The Banner Saga

2016-04-05T14:41:55Z

38.136.244.3: /* Legacy */

{{Infobox video game
|title = The Banner Saga
|collapsible =
|state =
|show image =
|image = [[File:TBS logo transparent.png|frameless]]
|caption =
|developer = Stoic
|programmer = John Watson
|artist = Arnie Jorgensen
|designer = Alex Thomas
|composer = [[Austin Wintory]]
|publisher = [[Versus Evil]]
|distributor = [[Steam (software)|Steam]] [[GOG.com]]<ref>[http://www.gog.com/news/release_the_banner_saga Release: The Banner Saga] on gog.com (February 4, 2014)</ref>
|series =
|engine =
|released = '''Windows, OS X, Linux, iOS, Android'''{{vgrelease|WW=January 14, 2014}}'''PlayStation 4, Xbox One'''{{vgrelease|WW=January 12, 2016}}'''PlayStation Vita'''{{vgrelease|WW=TBA}}
|genre = [[Tactical role-playing]]
|modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
|platforms = [[Android (operating system)|Android]] [[iOS]] [[Linux]] [[Microsoft Windows]] [[OS X]] [[PlayStation 4]] [[PlayStation Vita]] [[Xbox One]]
}}
'''''The Banner Saga''''' is a [[Viking]]-themed [[tactical role-playing]] video game developed by Stoic, a trio of [[indie game]] developers formerly of [[BioWare]], and published by [[Versus Evil]]. It was released as a single-player campaign, ''The Banner Saga'' – the first game of a projected trilogy – on 14 January 2014, as well as a separate [[free-to-play]] online multiplayer game, ''The Banner Saga: Factions'', in February 2013.

==Gameplay==
[[File:The Banner Saga combat screenshot.jpg|left|thumb|A development screenshot of the game's turn-based combat component]]

The core of the game is a single-player campaign of turn-based combat engagements inspired by games such as ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics]]'' and ''[[Shining Force]]'', with the player controlling and being able to build up a party of characters with complementing abilities.

According to the developers, their aim was to create a "mature game for adults in the vein of ''[[Game of Thrones (TV series)|Game of Thrones]]'' or ''[[The Black Company]]''". They intend to engage players emotionally by allowing them to build relationships with the game's characters and shape the outcome of the story through an array of conversation choices.<ref name="Shack News 6 March 2012">{{cite news|last=Mattas|first=Jeff|title=The Banner Saga 'in the vein of Game of Thrones;' Kickstarter launching soon|url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/72726/the-banner-saga-in-the-vein-of-game-of-thrones|accessdate=19 March 2012|newspaper=[[Shack News]]|date=6 March 2012}}</ref> The game eschews certain conventions of action-oriented computer role-playing games such as the focus on a young lone hero's story, looting and buying items, or reloading a saved game state after defeat. Instead, the developers intended to tell the story of the player's caravan as a whole, and encourage players to accept and deal with the consequences of any defeats they may encounter.<ref name="Live Pixel 22 August 2012">{{cite news|title=Interview with Stoic on Banner Saga|url=http://thelivepixel.com/2012/08/22/interview-with-stoic-on-banner-saga/|accessdate=22 August 2012|newspaper=[[Live Pixel]]|date=23 August 2012}}</ref>

''The Banner Saga'' centers on the return of the Dredge - a warlike race that despises humans - led by Bellower, a nigh invincible Dredge who leads them on a warpath. As a wandering army sent to fight against the Dredge and find a weakness for Bellower, the caravan make many difficult decisions that would shape the fate of both man and Varl.

===''The Banner Saga: Factions''===
The turn-based multiplayer combat component was released on [[Steam (software)|Steam]] as a free standalone game, called ''The Banner Saga: Factions'', prior to the release of the single-player game. ''Factions'' became available to backers on 18 February 2013 and to the public on 25 February.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/02/20/banner-saga-out-now-for-backers-everyone-next-week/#more-142907 | title=Banner Saga Out Now For Backers, Everyone Next Week | publisher=[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]] | accessdate=February 20, 2013}}</ref> It allows players to pit teams of six combatants, chosen from 16 classes, against each other.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pinsof |first=Allistair|title=Preview: The Banner Saga Factions|url=http://www.destructoid.com/preview-the-banner-saga-factions-235135.phtml |accessdate=21 September 2012|newspaper=[[Destructoid]]|date=19 September 2012}}</ref>

==Setting and style==
[[File:TBS Travel Bridge screenshot.jpg|280px|thumb|Concept artwork from the game]]
The game is set in a Viking-inspired fantasy setting, chosen by the developers so as to avoid what they considered the "overdone 'elves, dwarves and orcs' dynamic".<ref name="Shack News 6 March 2012" /> With a visual style influenced by [[Eyvind Earle]]'s art for the 1959 Disney film ''[[Sleeping Beauty (1959 film)|Sleeping Beauty]]'', as well as the work of [[Ralph Bakshi]] and [[Don Bluth]], ''The Banner Saga''{{'}}s art features primarily hand-drawn animation sequences, characters and backgrounds.<ref name="Shack News 6 March 2012" />

''Factions'' uses the city of Strand as its main [[user interface]], with players selecting different buildings of the city to access various playmodes and functionalities. Additionally, according to Stoic, "the city will evolve as the story unfolds".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stoicstudio.com/forum/showthread.php?188-The-City-of-Strand&p=3288&viewfull=1#post3288|title=The City of Strand|date=13 July 2012|publisher=Stoic|accessdate=24 July 2012}}</ref>

==Development==
The game's developers – Alex Thomas, Arnie Jorgensen and John Watson – left BioWare after working on ''[[Star Wars: The Old Republic]]'', with the intention of making a game for their own enjoyment.<ref name="Gamasutra 19 March 2012">{{cite news|last=Curtis|first=Tom|title=When ex-BioWare devs make their own strategy RPG|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/165823/When_exBioWare_devs_make_their_own_strategy_RPG.php|accessdate=19 March 2012|newspaper=[[Gamasutra]]|date=19 March 2012}}</ref> The project was financed through the [[crowd funding]] platform [[Kickstarter]]. It was opened to pledges on 19 March 2012<ref name="Gamasutra 19 March 2012" /> and met its funding goal of USD 100,000 in the course of the next day.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mattis|first=Jeff|title=The Banner Saga reaches Kickstarter funding goal in under two days|url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/72973/the-banner-saga-reaches-kickstarter-funding-goal-in-under-two|accessdate=22 March 2012|newspaper=Shack News|date=21 March 2012}}</ref> The project eventually accumulated USD 723,886 from 20,042 backers.<ref name=Kickstarter>{{cite web|last=Kickstarter|title=The Banner Saga|url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stoic/the-banner-saga|accessdate=21 April 2012}}</ref>

On January 14, 2014, the game was released with help from [[Versus Evil]] via [[digital distribution]] on [[Steam (software)|Steam]]. Initially released for the Windows and Mac platforms ports to [[iPad]] and [[Android (operating system)|Android]] were released in October 2014 with more ports to [[Linux]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation Vita]], and [[Xbox One]] planned for 2015.

==Soundtrack==
The fully orchestrated score was written by [[Austin Wintory]].<ref name=Kickstarter /> It features [[Malukah]], [[Peter Hollens]], [[Johann Sigurdarson]] and [[Taylor Davis (violinist)|Taylor Davis]] as soloists. The ensemble that performed the music was the [[Dallas Wind Symphony]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Wintory|first=Austin|title=The Banner Saga|url=http://austinwintory.bandcamp.com/album/the-banner-saga|publisher=[[Bandcamp]]|accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|url= http://popcultureblog.dallasnews.com/2014/03/how-the-banner-sagas-soundtrack-found-roots-with-the-dallas-wind-symphony.html
|accessdate= 2016-01-26
|title= How The Banner Saga’s soundtrack found roots with the Dallas Wind Symphony
|date= March 12, 2014
|first= Britton
|last= Peele
}}</ref>

==Reception==

''The Banner Saga'' has an aggregate score of 82 out of 100 (based on 32 critical reviews) on [[Metacritic]], signifying "generally positive reviews".<ref>{{cite web|title=The Banner Saga|url=http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/the-banner-saga|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=14 January 2014}}</ref> The iOS version of the game obtained an aggregate score of 90 out of 100, signifying "universal acclaim".<ref>{{cite web|title=The Banner Saga|url=http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/banner-saga|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=14 January 2014}}</ref>

According to [[IGN]], ''The Banner Saga'' excelled both in its art and in its varied story full of meaningful choices. The reviewer also approved of the game's tough, but rewarding combat system and bleak, but beautiful soundtrack, while considering that the game could have explained key gameplay mechanics better.<ref>{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Leif|title=HIGH NORSEPOWER|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/01/14/the-banner-saga-review-2|accessdate=14 January 2014|newspaper=IGN|date=14 January 2014}}</ref> ''[[Eurogamer]]'' praised the game's art and elegant combat system, while criticizing the lack of variety in combat.<ref>{{cite news|last=Harman|first=Stace|title=The Banner Saga review: Trooping the colour|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-01-14-the-banner-saga-review|accessdate=14 January 2014|newspaper=Eurogamer|date=14 January 2014}}</ref> [[Hardcore Gamer]] commended its feature-quality production values as well as its deep and engaging combat.<ref>{{cite web|last=Thew |first=Geoff |url=http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2014/01/14/review-the-banner-saga-chapter-1/69679/ |title=Review: The Banner Saga - Chapter 1 |publisher=Hardcore Gamer |date=2014-01-14 |accessdate=2014-01-19}}</ref>

[[GameSpot]] awarded The Banner Saga a score of 7.0 out of 10, saying "The Banner Saga is a beautiful game, filled with interesting ideas and enjoyable battles."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-banner-saga-review/1900-6415626/|title=The Banner Saga review: An Axe To Grind|first=Kevin|last=VanOrd|work=[[GameSpot]]|date=January 14, 2014|accessdate=March 14, 2016}}</ref> [[Eurogamer]] awarded it a score of 8 out of 10, saying "The Banner Saga offers a refreshing take on the tactical RPG with a story every bit as engaging as its combat."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-01-14-the-banner-saga-review|title=The Banner Saga review: Trooping the Color|first=Stace|last=Harman|work=[[Eurogamer]]|date=January 14, 2014|accessdate=March 14, 2016}}</ref>

==Legacy==
A sequel, ''[[The Banner Saga 2]]'', was announced in December 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Moser|first1=Cassidee|title=The Banner Saga 2 Announced|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/12/06/the-banner-saga-2-announced|website=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|accessdate=2 August 2015|date=5 December 2014}}</ref> Stoic has most recently claimed that it will be released on April 19th, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Estrada|first1=Marcus|title=E3 2015: The Banner Saga 2 is a Deeper, Darker Sequel|url=http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2015/06/25/e3-2015-the-banner-saga-2-is-a-deeper-darker-sequel/156031/|website=[[Hardcore Gamer]]|accessdate=2 August 2015|date=25 June 2015}}</ref> A [[Miniature wargaming|miniatures board game]], ''The Banner Saga: Warbands'', was announced in August 2015.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gera|first1=Emily|title=The Banner Saga Goes The Way Of The Board Game|url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/08/02/the-banner-saga-board-game/|website=[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]]|accessdate=2 August 2015|date=2 August 2015}}</ref>

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{official website|http://thebannersaga.com/}}
*[http://bannersaga.gamepedia.com Official wiki]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Banner Saga, The}}
[[Category:2013 video games]]
[[Category:2014 video games]]
[[Category:Android (operating system) games]]
[[Category:Episodic video games]]
[[Category:Fantasy video games]]
[[Category:Fiction with alternate endings]]
[[Category:Free-to-play video games]]
[[Category:IPad games]]
[[Category:IOS games]]
[[Category:Kickstarter projects]]
[[Category:Crowdfunded video games]]
[[Category:Linux games]]
[[Category:OS X games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer games]]
[[Category:Mythology-based video games]]
[[Category:Tactical role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Norse mythology in popular culture]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 4 games]]
[[Category:PlayStation Network games]]
[[Category:PlayStation Vita games]]

Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

The Banner Saga