Description
Slay is a simple to learn game of strategy and cunning set in medieval times. The island is divided up between the six players, and you must try to capture your enemies' land and link up your own territories to create larger and stronger ones. You begin capturing land by attacking with your peasants. Once your territories become richer you can combine peasants to make stronger and stronger people (Spearmen, Knights and then Barons) who can kill weaker enemy troops, or knock down their castles. Just be careful that you don't create too many expensive men or the territory will go bankrupt!
"This game is pure strategy! It's a work of genius. Brilliant AI. Engaging turn-based multiplayer strategy. Sid Meier, eat your heart out!" - GameSpy.com
"I love this game! I play it all the time, and when I'm not, I think about wanting to play it." - PocketNow.com
"At first glance, Slay looks elementary, but hidden beneath are cunning strategy elements that must be finely balanced for success" - PC Magazine
"Deceptively delightful. The graphics are simple, but the strategy is complex." - Download.com
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What's New in Version 2.4
- handles multi-tasking properly
Customer Reviews
Brilliant Design
The earlier reviews state its strengths pretty well: simple rules, challenging strategic choices, addictive gameplay. Overall, one of the most elegant game designs I've seen, ever.
The AI is pretty good, but not great. Specifically, it tends to neglect its flanks, so it will often put a powerful force in a position where it can be cut off and destroyed for lack of supplies. Conversely, it can often be deterred by a thin screen of forces and will go off to attack easier pickings even though you are clearly the bigger strategic threat and should be taken down while there's still time. And sometimes it will leave it's forces inexplicably idle when there are opportunities or threats that it should be dealing with.
As far as the program cheating goes, I have seen situations at the higher levels when I thought I'd delivered a crippling blow (via flank attack), only to find a surprisingly powerful force deployed against me the next turn. I'm not sure if it's a bug, a "balancing" cheat, or a legitimate artifact of the supply and recruitment system, but I regard it as a feature: you have to be prepared for the enemy to have unexpected, and somewhat unpredictable, resilience. And to be honest, at times this has worked for me: last night I built a "Baron" and saw I was at -5 supply points, and yet managed to survive a turn end and go on to capture enough territory next turn to go positive and go on to win.
I definitely think it would be great if the developer could create a multi-player mode. It would not only make up for the limits of the AI, but would make for more interesting, varied challenges, plus provide a great platform for a social/diplomatic dimension.
Of course, it is possible that the game would easily stalemate in head-to-head play because pieces can't attack equal or stronger ones, but the solution could be to allow such attacks with a weighted random outcome (equal vs equal, 50 percent chance either eliminated, etc.). Of course, this would compromise the elegance of the design somewhat, but would add a dimension of chance and risk that might be exciting.
Anyway, despite the weakness of the AI (and I should note that I cannot win consistently even with this), and the opportunities for enhancements, my hat is off to the developer, for this is truly a great design and a great game! Thanks for creating it and offering it at such a reasonable price. To everyone thinking of getting it, I say don't hesitate!
Great turn based game. but no multiplayer
i rated it as 4 stars. I have burned a lot of time playing this game. it is simple, and fast. there are a couple things going on i dont understand yet. Maybe an updated 'help' would be useful on this. (why and what causes banked total man power to drop after a loss of land?) This game would get a 5th star if and when it gets some multiplayer. this may be a really great multiplayer game.
over all - one of the most time i put into a iPad game to date.
Starts off well, but...
Once you're past the I's it's a bs game. Predictable. One Ai player builds a vast empire while the others focus in on you with laser like precision. The Ai's are supposedly competitive with each other but it doesn't happen.
In addition the game blatantly breaks it's own rules. At the higher levels the starvation rule only seems to apply to you, the Ai blithely continues on as if the rules never existed. There's more but no ones gonna read this anyway
Great game for a while, tho.
- $3.99
- Category: Games
- Updated: Oct 15, 2010
- Version: 2.4
- Size: 4.5 MB
- Language: English
- Seller: Sean O'Connor
- © 2009 Sean O'Connor
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.Requires iOS 3.0 or later
