Expeditions: Conquistador

Last updated
Expeditions: Conquistador
Expeditions Conquistador cover art.jpg
Cover art for the download version
Developer(s) Logic Artists
Publisher(s) BitComposer
Composer(s) Leonardo Badinella
Engine Unity
Platform(s) Linux
Windows
OS X
Windows Phone
Release
  • WW: May 30, 2013 (2013-05-30) [1]
Genre(s) Tactical role-playing
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Expeditions: Conquistador is a squad-based tactical role-playing game developed by Danish developer Logic Artists and released by BitComposer for Windows, Linux and Macintosh on May 30, 2013. The player takes the role of a Spanish conquistador leading an expedition to Hispaniola and Mexico in 1518 to 1520. The game features resource management, a branching storyline, and interactive fiction elements. Expeditions: Conquistador was partially funded by Kickstarter. The Windows Phone version of the game, a strategy adventure game with a branching narrative, was released in April 2012.[ citation needed ] Logic Artists has released two further Expeditions games: Expeditions: Viking in 2017, and Expeditions: Rome in 2022. THQ Nordic acquired the Expeditions Series intellectual property (IP) in November 2018. [2]

Contents

Gameplay

Expeditions: Conquistador is set during the Age of Discovery. The player's goal is to mount an expedition from Spain to Hispaniola and Mexico, amassing gold and influence while building and sustaining a strong expedition force. The game concludes with the player's return to Spain. [3] During the course of the expedition, the player has the opportunity to influence the fate of the explored lands. The game is set in an alternate history that allows the player's choices to diverge from historical events. [4]

The player character does not participate in combat and has five non-combat player stats: tactics, diplomacy, healing, hunting and leadership. Player stats are assigned during character creation and do not level up, although in-game events and squad bonuses may modify them. Player stats open up options in dialogue events; they also influence various aspects of resource management, and allow the player to alter the starting conditions of battles. [5]

The game includes text and dialogue driven quests with branching storylines. [5]

The player begins the game by assembling an expedition of ten followers from pre-made characters. There are five Spanish character classes, each corresponding to common role-playing game combat archetypes: soldier (tank), scout (damage dealer), hunter (ranged combat), doctor (healer) and scholar (support unit). In addition to the five Spanish classes, the game has six native classes which the player can recruit during the game. [3] Character classes have non-combat skills and each character has unique personality traits. [5]

The expedition party has a pool of experience points used to level up followers to improve their skills and unlock new abilities. [5]

Combat is turn-based and takes place on a hex grid. [6] The player generally chooses up to six members of the expedition party to deploy on the battlefield. [7]

Development

Expeditions: Conquistador was developed by Danish developers Logic Artists, with a core team of 8 [4] to 10 full-time developers and additional freelancers and interns. [3] The game is based on a university project where the task was to create a game demo for a target audience of one person. The XNA demo was made in three weeks and was 2D and turn-based. The demo was turned into a Windows Phone 7 game over a couple of months. The developers began building Expeditions: Conquistador from scratch as a turn-based 3D role-playing game in April 2012, [8] and BitComposer released the game on May 30, 2013. [1]

The developers cite King's Bounty as an inspiration for the game's overall structure. They used the Heroes of Might and Magic series, the first two Fallout games and Dungeons & Dragons as inspiration for the combat. Troop management was inspired by Rainbow Six and X-COM . [9]

The developers wanted to make a game where exploration was the central mechanical and narrative theme. They chose the Age of Exploration as an appropriate setting as the Spanish conquest of the Americas was underused in video games and was a historical period rich with conflict and narrative potential. [5] They chose the Spanish perspective because it seemed more exciting, philosophically complex, and fresher than the English perspective. [3]

Logic Artists ran a successful Kickstarter campaign to partially fund the game's development. The project raised $77,247 of its $70,000 goal. [10]

Reception

Expeditions: Conquistador received "generally favorable" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic. [11]

Patrick Hancock of Destructoid praised the game's "excellent" writing and battle system, but criticised the game's difficulty level as being one that could wear a player down and make them think they were not progressing and also for being too difficult at the start of the game resulting in a feeling of "trial by fire" [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Inherit the Earth</i> 1994 video game

Inherit the Earth: Quest for the Orb is an adventure game developed by The Dreamers Guild and published by New World Computing in 1994.

NovaLogic, Inc. was a software developer and publisher established in 1985 and based in Calabasas, California. The company was founded by CEO John A. Garcia. Garcia's background in computer software started in Southern California in the early 1980s, when he worked at Datasoft. The company was known for their Voxel Space engine, which was utilized in franchises such as the Comanche and Delta Force series. In October 2016, NovaLogic's assets were bought out by THQ Nordic and is currently an inactive label for the company.

<i>Titan Quest</i> 2006 action role playing hack and slash video game

Titan Quest is a 2006 action role-playing game developed by Iron Lore Entertainment and published by THQ for Windows, first physically and then in 2007 through Steam. A mobile port was developed by DotEmu and published in 2016, and versions for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch were released in 2018. All these versions were published by THQ Nordic. The story follows a player-created protagonist as they navigate Ancient Greece, Egypt and China on a quest to defeat the Titans after they escape from their ancient prison. The gameplay is similar to the Diablo series, with player navigation being handled with a mouse-driven tile-based interface, and gameplay revolving around role-playing mechanics and real-time combat. Four expansions have been created for the game; Titan Quest: Immortal Throne in 2007, and three others between 2017 and 2021.

<i>The Age of Decadence</i> 2015 video game

The Age of Decadence is a role-playing video game for Microsoft Windows developed by Iron Tower Studio, led by the pseudonymous "Vince D. Weller". Set in a low-magic, post-apocalyptic world inspired by the fall of the Roman Empire, the game aims to return to the 'golden era' of role-playing games by emphasizing choices and consequences and providing multiple solutions to quests.

<i>Dreamfall Chapters</i> 2017 episodic 3D adventure video game

Dreamfall Chapters is an episodic 3D adventure game with emphasis on character interaction, exploration of the game world, and puzzle solving. It is a sequel to the adventure games The Longest Journey and Dreamfall: The Longest Journey. The game was released for PC in five episodes between 21 October 2014 and 17 June 2016. The updated "Final Cut" version was released on physical media for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on 5 May 2017, and the Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux versions on 21 July 2017.

<i>Saints Row 2</i> 2008 action-adventure game

Saints Row 2 is a 2008 action-adventure game developed by Volition and published by THQ. It is the sequel to 2006's Saints Row and the second installment in the Saints Row series. The game was released in October 2008 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, January 2009 for Microsoft Windows, and April 2016 for Linux. A mobile tie-in game was developed by G5 Entertainment and also released in October 2008. Saints Row 2 directly follows from the events of the first game, as the player's custom character awakens from a coma after five years to find that their gang, the 3rd Street Saints, has been disbanded, and their former territories taken over by newly-formed criminal syndicates and a corrupt corporation. With the help of new and old allies, the player attempts to rebuild the Saints and take back Stilwater from their rivals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Rubin</span> American video game director

Jason Rubin is an American video game director, writer, and comic book creator. He is best known for the Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter series of games which were produced by Naughty Dog, the game development studio he co-founded with partner and childhood friend Andy Gavin in 1986. He was the president of THQ before its closure due to bankruptcy on January 23, 2013. Rubin is the vice president of Metaverse Content at Meta Platforms.

<i>Conan</i> (2007 video game) 2007 action-adventure game

Conan is a 2007 action-adventure game developed by Nihilistic Software and published by THQ for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Players take control of the titular hero, Conan the Barbarian, from Robert E. Howard's fantasy literature.

<i>Homefront</i> (video game) 2011 video game

Homefront is a first-person shooter video game developed by Kaos Studios and published by THQ. The game tells the story of a resistance movement fighting in the near-future against the military occupation of the Western United States by a reunified Korea. It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2011. After THQ's bankruptcy, the rights of the game were sold to Crytek who then sold the rights to Koch Media after restructuring their company. Deep Silver, a subsidiary of Koch Media, have published the reboot Homefront: The Revolution. Homefront was met with mixed reviews across all platforms. Some critics praised the atmosphere and story, while others panned those same aspects, along with the short length of the single-player campaign. However, the multiplayer aspect was generally well received.

<i>Metro 2033</i> (video game) 2010 video game

Metro 2033 is a 2010 first-person shooter survival horror video game developed by 4A Games and published by THQ. The story is based on Dmitry Glukhovsky's novel of the same name, where survivors of a nuclear war have taken refuge in the Metro tunnels of Moscow. Players control Artyom, a man who must save his home station from the dangers lurking within the Metro. In the game, players encounter human and mutant enemies, who can be killed with a variety of firearms. Players must also wear a gas mask to explore areas covered in fallout radiation, both underground and on the surface.

<i>Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning</i> 2012 video game

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a 2012 action role-playing game developed by Big Huge Games, and published by 38 Studios and Electronic Arts for Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Two expansion packs were released that same year. Reckoning follows the story of the Fateless One, a resurrected person freed from the Fate Weave which binds all of Amalur's people. The Fateless One ends up fighting the rogue Fae Gadflow and his god Tirnoch, who seek to destroy the mortal races. Gameplay has the Fateless One exploring the open world of Amalur, completing quests and fighting a variety of enemies both in the open world and in dungeons. The playstyle is customized through a combination of weapons types, skill trees, and passive enhancements dubbed Destinies.

<i>Metro: Last Light</i> 2013 video game by 4A Games

Metro: Last Light is a 2013 first-person shooter video game developed by 4A Games and published by Deep Silver. A sequel to the video game Metro 2033 and the second installment in the Metro series, its story follows Artyom, a young soldier living in the Moscow Metro after a devastating nuclear war. Tasked with finding the mysterious Dark Ones, Artyom must venture to different parts of the metro system, and the surface filled with radiated gases, and fight against different factions and mutated monsters. The game improves on various gameplay mechanics of 2033, and introduces elements such as weapon customization.

<i>The Banner Saga</i> Tactical role-playing video game

The Banner Saga is a tactical role-playing video game developed by Stoic Studio and published by Versus Evil. It was released for personal computers and mobile phones in 2014, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2016 and for Nintendo Switch in 2018.

THQ Nordic GmbH is an Austrian video game publisher based in Vienna. Formed in 2011, it is a publishing subsidiary of Embracer Group. Originally named Nordic Games, as was the parent company, both companies were renamed THQ Nordic in August 2016 after the parent company had acquired the "THQ" trademark in 2014. THQ Nordic's core portfolio comprises assets that were acquired from other developers and publishers, such as from JoWooD Entertainment and its subsidiaries DreamCatcher Interactive and The Adventure Company in 2011, THQ in 2013, and NovaLogic in 2016. THQ Nordic has acquired and established several subsidiary studios, including Black Forest Games, Bugbear Entertainment, Gunfire Games, HandyGames, Piranha Bytes, Purple Lamp, and Rainbow Studios.

<i>Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams</i> 2012 video game

Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is a 2012 platform game developed by Black Forest Games for Microsoft Windows. It is the successor to the 1987 Commodore 64 title The Great Giana Sisters and sequel to the 2009 re-imagining Giana Sisters DS. The game was funded through crowdfunding website Kickstarter, reaching its goal of $150,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Forest Games</span> German video game developer

Black Forest Games GmbH is a German video game developer based in Offenburg. The company was founded in July 2012 by a team of 40 staff members, including chief executive officer Andreas Speer, previously employed by Spellbound Entertainment, which filed for insolvency earlier that year. As of August 2017, it is a subsidiary of THQ Nordic. As of June 2019, the company employs 66 people.

<i>The Banner Saga: Factions</i> Tactical role-playing multiplayer video game

The Banner Saga: Factions is a free-to-play multiplayer fantasy tactical role-playing video game, developed by Stoic Studio as a spinoff of The Banner Saga and published by Versus Evil. It was released for personal computers in 2013.

<i>Wreckfest</i> 2018 video game

Wreckfest is a racing video game developed by Bugbear Entertainment and published by THQ Nordic. Wreckfest is described as the spiritual successor to the FlatOut series and a cross between FlatOut, Destruction Derby and cult 1989 PC racer Street Rod. A notable feature of the game engine is the use of soft-body damage modelling, which enables location-based damage that affects the driving dynamics of vehicles in a realistic fashion.

Underrail is a 2015 role-playing video game by Stygian Software for Windows. It was first released in early access in late 2012. An expansion pack, Underrail: Expedition, was released in 2019 while a sequel, Underrail: Infusion, is under development.

<i>Expeditions: Rome</i> 2022 video game

Expeditions: Rome is a tactical role-playing game developed by Danish developer Logic Artists and published by THQ Nordic. It is the third game in the Expeditions series, which includes Expeditions: Conquistador and Expeditions: Viking. It was released for Windows on January 20, 2022. The game is an RPG that combines gameplay in local, tactical battles with other types. In the game, the player controls a legatus who investigates the death of their father and travels throughout the Roman Republic and nearby nations as they expand Roman influence across the world.

References

  1. 1 2 "Conquer the New World in Expeditions: Conquistador". bitComposer. 30 May 2013. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  2. ↑ Leonard, Matt (15 November 2018). "THQ Nordic Acquires Expeditions Series and the New Entry In Development". GameRevolution . CraveOnline . Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Kline, Jerry (19 June 2013). "Process interview, Expeditions: Conquistador". Eye for Games. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Artikel: Expeditions: Conquistador - Interview mit den Entwicklern - Seite 7". Gamers.de. 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 JarlFrank (24 August 2012). "Expeditions: Conquistador Interview". RPG Codex. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 Hancock, Patrick (September 6, 2013). "Review: Expeditions: Conquistador". Destructoid . Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  7. ↑ Parrish, Peter (3 June 2013). "Expeditions: Conquistador Review". IncGamers. Archived from the original on 25 December 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  8. ↑ "Artikel: Expeditions: Conquistador - Interview mit den Entwicklern". Gamers.de. 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  9. ↑ "Artikel: Expeditions: Conquistador - Interview mit den Entwicklern - Seite 8". Gamers.de. 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  10. ↑ "Expeditions: Conquistador by Logic Artists". Kickstarter . Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  11. 1 2 "Expeditions: Conquistador for PC Reviews". Metacritic . May 30, 2013. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  12. ↑ Schmädig, Benjamin (June 21, 2013). "Test: Expeditions: Conquistador (Taktik & Strategie)" [Review: Expeditions: Conquistador (Tactics & Strategy)]. 4Players (in German). Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  13. ↑ Cocks, Nathan (August 2013). "Expeditions: Conquistador". PC PowerPlay . Future Australia (218).
  14. ↑ Bertoni, Roberto (July 26, 2013). "I Conquistatori del Nuovo Mondo - review". Eurogamer.it (in Italian). Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  15. ↑ Chianese, Claudio (September 29, 2013). "Attraversiamo l'oceano con Conquistatori del Nuovo Mondo". IGN Italia (in Italian). Archived from the original on July 7, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.