Citadel is a game I need to spend more time on than usual to gain a proper perspective of what it has to offer on a full scale. That having been said I have played it to a point I'm getting a proper feel for the type of grind, and crafting it entails. For those of you who don't know "Citadel: Forged With Fire" is an MMORPG sandbox type of game that can be played in singleplayer or on PVE, and PvP servers. It's about a magical world of wizards borne from flame who can fly around on broomsticks, and dragons. Wizards that can engage in combat, and build fortified castles beyond imagination. The world itself is brought to life in a beautiful, and colorful rendering done on the Unreal 4 engine. It pushes the PS4 to it's limits, but looks quite impressive for the console port that it is. As far as gameplay is concerned you'll find that in singleplayer it is smooth. There is no game breaking lag, or frame rate issues that really hinder the gameplay. For now I can't say the same for PVE or PvP, because I've yet to play on the provided servers.
From your character's creation at the main menu startup to their birth from a fiery pit in-game, and the grind that follows you'll be able to level up, and grow your character's set of abilities. It is ultimately through experience earned, skill points applied, and learned crafting skills that you'll be able to establish your sustained existence as your created character in the world of Citadel. The Touchpad menu from which everything is done in regards to this, outside of character control, houses six different themed diamonds for each interactive sub-menu that will give you quick access to everything that can be done. This includes the equipment loadout, the crafting, the crafting skills, the spells, creature taming, and your House or clan setup. It's a quick access hub for all you can do with your character, and the world around you. Much more streamlined than other games of the same genre.
Unlike games like 'ARK', or 'Conan' Blue Isle Studios' creation that is Citadel streamlines a lot of the nagging, and problematic mechanics tied to the survival aspects of an MMO of this type. You don't have to worry about maintaining warmth, drinking water, or eating enough food to stay alive. There is no pooping. The only thing you have to mind is health, and mana. Both of which can be refilled via spells, food recipes, or color coded pools as well as upgraded via stat points that also come with leveling up. Leveling up in the game comes from gathering materials, or fighting off the creatures that inhabit the lands around the original starting point. As you play you will be given quests from a mysterious resident that gifts experience points as well as allows you to open up, and understand the basics of menu navigation along with the various mechanics tied to your character's functionality. It is with experience you can learn new crafting skills, and enhance damage output, defense, health, and mana.
Progression ...
While there is a slow, and methodical way to progress in Citadel the developer has included a startup slider that pops up onscreen every time you load the game. This slider effects how much XP you earn in-game during your gameplay session, and can easily fast track progress. Before that though you will need to create your own character. Name, and all. When it comes to the initial character creation process you get a decent amount of options that can realistically change or even distort the characters' physical appearance. Head to toe. You have two genders to choose from including male or female along with hairstyles, skin color, nail color, and various other things that will help your character be your own. This includes a player created name. Visually the character design within the menu looks kind of bad in comparison to the in world version you'll be controlling, but the game can be shown in a first person perspective keeping them out of view if you so desire. I did see that the PC version had a way to back out to third person, but as of now I've been unable to toggle the viewpoint.
It goes without saying that in any mode, whether it be in singleplayer, or on a multiplayer server you can craft yourself a kingdom, or a castle if you prefer. By leveling up skills you can craft walls, floors, roofs, doors, and other building features necessary to make your building a building. Specific to this game though is the throne, and in multiplayer it acts as the thing that must be defeated for a PvP player to conquer you. Thrones only last for so long, and either must be crafted again, or repaired. You'll also be able to craft chests for storage, fire pits for cooking as well as forges for crafting finer weapons, and armor. So forth, and so on. It takes a while to level up to the point that you can do this stuff, but the game does good to give you starter armor, weapons, and building material to craft until you get there. Spells, which are an important component to gameplay require skill application, and crafting too. You'll be able to apply two spells to each weapon or tool, and do so with unique spell alignments that can be harvested for application. Needless to say there's a lot to learn, and craft including recipes for foods that will replenish lost health, and mana supplies.
The Presentation ...
The world of Citadel is a living, and breathing ecosystem set in a medieval fantasy world. The environments are filled with the sounds of nature, and ambient music to heighten the mood. Things like the rustling of leaves, and the clanking of stone against stone are done well enough to reflect the immersive experience Blue Isle Studios was going for. Visually it is highly detailed, and beautifully rendered. More so than games like ARK, or Conan. Comparisons aside it is a game that thematically redefines the genre in a palatable, and functional way. It takes away the tedious tasks, adds in NPC quests that are akin to a non-survival MMO, and makes it all fun. Keep in mind I've only played in singleplayer thus far.
Impressions ...
So far I'm liking what I've experienced with Citadel. I like the art style, I like the world, and for once I don't mind the grind to get to a point where I can craft the finer things. It seems to be the type of game that borders on casual yet has competitive aspects to it if you dare to partake of them. It can be as leisurely or as competitive as you so desire. I'd suggest leveling up to a point where you understand all that the game offers before diving into server play though, and this can be done in singleplayer. For now I'm going to give Citadel a passing grade according to the singleplayer experience. I will let you know how the rest of it pans out as I continue playing the game.
From your character's creation at the main menu startup to their birth from a fiery pit in-game, and the grind that follows you'll be able to level up, and grow your character's set of abilities. It is ultimately through experience earned, skill points applied, and learned crafting skills that you'll be able to establish your sustained existence as your created character in the world of Citadel. The Touchpad menu from which everything is done in regards to this, outside of character control, houses six different themed diamonds for each interactive sub-menu that will give you quick access to everything that can be done. This includes the equipment loadout, the crafting, the crafting skills, the spells, creature taming, and your House or clan setup. It's a quick access hub for all you can do with your character, and the world around you. Much more streamlined than other games of the same genre.
Unlike games like 'ARK', or 'Conan' Blue Isle Studios' creation that is Citadel streamlines a lot of the nagging, and problematic mechanics tied to the survival aspects of an MMO of this type. You don't have to worry about maintaining warmth, drinking water, or eating enough food to stay alive. There is no pooping. The only thing you have to mind is health, and mana. Both of which can be refilled via spells, food recipes, or color coded pools as well as upgraded via stat points that also come with leveling up. Leveling up in the game comes from gathering materials, or fighting off the creatures that inhabit the lands around the original starting point. As you play you will be given quests from a mysterious resident that gifts experience points as well as allows you to open up, and understand the basics of menu navigation along with the various mechanics tied to your character's functionality. It is with experience you can learn new crafting skills, and enhance damage output, defense, health, and mana.
Progression ...
While there is a slow, and methodical way to progress in Citadel the developer has included a startup slider that pops up onscreen every time you load the game. This slider effects how much XP you earn in-game during your gameplay session, and can easily fast track progress. Before that though you will need to create your own character. Name, and all. When it comes to the initial character creation process you get a decent amount of options that can realistically change or even distort the characters' physical appearance. Head to toe. You have two genders to choose from including male or female along with hairstyles, skin color, nail color, and various other things that will help your character be your own. This includes a player created name. Visually the character design within the menu looks kind of bad in comparison to the in world version you'll be controlling, but the game can be shown in a first person perspective keeping them out of view if you so desire. I did see that the PC version had a way to back out to third person, but as of now I've been unable to toggle the viewpoint.
It goes without saying that in any mode, whether it be in singleplayer, or on a multiplayer server you can craft yourself a kingdom, or a castle if you prefer. By leveling up skills you can craft walls, floors, roofs, doors, and other building features necessary to make your building a building. Specific to this game though is the throne, and in multiplayer it acts as the thing that must be defeated for a PvP player to conquer you. Thrones only last for so long, and either must be crafted again, or repaired. You'll also be able to craft chests for storage, fire pits for cooking as well as forges for crafting finer weapons, and armor. So forth, and so on. It takes a while to level up to the point that you can do this stuff, but the game does good to give you starter armor, weapons, and building material to craft until you get there. Spells, which are an important component to gameplay require skill application, and crafting too. You'll be able to apply two spells to each weapon or tool, and do so with unique spell alignments that can be harvested for application. Needless to say there's a lot to learn, and craft including recipes for foods that will replenish lost health, and mana supplies.
The Presentation ...
The world of Citadel is a living, and breathing ecosystem set in a medieval fantasy world. The environments are filled with the sounds of nature, and ambient music to heighten the mood. Things like the rustling of leaves, and the clanking of stone against stone are done well enough to reflect the immersive experience Blue Isle Studios was going for. Visually it is highly detailed, and beautifully rendered. More so than games like ARK, or Conan. Comparisons aside it is a game that thematically redefines the genre in a palatable, and functional way. It takes away the tedious tasks, adds in NPC quests that are akin to a non-survival MMO, and makes it all fun. Keep in mind I've only played in singleplayer thus far.
Impressions ...
So far I'm liking what I've experienced with Citadel. I like the art style, I like the world, and for once I don't mind the grind to get to a point where I can craft the finer things. It seems to be the type of game that borders on casual yet has competitive aspects to it if you dare to partake of them. It can be as leisurely or as competitive as you so desire. I'd suggest leveling up to a point where you understand all that the game offers before diving into server play though, and this can be done in singleplayer. For now I'm going to give Citadel a passing grade according to the singleplayer experience. I will let you know how the rest of it pans out as I continue playing the game.
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