaming]

Thank you!

[@malkavthemad4249]

Those look so pretty.