REVIEW: We Are The Dwarves

REVIEW: We Are The Dwarves

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We Are The Dwarves is a tactical action game which focuses on a group of astronauts trying to save their people. The plot is quite complex for such a short game. The Dwarven stars are slowly dying, putting the race at the edge of extinction. Deliverance is poised upon three Dwarven astronauts who are sent on an expedition to find a new star in the depths of the Endless Stone. We Are The Dwarves is as much about stealth and planning your moves as it is about exploration.

Throughout the campaign you take control of Forcer, Shadow and Smashfist as they chart the unknown territories of the stone universe while meeting new civilizations and ancient monsters from the depths of space. The environments are diverse and creatures mostly ferocious. However, I have to admit, some of the enemies you encounter early on are quite annoying. I felt I learned more from battling grander foes than killing hordes of little goblin-looking beasts.

The main mechanic in We Are The Dwarves—apart from the shooting—is “active pause”. Active pause is somewhat of a misnomer because it just slows down time. You can’t take hours to decide what your next move will be. The best part about the game has to be the fact that the three Dwarven astronauts have their own abilities. I was worried that I would be forced to play three similar characters but that’s not the case at all.

Forcer is the ranged character so think of him as a rifleman. Shadow, as his name suggests, is a completely stealth-based character and stays in the shadows. He’s more like an assassin and archer in one. Lastly, Smashfist is basically a tank. He’s great for battling it out if plans go south…which they always do. You have to use all three in the right situations to be successful. Completely understanding the characters is key to success.

We Are The Dwarves has some role-playing elements baked into the experience too. For example, each of the three Dwarves has his own skill tree. You can customize their abilities to suit your playstyle. For example, I played quite aggressively so I focused on brute force.

The game features some of the most clever enemies I’ve ever encountered in a video game. With a press of the button you can see their line of sight but that isn’t just how they can sense you. Many can detect movement, noise and even smell. Evasion can be tricky because you have to take into account so many factors but the pause mechanic helps with that. You have to figure out your own way to play the game to be honest. There are many paths to victory but even if you’re adopting a guns-blazing approach, just be sure you have a plan and analyze every environment.

While voice acting isn’t really important in these types of games, the phrases uttered by the three characters feel natural. Given the low price of the experience, I expected the developers to cut some corners but We Are The Dwarves excels on multiple fronts. It’s solid technically and features exceptional attention to detail.

My only complaint, which is more of a suggestion really, is that We Are The Dwarves doesn’t do a great job in building the lore of the universe. I want to know more about this rich setting but felt that I never got a clear picture. I’m not sure how this could’ve been addressed without extensive cutscenes to be honest. Maybe the developers—if the game gets a sequel—can incorporate a series which just discusses the world these characters inhabit.

Summary

Overall, We Are The Dwarves is a different experience from what you’re probably expecting. Many people who are looking for a Diablo-like game will be disappointed because it’s more along the lines of The Banner Saga. The title takes awhile to acclimate to but it’s a rewarding game. If you’re in the market for a short but surprisingly intense experience, be sure to pick this one up.

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