Driftland: The Magic Revival Finally Floats Onto Xbox

Floating islands. Dragons. Historic magic. Whole kingdoms drifting by the skies. Driftland: The Magic Revival on Xbox doesn’t precisely do issues by halves.

Initially launched on PC (Steam) various years again (2019 in truth), the fantasy RTS from Star Drifters has now made the bounce to Xbox Sequence X|S courtesy of Final Video games, bringing its uncommon mixture of technique, world-building and magical terraforming to console gamers for £16.74.

And whereas the technique style is filled with acquainted concepts, Driftland has all the time had one mechanic that helps it stand aside – the flexibility to actually transfer the world round you.

At A Look

• Sport: Driftland: The Magic Revival
• Developer: Star Drifters
• Writer: Final Video games
• Platforms: Xbox Sequence X|S
• Style: Technique / RTS
• Worth: £16.74

A World Held Collectively By Magic

After a devastating warfare between historic mages shattered the planet into floating fragments, the surviving factions used the final of their magical energy to cease all the world collapsing fully. Centuries later, magic has begun returning, new Mage Overlords have emerged, and previous rivalries are beginning to floor as soon as once more.

From there, gamers take management of their very own floating realm, increasing throughout procedurally generated maps by connecting drifting islands collectively and slowly build up sources, armies and magical affect.

However while most technique video games concentrate on controlling models, and Driftland nonetheless does, its actual gimmick lies in reshaping the battlefield itself.

Utilizing magic, gamers can bodily transfer floating landmasses across the map, connecting remoted islands, opening new routes or reducing off enemies fully. It provides the sport a really totally different really feel in comparison with extra conventional RTS titles the place the map stays static from begin to end.

There’s additionally much less emphasis on micromanaging particular person troops. As a substitute, you assign basic objectives to models and allow them to perform orders extra independently when you concentrate on the larger image. Consider this as a barely extra relaxed method to technique – at the least till dragons begin displaying up.

Flying Beasts, Magic And Procedural Worlds

As your kingdom expands, you’ll acquire entry to aerial models, magical economies and creatures that may be tamed and ridden into battle.

Dragons are clearly the headline attraction, however Driftland’s fantasy setting leans closely into airborne fight and exploration throughout its fragmented world. Mixed with procedurally generated maps, the result’s a technique recreation that ought to really feel a little bit totally different each time you begin over.

A Totally different Form Of Console RTS

Technique video games on console all the time face the identical problem – making complicated techniques really feel manageable with a controller.

Driftland appears to sidestep a few of that by focusing extra on broader command selections relatively than fixed micromanagement. That would assist it settle properly on Xbox (downloadable via the Xbox Store), significantly for gamers who take pleasure in technique video games however don’t essentially need one thing relentlessly demanding.

And actually, any RTS that permits you to drag floating islands round whereas commanding dragon-riding armies already has an honest gross sales pitch.