Kingdom Under Fire

Kingdom Under Fire's disparate elements would make for a memorable game if each was executed properly, but execution is precisely where the game falls short. It suffers from graphical glitches and horrible voice acting that do little to draw players in. It also has few of the conventions that gamers have come to expect from real-time strategy games, such as combat formations and the ability to select and control an unlimited number of units. The pathfinding is terrible, as units often get stuck on some impassible terrain and must be guided by hand where you want them to go. This is frustrating under normal circumstances, let alone during a heated battle.

Kingdom Under Fire tries hard to be a great game, but the designers should have shed the tired theme and polished the gameplay if they wanted it to meet modern expectations. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Terrific mission design
• Role-playing elements add strategic considerations to this otherwise tactical game

• Poor production values
• Can't select an unlimited number of units

The story will be familiar to fantasy fans: the continent of Bersiah is gripped by epic struggles between the peoples of Light and the vile creatures of Darkness. There are 20 missions for each race, plus seven story missions for each hero. As the missions unfold, players learn truths about the last war and relationships between heroes. The game combines the best elements that are found in role-playing games like Diablo and Baldur's Gate, and real-time strategy games like WarCraft and Warlords. Each mission contains RPG-type action and dialogue events. After victorious battles, your character's experience will allow you to increase abilities and powers.

Visually, there are six sets of background schemes (those of dungeons have modulation effects) and 120,000 frames of character animation. The game contains 70 units, three types of resources, and hundreds of items. Up to eight players will be able to play simultaneously in ladder-mode and league-mode multiplayer games over the Internet.

Unfortunately the let down is that in the Custom Campaign mode you can have no allies and 1 type of gameplay which is "Melee", when in battle all the AI players are automatically aligned withe ach other so if you had 8 people including yoruself, it would be a 1v7 match.
Though it is still good for an RPGS RTS game, it takes Age of Empires style to a new level being able to cast magic, summon demons etc. You can have allies in the Story Comapiagn mode though.
If you like the odds against and like fidning about the heroes and casting magic, then this game is for you.


A definite must for fantasy fans   December 19, 2003
If you like the Warcraft series and the Diablo games than you'll like this game too. It basically combines the two formats into one and creates a worthwhile gaming experience. It's nothing original as far as the gameplay but it is still a very fun and exciting game.


A really Good Game   July 16, 2002
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Kingdom Under Fire was a really good game and, I enjoyed it immensely. Unfortunately I lost the CDKEY and was unable to reinstall it after my computer crashed so, I haven't played it lately. To me it was an equal to the Warcraft games and, I would play it again if I could only reacquire another key in order to get the game to reinstall.


A good story with old graphics   May 21, 2002
If you like the fantasy genre then you'll like this basic game. It has it all, the young warrior passing through a village that is attacked by an orcish horde. Conversely, you can be the very orcs that attacks, burning and pillaging the same exact village. Blending RTS and RPG works fairly well be prepared to play long into the night once a battle is started because there is NO in game save...however master stratigists neednt worry for the AI just sit back kick your feet up and watch the cut scenes and immerse yourself in this fantasy realm.


A good story with old graphics   May 21, 2002
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

If you like the fantasy genre then you'll like this basic game. It has it all, the young warrior passing through a village that is attacked by an orcish horde. Conversely, you can be the very orcs that attacks, burning and pillaging the same exact village. Blending RTS and RPG works fairly well be prepared to play long into the night once a battle is started because there is NO in game save...however master stratigists neednt worry for the AI just sit back kick your feet up and watch the cut scenes and immerse yourself in this fantasy realm.