Gord Review – The creators of The Witcher don’t deny it

Game developers often travel between projects, which gives us the opportunity to see different faces in different jobs. However, the people behind one of the most iconic action role-playing games around, it’s not exactly common to just get together and start strategizing. However, in the case of Gord, this happened. In a word, creative personalities from CDPR decided to create a Slavic survival strategy. How they did it, we will tell in our review.

• Platform: PC (Revised), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S.
• Release date: 08/17/2023
• Developer: Covenant.dev
• Publisher: Team17
• Genre: Strategy
• Czech localization: No
• Multiplayer: no
• Download data: 12 GB
• Game time: 25-30 hours
• Price: from 857 CZK (Steam)

Slavic forests in Gorda are definitely not waiting for builders

The Dark Ages were a harsh phase, but in Gord’s strategic survival, this phase of history is even more difficult. The Tsar sent you as an administrator to the forgotten Slavic lands, where the struggle for life is something that most have not yet succeeded for various reasons. It’s up to you to show him that you are someone who can lead people so effectively that their bones will not be bitten by the monsters of your worst nightmares in a short time. Your journey usually begins with the simple construction of a settlement. The starting fortification should be neither too large nor too small. In addition, it must be placed correctly.

In order to exist, you need wood to build houses, reeds and food that you can fill the mouths of the most grumpy people with. Each of the goods requires certain structures, to which you then assign workers who make sure that the warehouses have enough of all the raw materials. The format of the building itself does not represent anything particularly complicated here. In fact, there is not much room in Gorda to develop your building skills, because this component does not play a primary role here, in this regard, you will not find almost any residential buildings here, and in general, I would not be afraid to say, that the variety of proposed buildings is simply poor. However, while I’m writing, the creators are focusing on something else. For them, elections and fights play a role.

Sacrifice your children to the gods!

The world of the Gord game is full of various tasks that the insatiable nature puts before you. Sometimes they are thematically dedicated to hunting, sometimes to gathering or other activities. The villagers aren’t bored, and when they’re doing nothing, there’s always a moment on stage that needs your attention and commitment. Sometimes they are slowly spreading diseases, sometimes they are invaders who want to take your wealth. From time to time, you will also come across the gods of the forest, which the game introduces as Horrors. These entities guard important places and can give a person decent warmth. However, they also have their own desires and requirements. One of the deities, for example, asked for a sacrifice in the form of a small child. Of course, I could not accept his request, and then a fierce battle began. Because the monster in question used the powers of the earth in battle, causing it to flood my people with tentacles and flies. However, I must say that when I agreed to his demands, I felt uneasy.

In addition to the horrors of the forest, which are not overtly hostile in nature, there are those with whom you don’t talk much. In short, the spirits of the forest who do not care if you are good or bad, or if you want to make a sacrifice. You often fight them and use your people’s abilities, which are relatively limited. You can equip them with basic equipment in certain buildings, which they will then encounter wild animals as well as demons roaming the forest. These allies are relatively harmless under certain circumstances. But there are also wild people capable of forming “premeditated” attacks. The scale as such seemed to me passable, but I could imagine less clumsiness in terms of management, because it was because of it that I often lost my faithful. However, over time, the creators will certainly be able to correct this shortcoming.

Is Gord a worthy alternative to Frostpunk?

At one time, Frostpunk came up with a revolutionary concept that did not suit everyone. However, it cannot be said that it lacks timelessness. Prim, however, was not interested in building, but in making the really difficult choices that would determine the life of the entire colony. Gord is identical in this respect. Once again, we have a decision-driven job that isn’t afraid to push you into the really brutal moments where you have to resort to nasty measures, of which child labor is, in fact, the least of them. Yes, at the heart of everything is a rather brutal foundation.

Construction in Gordes is by no means difficult. In fact, you have several buildings that can be built, which does not quite suit me. However, the exploration of a world full of horrors is absolutely necessary. Your ability to work with people often decides whether you survive or not. If you forget to look after the villagers, it can lead to various disasters. And then, of course, there are clashes that will not offend, but will not impress either, although they are undoubtedly among the cornerstones of the gameplay. For myself, I especially appreciate the maturity with which this work is processed, as well as the strong connection with Slavic mythology.