Sons of Ra Review

Have you ever wanted to experience the epic mythical battle between Ra, the god-of-the sun, and Set, his archnemesis and god of Chaos? Sons of Ra, the debut title by Pharaoh Hound Gaming, offers a glimpse into what these battles would have looked like for Egypt's gods. Sons of Ra succeeds in being an addictive and compelling strategy game, despite the fact that these divine conflicts are presented in a very small package.

Sons of Ra, a tower defense auto-battler hybrid game set in ancient Egypt, where different gods and their followers fight it out, is competitive. The game's minimalist aesthetic makes it easy to grasp from a presentation perspective. Sons of Ra feels like an ancient board game, with its battle maps that look like papyrus scrolls and blueprints.

Although the graphics are simple, they are pleasant and help to ground the action. Every unit and building looks like a animated wooden figurine. It's almost as if the players carved the pieces and brought them to the battle. Although the music is not very varied, it adds character and energy to every match. For such a small game it's easy to see that the developers managed to create a unique aesthetic language.

Sons of Ra's simple control system makes it easy to use. This is in addition to its impressive visuals. Two players engage in a duel. They choose their deity, place units to attack the enemy keep on any of three lanes, build towers to defend themselves and use magical abilities to gain an edge. These actions can be performed using a simple point and click system.

This accessible control scheme helps players focus on tactical and strategic decision-making. It also develops their ability to see the battlefield and not just learn the controls. Each match will be a continuous ebb-and-flow of tug-of war-style engagements across multiple lanes. This gives players the opportunity to make an impact on the battlefield and gain an advantage. The objective is simple: destroy the enemy's hold. This game is easy to master, but simple to learn.

There will always be four elements that combatants can use in any match: buildings, units, powers, and upgrades. All players have access to four core units, each of which fills a specific role. They seem well-balanced. Players will be able to access additional units depending on their choice of god. However, they often have a unique effect that matches the god's playstyle.

Towers are the weakest element of all four elements. There are four types of units. Four towers have varying effects. They offer players many options for battlefield play. The balance of the game is skewed towards units, as they do the exact same thing as towers but at a lower price.

The gods and their abilities are, on the other hand, the strongest element of Sons of Ra. The powers are fun and exciting, with excellent visual feedback that illustrates their effect. They also have the greatest impact on player decision-making. Five active spells and one passive are available to players when they choose a god. These spells help define the deity's playstyle and identity. While there are many areas that could be improved in the balance of the gods' powers, they work well enough for you to give each one a shot. There will be no two gods feeling the same.

This final upgrade element has a mixed effect in terms of its effectiveness and execution. It all comes down to balance, just as towers. Players will need to control a progression bar, which slowly builds up and allows them to unlock new towers, units, special buildings, and even special buildings that offer an overall benefit like a mine to get extra gold or a temple to gain extra favor points for casting spells. Although the in-battle unlock system is good, it seems like some buildings are too dominant in their benefits and there is no reason to explore other special buildings.

Six maps are available in the game, each with a different construction and lane layout. It's actually three maps with two variations, but some include unique features like a mine at the center of the map, or lane configurations that are unusual. It's a missed chance for Pharaoh Hound Games, who could experiment with other maps and explore the unique ways that lanes or other elements can affect gameplay.

Developers have also included a simple progression system. This allows players to earn experience, unlock new gods, and get a whole bunch of fun cosmetics for avatars, keeps, and units. The progression system is not complex or novel, but it works and keeps players interested for a while.

Sons of Ra is a multiplayer-focused game. The modes clearly show this. Apart from the tutorial there are two single-player modes: arcade and skirmish. The AI isn’t very good so skirmish doesn’t have much longevity. Arcade mode is much better, as players will be battling a series gods and the AI legitimately improving each match. However, the Arcade runs feel a little too short.

There are two multiplayer modes: the focal skirmish and split screen multiplayer. Both offer a wide range of match customization options. Multiplayer skirmish mode is where the game really shines. Playing against an AI opponent opens up a new world of mind games, strategy and strategies that the AI can't match. Although there is only one multiplayer mode, and no other modes in the game overall, the gameplay loop is very good. The matches are fast-paced and addicting. There's plenty of room to try out different strategies and experiment with different deities.

Technically, there were a few issues I had to deal with, but none that were too frustrating. For example, unit models would get stuck after long engagements. The occasional crash was also an issue, but it was less annoying than it would have been if I had to restart a match. There were also odd frame drops when multiple units reached the enemy keep simultaneously.

Sons of Ra runs very smoothly because it is small and can be run on almost any operating system. It is even more impressive when multiple entities and powers are going off simultaneously. The options menu is basic, but it's functional considering the game's size. Although the UI isn’t intrusive, it presents important information clearly enough. However, it lacks the visual flair of the rest of Sons of Ra.

Sons of Ra is a very focused and small game. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing. The gameplay is fast and addictive, the core loop works well on its own, and the setting and presentation give the game its personality. It is essential that balance issues regarding towers and upgrades buildings be addressed quickly if Sons of Ra is going to succeed as a multiplayer competitive game. This neat little strategy game is well worth a look.