Excellent first instalment in a series of great books. Chances are, if you pick this up and you don't have any other games like the ChoiceofGames omnibus as I do, it'll be quite a rare gem in your games library.

The setting is fantastic and I believe it has something for everyone. As for the game itself, it's long enough to convince you this is a real setting and not just a random, cringe fanfic, whilst leaving itself just short with an appropriate cliffhanger to leave you wanting more. At a steady pace, one playthrough may take you about four hours.

It requires a fair bit of imagination to operate, just like reading any other book, but it makes for a refreshing change of pace. Incredible value for money and time.

great game

Want a 'game' where 95% of your choices ACTUALLY matter and impact the story with a whopping great range of minor and major changes? Here it is.

*Mild mild spoiler below - but if you've looked at the achievements list, you'll see it there too*

My first playthrough was a blind one and I had no idea about the stats driving these changes, meaning I was a bit gutted when I reached the final chapter and discovered I could not survive the great battle and could only die in it (albeit as a hero). However, that didn't put me off from a replay. Second go round, I consulted a few guides so that I could roleplay a bit more tactically and make it to the end alive (so I can play the next one!) and whilst at first I worried that this would ruin it for me, it was still just as absorbing.

Writing quality is fairly decent (never approaches anything like Disco Elysium) with some fruity descriptions of violence. P.W knows his stuff too and is very good at weaving in information about the business of soldiering and war in the gunpowder era which elevates the experience.

Loved it.