Not long ago – it feels like yesterday – I put Tyranny on my New Year’s resolution list. It’s still 2022, right? I’m happy to report that I completed Tyranny. I’m not sure I’m happy that I chose it for my list. It looks unique, and starts out feeling different from other CRPGs, but by the end it feels like a reskin of other games.
Tyranny starts out on a high note – the animated style of the narration and Conquest portion of character creation mesh to give a very different feel from the typical beginning of a CRPG. The backstory (fleshed out in Conquest), in which you are effectively middle management for the conquering despot Kyros, also feels fresh. Not enough games have you start as middle management, assigned to a failing project and expected to turn it around. I’m still left waiting, however, for a CRPG that features a lengthy change control board meeting (where you need to pass a skill check to stay awake). → Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this post!