TL;DR--Game is incredible but *very* difficult, even on the lower difficulty settings. 100% worth it for a fun, polished and robust campaign with multiple options/paths, but the game expects you to quickly master the mechanics and doesn't hold back......the challenge lives up to the hype. I'm reviewing as someone playing for the first time just recently, no idea what is was like in EA, etc.



DiNO is a phenomenal turtle/defense RTS is the same vein as the Stronghold series and They Are Billions and the challenge is there to keep you on your toes during every mission.

While not as unforgiving and punishing as something like They are Billions (simply because it doesn't have a mega/last wave mechanic) you will have multiple restarts and trail/errors for each mission. If you just want to breeze through the game and roll, this one isn't for you. I have been switching between the 2nd and 3rd (out of 5) difficulty and there have been multiple times I have almost dropped down to the lowest option lol.

All that said, the game is fun as hell and you really feel the love from the developers. The campaign has a lot going on and throws you in the deep in relatively quickly (controls and mechanics are very similar to the genre, but it wouldn't have hurt to have a bit more easing into DiNO specific quirks) then surprisingly has multiple paths with FURTHER multiple paths for replayability. Even the individual maps have deviations/randomly generated sections to further keep it fresh (even if that sometimes makes it harder to prep a strategy on replay).

I absolutely love the look and feel of the game, with the retro inspired graphics on full display every mission. The game simply looks very clean and plays even better. Controls are very snappy and there have been very few times I have built something in the wrong place or couldn't quite get my defense set up because of camera issues or controls (which isn't always the case in these types of games). Its all very intuitive with even a little previous experience. (sidenote, the magic aspect is surprisingly fun, I slept on it way longer than I should have, fantastic addition overall without being OP).

One of the biggest surprises was the light-hearted and, at times, very funny cutscenes before, after and even sometimes during missions. Legitimately chuckled multiple times during them. Even if the tone doesn't always match the very demanding and unforgiving gameplay, the world and characters are very charming.

Overall, this is one of my favorite additions to one of my favorite niche RTS genres. Anyone who has enjoyed playing tower defense games, Stronghold series, They Are Billions or generally likes to play more cautious/defensively in RTS games, this one is without a doubt one of the best options out there.

Overcoming the challenges of each mission and seeing the victory screen pop is incredibly rewarding......just be prepared to get punked a few times as you figure things out and master the mechanics lol

--Edit: It appears they have a story prequel demo to try out if you are on the fence as well--

"I'm just going to sit down and play a couple of runs real quick"--Dumb Dubbs before 8 hours disappears

Constantly thinking about jokers, synergies, high scores, unlocking new perks and combos.

Its so simple, it can get so complex.

Its frustrating, its exhilarating, its so rewarding watching your 700th new build come together and start bouncing combos off each other.

I need help, please send help.

My wife and kids left me, I was fired from my job, but as long as I get further into endless run mode and top my highest combo none of it matters