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The good medieval mollusc boys of Inkulinati’s turn-based strategy will leave you feeling giddyFar from middling
Far from middling
Turns out these 700 year old drawings lend themselves very nicely to a 2D duel. The combat is easy to grasp (“but hard to master”, he mutters under his breath) and there’s a snappy flow to battles as turns flip between you and the enemy with an uncomplicated ease. I like this about Inkulinati a lot - it doesn’t overdo things. It’s clutter free. Each unit you command has only a handful of options and movement is limited, but this makes each decision matter. The folks over at Yaza Games clearly know what makes a turn-based battler tick, but I can see this appealing to both the more serious strategy-heads and players who want a more whimsical, relaxed vibe.
Watch on YouTube
Watch on YouTube
There are neat thematic touches too. As you’d expect, ink acts as your main currency. Spend it and you’ll see your character’s hand reach onto the page and scratch your desired unit to life with a quill. As battles wear on, blots of ink also start staining the battlefield. Position your units over them and if they survive the chapter (round) you’ll get extra ink. Immediately, this forces you to plan ahead and consider how you can both nab this precious resource and dry out your opponent’s pen. Do you risk putting your canine friend in a poor spot for extra ammunition?
It’s safe to say I’ve come away from Inkulinati’s free PAX X EGX demo feeling enlightened, even a little giddy. Inkulinati is due to release around Q2 2021 on Steam, but thefree demois out now and I urge you to give it a shot.
