Long Gone Days

Long Gone Days is a project that's been in the works for many years. With grating hand holding, but a decent story and grounded characters, Long Gone Days is a good choice for those interested in a narrative-focused RPG.

Long Gone Days is a gorgeously poignant game.

Briefly enticing the mechanics governing Morale might be in and out of combat, Long Gone Days' inconsistent tone and unconvincing meshing of visual styles doesn't pull through for a narrative deserving of a more refined focus.

Long Gone Days delivers a heartfelt anti-war story backed by tactical combat and memorable characters, creating an RPG that stays with you long after the credits roll.

Long Gone Days compensates for its clunky turn-based combat with a mature narrative and the brilliance of its language mechanic. It is an anti-war journey that, despite its gameplay rough edges, leaves a deep impression on the player. The result is a solid choice for anyone looking for a great story rather than a quick dopamine hit.

Long Gone Days is an RPG with a very smart story. It's a bit of a shame, then, that the gameplay elements are elementary. If you allow yourself to get attached to this somber world and its young cast of sympathetic characters, however, the experience will be well worth your time.

The game doesn’t do anything jaw dropping, but the political story in addition to the way the game presents familiar content in new ways really makes Long Gone Days a title to give real consideration despite all the other gaming options available at this point of the year. In a time where RPGs are getting harder and harder to differentiate, this one does enough to make it well worth your time.

While its mechanics are a mixed bag and the story and darker tone may not be for everyone, Long Gone Days does have ambition

Long Gone Days offers a desolate representation of war, but the engaging storytelling and neat RPG mechanics ensure that players will be hooked into its perilous adventure. Rourke and his allies stand out as believable characters who find themselves in the midst of the devastation, whilst it’s easy to find yourself wanting to take The Core down – even IF the odds are firmly stacked against you. With a clever twist on combat and some unique ideas in gameplay, it makes for an enjoyable RPG experience. It might not be as meaty as some of its counterparts and there are some aspects of its design that can feel a little repetitive towards the end, but Long Gone Days still stands out as an eye-opening release in the genre that isn’t afraid to tackle dark and sombre themes.

Long Gone Days is a game that is clearly more interested in telling a story rather than lighting the turn-based genre on fire. A mechanically solid RPG frames the story of Rourke and his allies. In that regard, the story that is delivered is a phenomenal exploration of the genuine costs of war on those who are forced to survive. It's a deeply resonant story that will likely connect with a great many people. Pixel-art and character portraits help to avoid the typical drab and dreariness that almost defines this genre of story. Extreme effort has gone into making sure the main party and those around them are characterised in a very human way, despite the art-style being rooted in a clear anime influence. There are some moments that may break the illusion of this weighty narrative and these moments did take me out of some of the action. In spite of this, I still enjoyed my time with the game, with a story that will sit with me for a long time.