As a hardcore fan of tactical turn-based strategies, I couldn't wait to try Skygard Arena. While the campaign has a nice story and different challenges, I found myself frustrated with the Arena mode. To really enjoy this game, you must know what to expect.
While the game is sometimes compared to XCOM, it's not even close to that experience. Skygard Arena actually has more similarities with Fae Tactics or Into The Breach and even Overwatch (regarding unique characters). The good news is that the game is very tactical and actually more complex than it seems at first. The game gives you a chance to win some at the start, but very quickly shows you who's the boss if you're not careful.
Combat Is Challenging but Slow
Each character can move, use a primary attack, one of two secondary skills, and an ultimate. This gives you enough offensive options in theory. In Skygard Arena, you're as good as the synergy of your units, as no unit can dominate on its own (no matter how OP it is).
The map may appear small at first glance, but it's actually big enough for battles, offering plenty of strategic options. That said, faster characters dominate, especially Aidan and Daerio. In fact, Aiden, a wizard with healing and teleporting abilities, is a must if you want to win anything.
On the other hand, Champei, a panda tank, is so slow that I gave up on it very quickly. Although it can leap, it's not really enough in a game where some characters can teleport and move very quickly across the map.
I often felt like I'm stuck in the mud, as there's so much ground to cover on a map. The game forces you to focus on multiple strategic points, which can be challenging with three heroes. I understand that's the point, but I still feel that the games are slow-paced.
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Visuals
While the characters are detailed and look nice, they lack originality. I felt like I was playing some turn-based version of Fortnite or Overwatch, as characters looked very similar. If you're a fan of that kind of visuals, you'll enjoy playing the game. As for maps, they feel a bit empty, which is especially noticeable when you're playing Story mode. Nothing is happening around the map; there are no spectators, other warriors, or even anything happening in the background.
I would also like to see more details on a map, as though they are mostly colorful, they lack details that are not obstacles. They feel empty, especially as there are no interactive objects that influence combat (exploding barrels, bridges, elevators, etc.). Take Into the Breach as an example—there are so many things that you must take into account during battle, from destructible objects, water, to a shrinking map.
Should You Play Skygard Arena?
Skygard Arena has shown potential, but lacks content, despite the release of the 1.0 version. While that may change with future updates, it's questionable whether players will stick around. I had a similar feeling with Hearthstone when it was released, but it's Blizzard, and they could afford to add content and game options slowly. In this state, the Skygard Arena is heavily reliant on its community and the enjoyment of the classic multiplayer experience.
Nebojša Prijić is a Managing Editor at Pro Game Guides with over 25 years of experience in journalism, screenwriting, and copywriting. He previously worked as Editor-in-Chief of Maxim Serbia magazine and the IGN Adria website. Nebojša is an old-school gamer who loves real-time strategies, shooters, and RPGs, but most of all, he plays Roblox and mobile games with his son. He remembers the first Diablo, PC games on a single floppy disk, and playing Mortal Kombat on the keyboard.