We begin this review by thanking Infinity Mundi e Silvano Oracolo for allowing us to take on the role of an ambitious Viking mercenary with the gamebook Ragnarok Blood Brothers.
Ragnarok Blood Brothers is a gamebook written in Italian and, like other Infinity Mundi titles, we will play it not in the paper version, but through an app that can be downloaded for both Android and iOS devices.
The Ragnarok Blood Brothers app is free and allows you to download a demo of the gamebook in order to evaluate it before proceeding with the actual purchase. After getting to the heart of the story, you will have the opportunity to support the gamebook by purchasing its full version at a cost of only €3,49.
Ragnarok Blood Brothers Plot and Content Review
The setting of this gamebook will transport us to England in the year 1000. In the role of Olaf, a young disinherited prince, we will lead a small band of warriors on a dangerous mission of escort and research. In a territory torn apart by the centuries-old war between Saxons and Danes, we will test our courage and our intelligence.
The author has taken great care in researching information, aiming to create a setting that is as historically accurate as possible. This is definitely a selling point for anyone who loves Norse history and the goings-on of that particular historical period. To accompany the reading there are also a good number of valuable illustrations created by the skilled hands of Mezzocielo.
Ragnarok Blood Brothers Mechanics Review.
The mechanics of the gamebook is very simple, as it only requires the game app. As with other titles from this publishing house, dice or tables are not needed as the app will manage these aspects. The parameters on which the adventure is based are many and change drastically according to the way we decide to carry on the story. Inside the gamebook there are four skills:
- Warrior: skill that includes physical prowess and courage. Its increase increases the damage inflicted by our protagonist.
- Hunter: skill that determines agility and balance. Its increase increases the probability of hitting by our protagonist.
- Leader: ability that indicates charisma and willpower. Its increase increases our ability to resist damage.
- Assassin: Skill that measures stealth, cunning, and the ability to pick locks. its increase increases our ability to avoid attacks
The skills are divided into pairs and represent the opposite of each other. Increasing our skill as a Warrior makes it more expensive to grow as a Hunter and likewise improving our Leader skill makes us less inclined to Assassin skills. This mechanic is very reminiscent of an RPG and allows total customization of the character. Based on our choices we will be more or less good at facing the trials that we will find along the way.
Combat and Trophies
Within the gamebook, combat plays a central role. In fact, according to our skills we can choose different types of weapons. The warrior obviously prefers a physical fight unlike the assassin who focuses on more targeted attacks. The different weapons provide a different bonus to the attack and defense stats that come into play at the time of the fight. In turn we will be forced to attack and defend ourselves in a real fight with the integration of simple outline animations. An attention that adds further suspense to the clashes.
The adventure continuously tests our skills and our choices but, if we manage to survive, we will be rewarded with badges that mark the increase in our experience. The app automatically saves progress allowing us to close the gamebook at any time and resume it by simply pressing “continue”. In some points of the work a bookmark will appear which instead represents a real checkpoint to be used to change our choices.
Finally, once the gamebook is finished, you can check the level of completion based on your score. I’m really curious to know what yours will be.
Final Thoughts
Ragnarok Blood Brothers is confirmed as an excellent gamebook with a compelling storyline that will keep you glued to the screen. The progression of the statistics and the combat system are just some of the points in favor of this title. In fact, the author has put great care into the search for the characters and places present, giving the reader a realistic feeling of immersion.
Ragnarok Blood Brothers provides its players with ample room for maneuver in the choices and ways of approaching the final confrontation. Personally I would recommend the purchase and reading of this gamebook. I can’t wait to find out how Olaf and Canute will escape the city of Canterbury!
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