It’s been quite a while since we’ve had an update on Wargroove, but we now have a metric ton of news to take us through the end of the year, the biggest of which is that the game is now slated for a Q1 2019 release. It was originally set to release in the second half of 2018.
While that might rouse disappointment in some, there’s a ton of other news to make the wait a bit more bearable. Katy Ellis, community manager at Chucklefish, outlined a huge update on Wargroove‘s development, stating that the team has been hard at work and that the game is in “the final stages of development.” In addition to the push back to Q1 2019, the game is set to comprise of a bevy of modes, including arcade mode, campaign mode, puzzle mode, and my personal favorite—a campaign creation mode!
Here’s the full list of what the team has shared thus far:
- Skirmish Mode: 30+ two-player PVP maps, 10+ three player PVP maps & 6+ four player PVP maps. Possibly a number of ‘scenario’ maps – not confirmed yet. This works both online and offline, can be played vs CPU in any configuration. Allows you to configure weather, turn timer, fog of war, income, map biome, Commanders and teams. Online matches can be synchronous or asynchronous and can have many matches running at once.
- Arcade Mode: Each Commander has its own arcade in which you fight 5 opponents in succession, on randomly chosen PVP maps. Each character talks to their opponent at the start of each fight and ends with a full cutscene when their arcade mode is completed – similar to fighting games! A great way to learn about all of the characters.
- Campaign Mode: 33+ Missions of varying length where you play as many different Commanders. Each mission starts and ends with a cutscene, some with cutscenes in the middle. Totals between 1 hour to 1hr30 of cutscene content!
- Puzzle Mode: 25+ extremely challenging puzzles where you have to defeat the enemy in a single turn.
- Map Creation: Easy to use basic tools/map painting. Advanced scripting tools for frankly ridiculous possibilities. Cutscene creation in-game, with really detailed tools that allow you to dress up your maps or campaign with a story. Includes a decoration System with fine control over the visuals of the map.
- Campaign Creation: Choose 1 of 3 world maps. Simple placing of missions on the map and assigning them icons/date/location/descriptions. Map flags, allowing for branching paths/unlockable missions/secrets.
- Content Sharing: A powerful content sharing centre for maps and campaigns. Ability to rate maps – Like/Dislike, with filters and search. Various different discoverability methods.
- Gallery: Unlock artwork from the games development, amongst other fun things we won’t spoil.
- Codex: Details the history of the world with lore and bio on all Commanders. Strategy info, rules and nice artwork of grooves. Damage charts for each unit with lots of unlockables.
- Jukebox: Unlock music tracks. Some cute stuff that we won’t spoil.
- Secret Content: ??????? The game probably has more secrets than you’d imagine – old school game style!
- Options: Language – we’re hoping to localise, but don’t know if it will be in for launch or not yet. Combat Animations – always/never/my turn only/commanders only. Show Grid – on/off. Auto end turn – when no units are unspent on/off. Zoom level – near/far. Standard resolution options. Separate volume controls for master/music/sound FX/Voices. Colour blind mode – red-green/blue-yellow. Rumble on your turn when using a gamepad.
The team does note that all of these items are subject to change or removal, but the large swath of potential content here should get anyone excited. The portion I’m most excited for personally is the creation suite—being able to create your own maps and campaign and share them with the world (with a rating system, to boot!) is everything I want in a tactical RPG of this nature, and far more than I’d anticipated as part of this package.
Stay tuned for more Wargroove coverage as we get it!
