Step into the thrilling world of 1932, where secret societies wield the power of magic in their quest to reshape the very fabric of our reality. For those who relish classic adventure tales akin to The Mummy or Indiana Jones, The Lamplighter’s League is poised to strike a chord.
The Lamplighter’s League combines vivid characters with vintage backdrops, setting the stage for an electrifying journey. It transports players to an era of pulp adventure, delivering a unique blend of strategic campaign depth and real-time tactical-stealth combat.
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Developed by Harebrained Schemes and published by Paradox Interactive, The Lamplighter’s League offers a dynamic gameplay experience. Assemble a team of agents hailing from various corners of the globe to bring down the formidable members of the Banished Court, a group of bad guys on a mission to wield the key to controlling reality itself.
The World of The Lamplighter’s League
You’ll encounter two distinct styles of gameplay that contribute to this rich and immersive experience. An exploration mode, where your agents have the freedom to explore their surroundings before the heat of battle. And a recon mode, enabling you to freely survey the terrain, discern potential threats, and strategise your moves effectively.
While the recon feature undoubtedly assists players in planning their approach, I couldn’t help but feel that its simplicity rendered it somewhat redundant. Pausing time can be used to craft more effective strategies, but it won’t extend your line of sight or allow you to spot hidden enemies.
The Lamplighter’s League presents a vibrant array of recruitable agents as you traverse the globe during your adventures. Following each mission, you have the opportunity to enhance and customise each agent’s unique skill tree. You can also equip each agent with up to three pieces of gear, as well as special card that bestows additional attributes.
While the game imposes a limit of three agents per level, (with an occasional fourth) this constraint provides ample room for you to craft the perfect team, tailored to your play style.
I found myself gravitating towards a few favourite agents, focusing on their progression throughout the game. With the right synergy, I found you can forge a formidable team of agents.
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Constrained by a finite pool of action points (AP) to utilise in each turn, you’re constantly presented with challenging decisions that can prove to be quite intimidating.
There’s a level of chance involved, whether it be the order in which enemies attack, whom they attack, or the variable damage output of attacks; bringing an element of unpredictability to the mix. Even the best-laid plans may not unfold as smoothly as intended, and things can go wrong quite suddenly!
Frustration can rear its ugly head, mainly due to the overwhelming amount of enemies that populate each mission. When the smallest mistake is made, it can often render stealth impossible; and all of a sudden, the pressure is on. You’re forced into a repetitive cycle of reloading, repositioning, and saving other agents to make it through.
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Environments
Something that I particularly admire about The Lamplighter’s League is that it cleverly brings the environment into play, adding a diverse range of challenges and obstacles to each mission; even allowing players to exercise their creativity in the heat of battle.
A well-placed oil spill or puddle of water can be used to take out multiple enemies, be it setting the group alight or via electrocution. But watch those puddles! Walking through them can alert enemies to your presence.
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The game’s emphasis on eavesdropping and the discovery of scattered notes and lore; adds great depth to the narrative world, making players feel like a true secret agent. This layer of investigative prowess prevents the game from feeling like a mere exercise in commanding a group of mercenaries, ensuring that every mission embodies the essence of reconnaissance and intrigue.
The Lamplighter’s League is far from a run-of-the-mill linear narrative. You’ll find yourself managing an array of missions across the globe, each serving a unique purpose. Some missions reward players with essential resources, while others are geared toward slowing down the relentless march of the bad guys.
Narrative and Sound
After every mission, you’re given the chance to fine-tune your agents and listen in to engaging dialogues. These conversations range from light-hearted banter to discussions about current events, yet occasionally, they delve deeper into the rich history of the Lamplighter’s League.
While I appreciate the narrative elements, I must admit that I find myself yearning for a touch more cinematic flair or character movement in these gameplay segments. Additionally, when selecting missions, a cinematic sequence or voiceover narration would’ve undoubtedly elevated the level of immersion for players.
The soundscape, meticulously crafted from a blend of lifelike sound effects and ambient tracks, nearly reaches perfection. Jon Everist’s exceptional work on the game’s soundtrack stands out, delivering powerful compositions that breathe life into the various environments and combat scenarios. However, my only minor concern lies in the repetition of certain tracks, especially when adopting a more aggressive, “guns blazing” approach that leads to frequent enemy detection. While this does add some familiarity, a touch of variation within these specific tunes could have alleviated a sense of repetition.
Graphics
Visually, this game is a treat. There’s a captivating array of environments, the general transitions and on-screen text look fantastic, and the characters themselves are beautifully designed. However, similarly to the soundtrack, the maps do being to feel repetitive after a while.
Regrettably, The Lamplighter’s Leagueis in need of some essential patches soon. I encountered several instances where impossible enemy shots would inexplicably find their mark; alongside a few common visual glitches, stuttering, and the occasional peculiar positioning of combat cameras which obstructed my view.
The Lamplighter’s League offers a thrilling journey through a 1930s world brimming with espionage, magic, and strategic challenges. With its diverse range of agents, creative environmental interactions and engaging narrative; it stands as a captivating addition to the tactics genre. However as the game progresses, the balancing act becomes more demanding, and there are a few technical issues that need addressing. Nevertheless, the compelling voice acting and exquisite sound design, combined with remarkable environmental design, enrich the overall experience.
The Lamplighter’s League offers a promising foundation for an adventure that’s sure to captivate players willing to explore its intricacies and surmount its occasional hurdles. It’s out now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC. You can also pick it up on Xbox Game Pass.
Quest Daily scores The Lamplighter’s League:
7.5/10
Quest Daily was supplied with a review copy of The Lamplighter’s League by the publisher for the purpose of this review.
