Reviewing (mostly) every game (or DLC) in my library, part 405:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (9/10)
Paul Wang, the man that you are! For the uninitiated, [i]Sabres of Infinity[/i] is known as one of the crowning jewels in Hosted Games—and for damn good reason. The [i]Infinity[/i] series is one of the first series I've read, way back when I was getting into interactive fiction. I was worried my love for the books was just nostalgia, but I'm so glad to declare it stands on its own two feet as a fantastic game and narrative. I can't say enough good things about it.
[b]Pros:[/b]
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[*] Vision. The author has a clear vision: the setting is so otherworldly it takes discipline to commit to it, I think. You play as a male soldier in the King's army in a world much like ours—except there's magic, or "Bane." Having magic makes you noble enough to be "Baneblooded," with all the privileges nobility entails. The social hierarchy surrounding Baneblooded nobility isn’t just flavor text or the author's power fantasy. Having such a narrow role shapes every interaction, every insult, every moment of privilege and danger. Usually, most IF games have diverse options: you can play as any gender or sexuality. But in [i]Sabres[/i], you're locked to being a young, presumably heterosexual male. Still, even as a young woman playing the game, I never felt excluded. Instead, it highlighted how differently power functions when embedded in culture rather than offered as a toggle in character creation. With the care the author puts into his work, having a female soldier would be a radically different experience and would probably double the work. Yet, even from a male standpoint, the author manages to examine class and gender in a medieval-ish world.
[*] Writing and pacing. Man. I can't say enough good things about the writing. I would call it "detailed" and "clear" overall. Wang lets the narrative breathe instead of ushering the player onto the next scene. There's paragraphs upon paragraphs of pure detail: how sludge in the winter melts into spring, how thousands of soldiers square off in a field, the screams and gunshots of battle. The writing is so vivid it really lives up to the whole "power of your imagination" thing. I was literally picturing myself as a male soldier, even though I am most definitely not either of those things. No typos or grammatical errors either.
[*] Choices matter. After taking a peek into the code and finishing two playthroughs, YES, I can tell you your choices actually matter. What you choose as a parting gift from your family will show up years later. What you choose as your top skills correlates to your success as an officer, but strategy is also needed to build on your strengths. Your attitude toward your fellow soldiers will come back years down the line. You'll have to think through each choice like you were an actual officer. And every little choice matters as well!
[*] Depth AND breadth. The branching on the story is insane. For example, in one of the later chapters, you'll have the option to attack an enemy fort. You can choose to lead the attack or set up an ambush. Each options has three (or more) outcomes. You can die, win convincingly, or win convincingly. Let alone the fact that you decide how to react to your companions, if you want to be merciful or bloodthirsty, etc. Each chapter has an incredible amount of content, not just the climax!
[*] Length. Usually, most CoG/HGs are only about two hours. This one lasted me four to five, though I am a quick reader. But the pacing makes sense. The narrative follows a traditional arc—introduction, escalation, resolution— and thankfully, Wang doesn't rush the ending like so many others do. Instead, the plot in each [i]Infinity[/i] book is a neatly wrapped up narrative and can stand on its own. There's no "sequel bait."
[*]UI. You can tell the author loves his work! The chapter titles are actual images that describe the contents (e.g. "In which the officer goes on a journey"; there's a long glossary, and maps. Super cool, nerdy stuff.
[*] Achievements. Fun and easy achievements :)
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🪦[b] Cons:[/b]
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[*] First in a long series. As a rule, I try not to read WIPs or books in a series. The chance an author will finish a long series is virtually nil, in my experience. And I feel like some authors try to drag out their content for $$$. While I firmly believe this isn't the case with Wang because the quality and momentum of the existing entries inspire confidence, committing to a multi-book saga always requires patience. The emotional and narrative payoff is substantial, but it unfolds over years rather than a single release. So far, there's three books with the fourth on the way.
[*] No romance/sexuality/gender options. Like I said earlier, the game’s narrow role is intentional and thematically coherent, but players accustomed to broad customization may feel constrained. There are no romance paths in this installment, and identity options are fixed. Future entries do expand these areas, yet currently the experience prioritizes historical-military authenticity and narrative focus over personalization.
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If you enjoyed this review, please check out my curator page to find more: [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/45814768-Verdict-Play-or-Pass/]Verdict: Play or Pass. [/url] Also, please leave a like and visit [url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/Indie_Gems]IndieGems[/url] and our YouTube channel for more reviews like this one.
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