Fan favorite developer Double Fine has been busy lately, and Massive Chalice is just one of its multiple new projects. The turn-based overheard strategy title has been available in Steam Early Access for some time, but it is now released in full (and was even made one of Xbox Live's free Games With Gold titles for June).

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So after a long build-up and moderate excitement, how did Massive Chalice fare with critics? Here are some excerpts from around the web:

Game Informer, 8/10: "After raising several million dollars via Kickstarter to fund the adventure game that eventually became Broken Age, Double Fine tapped the gaming hive-wallet to fund another project, Massive Chalice. Broken Age has received most of the attention, but Massive Chalice feels like a more ambitious game.

"It takes turn-based tactical combat (inspired by Firaxis' XCOM releases) and folds in a eugenics simulation where you arrange marriages for your warriors in hopes of propagating a new generation of even heartier warriors. Despite these interesting concepts, Massive Chalice is like a well-bred animal that hasn't been properly cared for; it might be an impressive beast if it weren't buried beneath a layer of shag."

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PC Gamer, 75/100: "Judged as a spiritual child of XCOM, Massive Chalice is more of a brainy second son than an all-conquering firstborn. It turns in some clever twists, but doesn't offer enough baseline complexity to support the kind of dazzling reversals the other franchise is celebrated for. It feels like the start of a promising bloodline, however. Perhaps one of its descendants will rise to greatness."

Destructoid, 6/10: "Massive Chalice is both beautiful and approachable, somewhat rare qualities in the genre. But its 300 year arc bends toward apathy and inhumanity. By mid-game, what was novel and enticing becomes a slog. The nation and bloodlines are mostly built out, ending the high level tactics, and battles become more brute force as the same enemies double in HP, power, and quantity.

"I felt like middle management making the same position appointments that a computer could make more quickly and all I got for my click click clicking was combat with bigger numbers on the same handful of stages. There is some payoff with the bloodline idea at the end, but it is not worth the rote meat grinder to get there."

ShackNews, 8/10: "The tactical gameplay is satisfying, but the game could do better if it made use of cover. Standing behind objects can block line of sight or impede movement, but cover does not actually mitigate damage. In fact, your archers have to step out from behind a tree in order to see and fire at something down the line.

"Between the bloodlines, research, and combat, Massive Chalice tosses a ton to micromanage, and it can feel overwhelming. But it all builds up to a spectacular ending that makes it worthwhile and satisfying."

Tags
PC, XBox One