To be honest, when I first saw this title, my first reaction was "Clash of Kings reskin again?" After all, this IP is considered an old acquaintance in the SLG circle. I played a lot of strategy games on Symbian back then, and later switched to COK games. To be honest, I was a little tired of it. However, the theme of "Western Continent" was added this time, which surprised me a bit. After all, the western cowboy style is rare in SLG. I tried it with the mentality of giving it a try, and ended up playing it for three days at a time.
I'm not going to brag about it, but what impresses me most about this game is its sense of rhythm. Today's SLG is either too boring or too boring, and many mobile games want to keep you online 24 hours a day. But this game, at least in the early resource planning and urban construction, feels restrained in design. You don't need to stare at the screen all the time. Strategy deployment is obviously more important than hand speed. Especially when attacking other players, the system of the right time, place, and people is not just a decoration. It has the essence of wind direction, terrain, and troop restraint. It has the essence of the old SLG. It is not the kind of game where you pile up troops without thinking.
In terms of painting style, the Western style is quite upright, with yellow sand, taverns, train robberies...these elements are used well, and the sound effects are also the kind of whistles and guitars, which give a full sense of nostalgia. For an old gamer like me, this sounds very exciting, like going back to the feeling of playing web games more than ten years ago. Of course, the UI interface is still a bit rough left over from the Saipan era, but considering that the developer is Hainan Xiaoyaoyou, it is quite surprising to be able to achieve this level of completion.
There are no shortcomings either. The novice guide takes a long time, and the resource balance in the early stage is a bit tight. If you don't recharge money, you need to use your brain more. It is not suitable for players who just want to hang up without thinking. The server stability is average, with occasional lags during evening peak hours. In addition, SLG has an old problem - the social binding is too deep in the later stage, and it is basically impossible to play without finding a small group. This has not been improved much.
Overall, if you are an old SLG fan and like western themes, this game is worth a try. The free model is also conscientious enough, unlike some games where you can't even open the city gates without charging money. However, the core gameplay is still the same as SLG. There are not many disruptive innovations, but it is better than solid. As a veteran diver for ten years, I'll give it a 7.5. It's worth inviting a few guys to join in the fun. 🤠