There is definitely that aspect since getting crit felt like a death sentence; either you take too much damage or you get a permenant stat decrease, or in the case of black powder bombs you've just gotten knocked down on the ground meaning you've lost a turn, all of your block/dodge stats and are about to have a steel enema; but people have unbelievably not only finished the game solo, but also ironman.(According to some codex users, someone did both as well).
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It's definitely an acquired taste but I will say Age of Decadence felt a lot easier. for a while I enjoyed the game and difficulty but then the constructs/worms were introduced.