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It's evident that Songs of Conquest draws a lot of inspiration from the classic Heroes of Might and Magic franchise. However, it does add a lot of unique twists to create something unique that feels really fresh to play. Admittedly, I bounced off the game initially but throughout the campaign, the game really grew on me to a point where it devoured my entire spare time.
What I enjoy the most about SoC is the fast and snappy game feel that doesn't waste your time. The movement on the campaign map is fast and responsive. Battles have a tight pace but still provide a lot of tactical choices. Menus pop in and out with elegance and the entire experience feels very polished. This feels like a fully realized game that had extensive playtesting without any rough edges.
The gameplay itself is addictive as you're constantly exploring the maps with your respective heroes which are known as wielders. You essentially loot the hell out of any place and recruit units to duke it out with other neutral armies or rival factions. It's an inherently satisfying loop that is further enhanced by the RPG wielder mechanics and the continual development of your economy.
There are several factions available and all feel fairly unique. To be fair, I wasn't very keen on some of the nations such as the Rana (frog and lizard people) but the campaigns do an excellent job at establishing their motives. Actually, the campaign has excellent writing which does a great job at introducing characters and the overall world. Individual characters are suddenly super compelling and each campaign offers a unique perspective on various conflicts. In essence, you witness certain events from different points of view and it creates an oddly engaging experience.
There is a campaign for each faction which all have different flavors. Some missions have more of a narrative while others have giant maps that need to be cleared. Alas, it isn't without its issues but it comes with the territory of such turn-based strategy games. Some maps don't have real pressure until you reach certain triggers, it's possible to turtle up to prepare for certain events. In addition, I think that the game would have benefited from some voice acting but the exceptional soundtrack carries a lot of the atmosphere. That said, it didn't detract from my experience with the otherwise excellent campaign which has multiple difficulties. The game is approchable and the campaigns do a great job to familiarize you with the mechanics.
Most of the gameplay revolves around the player having to manage the logistics of armies and ensuring that they can quickly level up in order to beat the rival factions which are the real threat. Maps are littered with neutral dwellings and bandits, every fight earns you some boon that will help you to achieve your victory. Maps frequently feature timed bonuses, items or specialized weapons which improve your wielders.
Once you meet an army, battles pop off quite fast. Each turn, you generate a certain type of manage which allows you to cast spells from a diverse library. Some wielders cater more towards certain spells and units themselves also generate mana which actually makes unit composition really important. Compared to other HoMM likes, you spam the shit out of spells here and it's super satisfying. The careful placement of units and their special abilities are important, so battles always feel super compelling. The game also features an excellent auto-resolve system which lets you skip smaller skirmishes, so you don't have to micro-manage your ass off. Large and deciding battles always feels important and this is where you usually feel inclined to give it your best. Overall, the battle system has a lot of nuance but can be equally enjoyed by a casual player or someone who dabbles deep into it. Another big difference is the limited army stacks that each welder can hold, the limit can feel arbitrary but each army requires a solid composition. This really makes you think on how you want to establish an army, there are no ridiculous doom stacks which wipe everything.
There are also random maps and pre-made scenarios, so there is definitely enough content for the price of admission. You can even download fan made maps via the game which is honestly a super neat feature. I didn't play any multiplayer because I'm a casual wimp but if you want to duke it out with friends, the game features simultaneous online battles which pick up the pace.
Obviously, the game has georgeous pixel art that is married to some modern effects. This style works really well and every sprite has a ridiculous amount of detail. With the marvelous soundtrack, it's just a game that looks fabulous and has a consistent presentation.
Naturally, there are some downsides. Despite the beautiful graphics, the game lacks some readibility on the world map. Luckily, there is an option to outline objects and characters on the campaign map. Some of the interactable objects do mesh together with the background. It can feel a bit cluttered because the pixel art is just so detailed. Otherwise, I feel that some of the town management is needlessly complex. Towns are represented by multiple buildings instead of a centralized town screen. On larger maps, you have to swap between settlements and towns and it's just a bit cumbersome. Switching units from armies or settlements is also needlessly finnicky for some reason. I feel that the menu design here leaves something to be desired. There might be some balance issues as some armies or wielders just seem to be stronger but I couldn't tell you for the life of me, I just casually enjoy this gem without overthinking it.
In the end, I definitely recommend Songs of Conquest because it's a neat iteration of Heroes formula with a polished and lovely coat of paint on it. It all works super well and feels smooth to play. There is quality in this title and I hope that the devs continue to work on it!