Solasta - Lost Valley DLC Review

The two written reviews I've seen are not very good:

TechRaptor: 5
Lost Valley brings with it a new campaign, subclass options, and enhancements to the Dungeon Maker system. While there's a lot of content within the campaign, the fetch quest style progression didn't offer much in terms of a grand adventure, instead leaving players feeling like they're completing a list of chores.
Pros: Subclass Options, Dungeon Maker
Cons: Lackluster Story

Turn-Based Lovers: 6
The Lost Valley DLC doesn't add much to the game. The new subclasses are definitely its main feature, and these do add replayability, being overall well-made. However, the campaign itself is weak, even when compared to the original - lacking in both story and level design.
Good: Interesting subclasses, which add replayability. A new official campaign
Bad: Weak story, even compared to the original. Level design is not up to par with the core game

Added to the inconsistencies Mortismal is talking about, I wonder how quickly they made this DLC.
 
Joined
Aug 29, 2020
Messages
10,157
Location
Good old Europe
Seems like there's plenty of fetch quests in the first game as well. It's mainly the combat and tactical exploration that make it interesting.
 
Joined
Mar 22, 2012
Messages
5,521
Location
Seattle
I'd be curious to read opinions here on the story/quest part. Those two written reviews seem to have a completely different conclusion than one or two videos I've watched, but they were not really focused on that.
 
Joined
Aug 29, 2020
Messages
10,157
Location
Good old Europe
I enjoy the DLC a lot. The story is nothing special which is how I like it. The quests could be more interesting though.

The zones and the dungeons are nicely done though and the exploration is good. They get the itemization perfect and you do have to go back to some zones when you get another level or two, so you can survive certain fights.

The main reason to get the DLC is for the dungeon maker and the subclasses. Also, for the new creatures. Fire giants look fantastic and the trolls. Someone has already made The Temple of Elemental Evil and it looks great with all the new features. He's a fantastic map maker and all his dungeons have been top notch so far.
 
Joined
Aug 28, 2010
Messages
2,838
Location
Wolf Light Woods
I like how you can actually choose your side in the DLC campaign. An "evil" playthrough could be pretty fun.

But yes, expect the same fetch quests and wooden dialogs as the regular campaign. Once again, they are a little heavy on the verticality. I could not imagine a swamp with so many stone column to topple and wooden platforms. Sometimes, it almost have a Mario Bros feel with all the jumping!

Still, despite all these flaws, it's still very worth it to me and a must buy for everyone who enjoy the original campaign.
 
Joined
Nov 4, 2007
Messages
1,271
Location
Quebec city
But yes, expect the same fetch quests and wooden dialogs as the regular campaign.

Yes the dialog was pretty wooden. I did like their idea of using personality flags to determine available character responses though. I found it adds to the replayability.
 
Joined
Mar 22, 2012
Messages
5,521
Location
Seattle
I usually sit on the fence these days and wait for all the content to be out with a game like this, yet that heavy discount is rather tempting. And, of course, the absolute showering of praise.
 
Joined
Oct 18, 2011
Messages
18,788
Location
Holly Hill, FL.
I did like their idea of using personality flags to determine available character responses though. I found it adds to the replayability.

I'm not sure about that. For me, I felt these were mostly "cosmetic" with little impact on the game. I miss the possibility of recruiting different characters like in Baldur's Gate and imo, not having a main character lessens the story.

I believe where the game truly shines, for the replayability, is its Campaign creator. A game such as Pathfinder got a lot of replayability in term of class / races / paths to choose from. Yet, I know I won't ever play most of them since it would involve restarting that long winded 150-200 hours long campaigns.

With Solasta, you get plenty of free campaigns that are 10 hours and less. Some of them are even better than the original campaign. Just like Neverwinter Nights, back then. Plenty of opportunities to try all these new classes/sub-classes they have been adding!
 
Last edited:
Joined
Nov 4, 2007
Messages
1,271
Location
Quebec city
I'm not sure about that. For me, I felt these were mostly "cosmetic" with little impact on the game. I miss the possibility of recruiting different characters like in Baldur's Gate and imo, it lessens the story by not having a main character.

Yes they were mostly cosmetic, but they did give the characters a role-playing persona so it felt like a good addition. I suppose it's a matter of taste. Recruiting specific characters can provide a stronger story but it is also more constraining.
 
Joined
Mar 22, 2012
Messages
5,521
Location
Seattle
That comment about going back into a jail and finding prisoners magically appear - I just saw plenty of that in Greedfall!

I found a half-hidden path toward a "gloomy cave" once. I noticed quite a bit of blood on the ground at the mouth of the cave and a couple of dead bodies inside. Some days later - hey, there's this young couple that seem to have gotten lost, could you go find them? Yep. I know exactly where they are. Sure enough, the young couple that just wandered off were the dead people I found days earlier. :rolleyes:

I usually sit on the fence these days and wait for all the content to be out with a game like this, yet that heavy discount is rather tempting. And, of course, the absolute showering of praise.
Yeah, this one is getting pretty hard to resist!
 
Joined
Aug 3, 2008
Messages
8,238
Location
Kansas City
Back
Top Bottom