Bastion
LQ: 9.15
Recommended Age: 10+
Skills Used: Planning, Working Memory, Mathematics, Reading
Solara is a mobile game where players must build and manage a castle as well as protect it from invaders. Players begin with a 2 guards, Rusty and Gnarl. They must embark on quests, which consists of upgrading their castle, and warding off enemies. Battles with the enemy require limited combat strategy. Fights are usually won by the unit with the highest experience level. When players win fights they are awarded coins. Coins are used to upgrade the castle to make the inhabitants healthier and happier. Specific rooms can be added to the castle — each with a specific functionality. Rooms are build out of need. If players need more food to keep their guards able to ward off invaders, then they should build barrooms and pubs inside their castle. Gameplay functions on a continuum. Guards need food to fight and food can only be generated by making improvements to the castle. There is limited cartoon violence in the game, and gameplay is easy to grasp, making the game well-suited for children ages six and older.
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Developing a systematic approach for setting and achieving goals. Improving short-term planning.
While there is limited strategy involved during each battle in Solara, it is important that players prepare their guards properly for their quests. Not only must there be enough food to keep the troops prepared for each battle, (battles cost anywhere between 2 and 10 food units) but players must be sure that their guards possess enough attack and defense points to defeat the enemy. Winning battles requires players to have trained their units through a series of necessary upgrades. Before a fight even begins, players will usually know if their guards possess enough strength to defeat the invaders. It is always a good idea to keep guards' experience units higher than the enemy. This way in-game currency and food will not be wasted on a lost battle. Because food requires a significant amount of time to create, losing a battle due to lack of preparedness simply wastes the overall productivity of the castle.
Adapting and adjusting to changing conditions and expectations.
There are times when players will lose battles even if their guards have a higher experience level than the enemy. Players also need to take into account the speed, attack, and defense of the enemy, and adjust their strategy accordingly. Enemies like mushrooms launch spore attacks, which will slowly drain the power of players' units, while enemy dogs will attack twice before the player gets a chance administer a counter. Players need to carefully observe the nature of each opponent, and choose a guard unit that gives them the best chance to win. When fighting the dogs, players should switch from the traditional guard to the much faster archer unit. When fighting mushrooms, it is important for players to strengthen their guards' defense point. Players must also monitor the production levels of their castle, ensuring it is providing enough food and currency to allow players to complete each quest. In this sense, Solara requires players to multi-task, and constantly adjust to the attack style of the enemy.
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