Rated 3 out of 10 by ozgnp Steam sucks
I have tried a couple of other games through Steam, and do not like buying any game that uses it as their software protection.
Steam constantly updates, and will overwrite your installed software without even asking you if you're okay with it doing so. In my case, it deleted the driver for my computer's BluRay burner, then installed some other bloatware that I couldn't permanently delete -- as soon as I uninstalled the bloatware and then started a game running through Steam, the bloatware was back!
I tried working with Steam's support, but the people I talked to seemed to be more interested in pretending to be Sherlock Holmes than actually fixing their software so it didn't try to take over my computer. I finally gave up and decided to never purchase any game that used Steam.
I was intrigued by the game's seeming simplicity, and the interface looked workable, although Banner Saga strikes me more as a game for hard-core micro-managers than for casual gamers. The price tag isn't bad, but I'm unhappy about having no hard copy as a backup.
I'm not at all keen on re-downloading 3 gigs of data, should the drive get corrupted or Steam really bollixes the OS while it's overwriting essential stuff and loading on junk I never wanted. As I said in the summary, Steam sucks!
5/24/14
Rated 10 out of 10 by Johnstang Excellent Indie Game
Wonderful tactical RPG with interesting story choices, beautiful art, and great music. A must buy for fans of tactical games.
8/2/14
Rated 10 out of 10 by Swirrv Steam Client aside, this game is amazing
The Banner Saga is rich in its story, soundtrack, and playability. While I say I recommend it for casual gamers, what I'm really saying is that I think anybody could enjoy this, but especially those who, for instance, enjoy the combat present in the Fire Emblem series. The art is hand-made by Stoic Studios, the music is by Austin Wintory (who did the soundtrack for Journey on the PS3, so you know it's magnificent), and you are in full control of your choices throughout the storyline. You want to send the prince to his death, you can. Ask too many questions during a battle, and you'll lose someone you weren't expecting to, perhaps the same person you were going to end up helping once you figured out a strategy. Spend all your Renown on trinkets instead of food for your company, and everyone will begin to die off. It's all up to you as to exactly how your story ends up, and some choices will end up hurting you in the long run. While yes, it's annoying that the Steam Client tends to update and overwrite your software, what's even more annoying is not giving credit where it's due in a game review. This game is not terrible. It's a masterpiece, and well worth the money. I'm lucky that a friend bought it for me as a present, because otherwise I'd likely never have been introduced to and fallen in love with this game. It's a story you can get into, with combat you need strategy to have any hope of winning, and characters that you find yourself really caring about. While I realize Steam has its issues, asking the actual game developer for a DRM-free version for your OS that isn't through Steam should be your top priority. If they hear enough people stating they want that, then hopefully progress will be made. However, if your grievances are only with the Steam Client, and not necessarily with the game, don't make a negative review solely because the Steam Client's updates don't work with your computer. This game is brilliant, and it deserves better than that.The Banner Saga is rich in its story, soundtrack, and playability. While I say I recommend it for casual gamers, what I'm really saying is that I think anybody could enjoy this, but especially those who, for instance, enjoy the combat present in the Fire Emblem series. The art is hand-made by Stoic Studios, the music is by Austin Wintory (who did the soundtrack for Journey on the PS3, so you know it's magnificent), and you are in full control of your choices throughout the storyline. You want to send the prince to his death, you can. Ask too many questions during a battle, and you'll lose someone you weren't expecting to, perhaps the same person you were going to end up helping once you figured out a strategy. Spend all your Renown on trinkets instead of food for your company, and everyone will begin to die off. It's all up to you as to exactly how your story ends up, and some choices will end up hurting you in the long run. While yes, it's annoying that the Steam Client tends to update and overwrite your software, what's even more annoying is not giving credit where it's due in a game review. Actually, if the Client is "overwriting" your software, perhaps it's not the Client itself but rather something seriously wrong with some other software on your computer. A virus, perhaps, because Steam does not usually tend to overwrite anything when it updates. Either way, this game is not terrible. It's a masterpiece, and well worth the money. I received it as a birthday gift, and I'm glad I did, because otherwise I'd not have fallen in love with it as I have. It's a story you can get into, with combat you need strategy to have any hope of winning, and characters that you find yourself really caring about. While I realize Steam has its issues, asking the game developer themselves for a DRM-free version for your OS that isn't through Steam should be your top priority, especially if your issue is more with the Steam Client than the actual game itself. If they hear enough people stating they want that, then hopefully progress will be made. However, if your grievances are only with the Steam Client, and not necessarily with the game, don't make a negative review solely because the Steam Client's updates don't work with your computer. This game is brilliant, and it deserves better than that.
8/16/14