Custer's Last Stand

***DISCLAIMER*** to the author, It should first be stated, that you should NOT take anything i say with a grain of salt. Everything i say i mean, and i mean it with my chest puffed out, so, take everything i say to heart. To the readers, this review will contain lots of spoilers, so I suggest you read the storygame first.

This story is a great showing in characterisation and high stakes adrenaline fuelled action, deeply rooted in historical fiction. Each page reads like a chapter from an actual novel, with the events unfolding in a manner that feels both substantial and immersive. The author, Will, handles the depiction of Native Americans with a balance of realism and sensitivity, avoiding the pitfalls of romanticism while staying true to the harsh realities of the time.

One of the story's strongest aspects is how well it explains the reasons behind the Native Americans' decisions not to remain in the reservation camps. This choice is based on true events, and the narrative stays commendably accurate in its portrayal of these historical decisions. Major kudos to the author for grounding the story so firmly in reality.

Characters:

The characters, based on real historical figures like Crazy Horse, Wooden Leg, and Sitting Bull, are exceptionally well-written. The author does an excellent job of keeping them true to their historical selves - so much so that it feels like you're meeting these individuals in real life. They are neither overly fictionalized nor reduced to caricatures, which is a rare feat in historical fiction. Another noteworthy point is the historical accuracy in the spiritual practices depicted, such as Sitting Bull offering his pipe. The fact that the American soldiers wore blue coats, as accurately portrayed, adds to the authenticity of the story.

A bit of a sidenote: nothing enrages more than the depiction of scalping defeated enemies. While it’s a dark and unsettling aspect of the narrative, it’s an important inclusion that reflects the brutal reality of the time. It's likely that this practice created more enemies for Native American tribes and fuelled the justification for their subjugation by those who sought to demonize them.

The story doesn't shy away from vivid and unsettling descriptions of mutilations, revenge, and honour killings. As grim as these scenes are, they fit the narrative well because of their historical accuracy. In a piece of historical fiction like this, it’s crucial to avoid embellishment and romanticism to prevent the spread of misconceptions about the events that transpired. The narrative succeeds in painting a picture of complete and utter terror, violence, and chaos. The stakes feel incredibly real, and the threats like "drinking their blood" are adrenaline-fueled and believable, making them all the more chilling.

The last page of the Native American route, where Sitting Bull explains why the war wasn’t a victory despite their acquisition of "the white man's things," is beautifully written. His assessment feels both poignant and historically accurate.

Overall Assessment:

This story is a high-stakes, gritty, and realistic portrayal of a fight for survival. My only areas for potential improvement would be to add more internal monologuing from the main character. Fleshing him out with some doubts, anger, and personal conflict could add depth. At times, he comes across as an unemotional observer, explaining how others feel but giving us little insight into his own emotions. Additionally, introducing a fictional character closely related to the protagonist, a sister, lover, or brother who dies at the hands of the white man—could have heightened the emotional stakes even more. This would make the action scenes feel even more personal and engaging.

Overall, I loved it. I'd rate this story a solid 7/8 for the Native American route.

This is just my review for the Native American route. I’ll dive into the white soldier route later tonight or tomorrow, but for now, consider me thoroughly impressed.

I READ STAND STFU WHERE IS STAR PLATINUM

i like history and this was great

I loved it, in all its tragic consequence. As a historical interpretation it's valuable. Some would want more branches and weapon choices and so on, but I think it's good as it is

I like how you can play as either a soilder or a native american

Great job with this, I loved it.

Very nice work, as usual of Will very thorough and detailed. Some of his other stories have suffered from a lack of branching (always a difficulty with historical works about specific real life events) but a battle with two sides offers a natural fix for that.

The use of the items to help keep track of who's who was much appreciated too, although it feels like an oversight not to replace the default images.

I enjoyed this a lot, it really is deserving of more attention.

Are you going to make mother one of these like this

I enjoyed this story a lot, loved the contrast between playing both factions, humanizing both sides in the days before the battle and showing the brutality displayed during the conflict.

The descriptions were fantastic, as i read through the story i could see the tide of horsemen cover the plains and the brutal acts being performed by the characters.

I like that you included many opportunities to leave Custer and have a chance to survive on the American Soldier side, and that if you keep insisting on staying with Custer there is no way for you to survive.

There were some issues with fleshing out most of the characters, but this is to be expected with the number of important people involved and the story's size.

Overall, this feels like a love letter to the battle itself, to the point that I'd recommend anyone interested in the time period to give this one a shot! 7/8

Excellent writing. I played the native american's side of the story, and it really made me feel the anxiety of waiting for violence.

Sitting Bull, I thought was an interesting and compelling character. Unfortunately, I feel like the other characters didn't have the opportunity to share their hopes and ambitions as much. I suppose since they are actual historic figures that maybe the author didn't want to have them express thoughts that weren't actually their own. Either way, it felt like there were a lot of characters who didn't have much development.

Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed reading through it.