Bad North

Graphics — 4/5

Let’s start with the visuals as the first part of this Bad North review. The graphics are meant to be part of the mechanics as a minimalist strategy game. The overall aesthetic might not resonate too well with hardcore Viking RTS fans, but it does help Bad North pull a few of its heavier punches. The style is completely isometric, and don’t expect anything out of the generic looking characters. In retrospect though, the soundtrack really does add flavor to the experience.

Gameplay — 4/5

Bad North sees you defend your realm against invading hordes of Norsemen and Vikings. The Roguelite aspect of the game can be traced in islands generated with zero input from you through the game’s AI, thus creating an entirely different environment each time. This is the problem with Bad North, is that you can have a wonderful playing experience but might not get to relive it, though you are certainly bound to come across the elements sometimes. As to its RTS mechanism, there is very little strategy involved where you have already failed to meet certain criteria, for example, lose a general during a fight.

Each island has various levels. Vikings attack from any angle which means you have to be constantly on the lookout and ready with the controls. If Vikings get too close to the built-up houses on your island, they’ll raze them to the ground. Thus, you have to balance wisely on allocating limited resources.

Controls — 5/5

The controls work for the game as they are both intuitive and fluid. You can quickly move troops around either by tapping them and navigating them with a joystick or by simply using the touchscreen on your Switch. You can also use a mix of both if you find that it works for you best. You can zoom and swing your camera swiftly in whatever direction or customize your action buttons.

Replay Value — 3/5

This is a challenging game to come back to, not only because of limited control over what the outcome will be but also because it really isn’t that much of a strategy game. For example, if your units are overrun, it becomes very difficult to come back from such an attack. The overly simplified take on RTS generally works for Bad North, but you’ll soon find yourself craving for more content.

Conclusion

Bad North isn’t a bad game, not as much as it is creative anyway. The game strips strategy gaming down to its basics, although at some point the objective simply turns to trying to survive as long as possible. You’ll certainly feel the frustration at times knowing there is little you can do to salvage a battle, and that units are easily lost forever. Still, it does provide a great gaming experience.