Encased Review (Steam)

by Jim Smale · Published September 10, 2021 · Updated February 10, 2022

For our Encased Review we play a tactical sci-fi RPG set in an alternative 1970s, where an enormous and inexplicable artifact –the Dome– is discovered in a remote desert. Fight enemies, explore the anomalous wasteland, level up your character, join one of the forces in the ruined world.

Encased Review Pros:

Decent graphics.
19.85GB Download size.
Steam achievements.
Steam trading cards.
Graphics – full screen, resolution, frame rate cap, v-sync, gamma slider, graphics API, graphics preset, anti-aliasing, ambient occlusion, bloom, show decals, texture resolution, and shadows mode.
Can rebind controls.
RPG gameplay.
Four difficulties – story, journey, classic, and tactics.
Hand-drawn in-game cutscenes.
17 characters to choose from, each have unique stats and skills. You can edit and customize each character yourself with full bio and appearance settings.
Decent loading times.
Multiple choice interactions and decisions.
Tutorial pop-ups as you play.
Fully voiced narrative.
Camera control can be tweaked but you can freely zoom in and out, pan the area and use the screen edge to move.
When talking with someone you get their portrait, the image changes if they show you something or if a particular thing gets mentioned.
Turn-based combat with action points and initiative used for dictation turn order and possible actions.
Autosaves regularly and you have to save when you want.
A lot of hilarious and clever deaths can be had.
The first half-hour or so is talking with everyone on the base, getting gear and descriptions along with a hands-on combat simulation.
Scan the world and items to earn knowledge points.
The whole world is within a dome that appeared.
Can talk with anyone.
Find and search boxes, cupboards, machines, etc.
Uses a trading system with vendors.
Wings are factions in the game and aligning with one will grant unique benefits.
Very tense atmosphere.
Two action bars you can freely swap between with each bar representing your primary and secondary weapons/hands.
Utility belt bar for quick access items.
Play how you want.
Has Fallout 1 and 2 vibes about it.
Meter management for thirst, hunger, radiation, etc.
On-screen pop-ups of ailments or loot.
Crafting posts to use.
Progress bar for any interactions from searching to scanning or lock picking.
The World feels huge.
Drag and drop inventory system.
Earn EXP and earn points to put into skill trees and unlock new attributes and passives.
TAB button recentres the camera back on you.
Hover over anything in-game or in the menu for descriptive text.
Beds or bed-like structures allow you to sleep a certain amount of hours to rest and heal or you can just pick the time of day.
The crafting stations show clearly what you can build, recipes, and what materials you need and have right now.
Overworld map where you can camp, explore new areas.
Many ways to fight and talk with people.
Choose your own adventure-style scenarios and storytelling.
Stealth mode allows you to sneak past people and you can turn the radius of enemies on and off.

Encased Review Cons:

A lot of pop in and pop up.
Needs mission markers as it’s very hard to decipher your mission and where to go.
Constant camera control is needed.
Doesn’t support a controller.
A lot to take in.
Very text-heavy.
The game doesn’t do an amazing job of notifying you of things like leveling up or quest updates.