Massive Chalice

Massive Chalice for PC and XONE is a dark fantasy turn-based strategy game. It was developed by Double Fine, known from such productions as Psychonauts, Broken Age or Costume Quest.

Mechanics

You play as an immortal king (or queen), whose lands are being threatened by a demonic army. The gameplay is divided into two parts. In the strategy mode, you manage your kingdom, arrange our subjects' marriages, conduct research and make important decisions, which affect the whole campaign. In the tactical mode, you lead small group of heroes to battle with demons. There is no way to revive your dead, so every death is final, and taking into account that the campaign spans over several centuries, even the most powerful heroes will eventually die of old age. This way, sooner or later you have to decide whether you want to send them to battle and risk their deaths or let them retire and make way for the new generation of warriors.

Massive Chalice has been developed in such a way so that the campaign can be replayed many times without becoming boring. You begin every playthrough with a randomly chosen group of heroes from various families. Your decisions, victories and failures can change the course of events. The game features a multitude of side quests and random events. An important factor is also arranging marriages, which can ensure the continuity of important bloodlines. Moreover, thanks to using powerful relics, your heroes can be assisted by ancestral spirits.

The battles take place on 3D maps covered with the fog of war. The heroes have a variety of special abilities, divided into three categories: close quarters combat, ranged combat, and magical arts. Victories earn you experience points, which you spend on leveling up your characters. Their battle potential can also be enhanced by equipping them with better gear. In the strategy mode you also create better weapons and armor. Additionally, you can research demonic artifacts, which can give you great power, but also taint a whole bloodline.

Last updated on 16 May 2023