Analysis of the Chronicles of Miasma – A Devastating Future

Turn-based strategy and stealth will be things of the future, as we see in Miasma Chronicles

When almost a year ago I went to the offices of 505 games I had the honor of testing different games in development. Of all the ones I tried that day, there was one that interested me more than the others. In fact, this title is Miasma Chronicles, a tactical RPG proposal that felt very organic, fresh and with a strong narrative charge that invited you to continue enjoying post-apocalyptic landscapes. Finally, the day of the launch arrived, and I had the honor of immersing myself in all its mechanics as I tell you in the analysis that we have prepared for you.

If I tell you that the study behind this work is called women with beardsThis probably doesn’t sound familiar to you. But if I tell you that this company is responsible for another turn-based strategy game such as Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden, surely it already captures your attention. And yes, there is no doubt that this studio feels an affinity for this type of mechanics, since with Miasma Chronicles they return to the fray with an adventure that captures the essence seen in their previous work, while giving their clashes a unique personality.

Brothers… Milk?

In the midst of an America plunged into utter ruin, we will control Elvis, a boy born in the mining town called Sedentary and that he was cared for by his “robotic brother” Diggs. We know very little about our mother: only that she gave us a special glove capable of stopping the Miasma, an evil that prowls around the world.

This substance invades all habitable lands, and even worse, it causes some creatures to invade lands previously controlled by humans. This desperate situation will lead to desperate measures, and we will have no choice but to fight Miasma with our mother’s glove, and in the process, to learn the story behind our mother.

those who played Gears Tactics, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, or Mutant Year Zero itself will know what they’re up against. We will live intense (and intelligent) fights where positioning ourselves and finding the optimal action will be crucial for the good future of our group. As often happens in this type of proposal, if we take a false step, it can mean our defeat, and it will always be advisable to consider all options before executing an order lightly.

A shadow among the trash

Although at the beginning of the adventure we will only have the two brothers, little by little our group will grow with other high school classmates. And while these companions will be crucial in settling disputes, the main weight of the fight falls on Elvis and Diggs. To start, Elvis will be able to use his glove to blast his enemies in a thousand ways. From creating a whirlwind and launching soldier frogs into the air, to connecting an electric shock that damages a line of enemies. It is true that his power must recharge over time, but it will be very useful in some situations. On another side, Diggs’ metal armor makes him the “tank” of the group, with a greater ability to absorb damage than others. Although it is not stone, be careful.

These virtues of each character make us face each confrontation in a particular way. Always in a team and working as a team, but each character taking on a specific role.

Of course, not everything will be an exchange of bullets. Before each fight we can make a ambush, which will consist of approaching the enemy without being seen to perform a silent death. Like a stealth title, but with grids and controls. Although at the beginning it is shocking to be in this approach of prudence and occultism, it will be essential to minimize all the damage. Because I point out, the game is difficult due to many factors. Some well measured… but others not so much.

paranormal covers

And here is one of the main problems that I found in Miasma Chronicles. I don’t mind that the game is difficult and makes you think about the best strategy to follow, but there are times when the difficulty spikes are too abrupt. Sometimes it’s a “little walk” and the next moment it becomes hell where you don’t even know where to hide. The combat isn’t very balanced, and that makes the difference between being difficult and frustrating. It may not be that we can miss several shots in a row while being next to the enemy, and they are able to take our whole life with one shot from the other side of the map. It’s impossible to achieve victory unless you’re well stocked with healing potions from the shop, and luck is on your side.

JThere is also no way to tell if your level is suitable for a side mission. or if it is preferable to move towards other objectives. Sometimes you meet a group of enemies on the way and until you attack them and feel the terrain a bit, you don’t know if you will be able to defeat them or not. It is true that This is a game where fast loading/saving predominates, but there are situations where you have to know in advance if you are up to it or if it is better to withdraw in time.

inert post apocalypse

In its visual aspect we find the light and the dark. The aerial view is amazing. and everything is depicted in detail, full of objects, places and details that make each area interesting. Even the moments with the miasma vortex, with thousands of particles floating around, are beautiful. That’s not a bad thing either camera change that we will have in battle when we shoot

with the typical camera on the character’s shoulder giving us a very illustrative idea of ​​how our (or the rival’s) shot went.

Miasma Chronicles clashes a little in the expressions. It seems to me that even the face of the main character, Elvis, has worse animations than the rest of the NPCs. In the dialogues, he shows that he is a boy full of vitality, with a “rogue” touch that works well unlike his older brother, who is a little more sensitive and cautious. Well, despite this character composition, His gestures do not correspond at all to the personality he has in this adventure. And speaking of dialogues, it should be mentioned that the game is dubbed in English (with very good dubbing, by the way), although fortunately We will have texts in our language.

Conclusion of the Chronicles of Miasma

The Bearded Ladies continue their turn-based tactical RPG proposition that went so well with their previous work, Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. Although they share certain playable aspects, we are faced with a completely different universe, more devastated and where a substance called Miasma destroys all traces of humanity. We will be in charge of reversing this situation, and for this we will be involved in turn-based combat where common sense and planning prevail much more than action and brute force.

Miasma Chronicles has several layers of gameplay that make it appealing. From the aforementioned turn-based combat, to moments of stealth and a touch of role-playing where we can upload our protagonists in the skills we consider. It’s a pity that there are deadly difficulty peaks that cloud the final outcome of the game a bit, although if we are able to face them with patience and courage we will live an exciting story full of unsolved mysteries… and with creatures be filled with lead and miasma.