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King Arthur II the Role Playing War Game
Neocore sends us a preview code for their
latest Game, King Arthur II the Role Playing War Game.
Neocore Games takes another visit into legends, sword and sorcery and
battles. King Arthur II the Role Playing War game builds on the ideas
that worked in the first game and expands on them exponentially. It’s
like a mixing of Total War’s turn based strategy styles and a pinch of
RPG characters for good measure.
Like
any good Sword and Sorcery themed game, it draws some of its ideas from
myth and legend with magical abilities and mythical monsters to stand
against the player. England’s northern borders are settled by Roman
Soldiers and their families. The soldiers guard Hadrian’s Wall against
savage tribes of both man and creature.
The gaming world has changed from what players will remember on their
last visit to the realms. A more ominous feel permeates these
beautifully game illustrated lands. The campaign map is larger, with
spectacular topographical features and even weather effects, all are a
thing of beauty to behold. Like in the real world, players with a
successful strategy will consider the landscape. Valleys, forest, open
fields, hills and mountains and bodies of water all can aid or hinder.
Staying on the subject of graphics, King Arthur II the Role Playing
Wargame does a spectacular job at capturing the dark moody atmosphere of
this gaming world. From mist shrouded areas, to craggy peaks, the sense
of grand adventure calls out with the visual treat that is KAIITRPW.
Heroes in the game are here once again, after all how can you have such
an incredible game of mythic proportion without legendary heroes? There
heroes in the game serve the King in all aspects for the realm. These
characters are formidable in battle and even have magical abilities to
enhance their robust fighting powers. All abilities can become enhanced
as the game progresses and the character gain battle experience.
This
time around the game has become more accessible to casual gamers, with
everything seeming to flow faster. The turn based parts happen very fast
now, with clearer goals in mind and less brain work on the player. There
are still times that the player has to make choices of course, though
those choices seem far simpler this time around. This speeds up the game
play.
The preview build we took a look at was playing very solid, as to if
this will be the final build on release who knows.
During
game play one of the window options that can be found on the left side
of the screen is the chronicle, this is sort of like a diary of events
that takes place. Only it is a bit more in depth because it tells more
of the back story not only about events, but also characters. Players do
not have to use it to play the game, though players looking for a far
deeper experience will make use of it to get a grip on the story and
events and the characters.
Battle take place with units on the battle field, and reminds me of the
Total War series. Only with this game you get to wield magic in your
arsenal. Bear in mind though so can your enemy. The is nothing like the
feeling of advancing your troops in a pincer movement only to see a
blast of lightning send dozens of them falling to the ground dead from
the assault from an enemy. Enemy are not all human either, there can be
all forms of creatures coming against the player.
Tactical choices need to include all of the player’s abilities, be that
cavalry, or the use of either defensive or offensive magic’s. Again and
smartly I might add, much like other large scale tactical games, the
player can opt to fight the battle and micromanage things, or they can
do a quick battle where the computer decides on the outcome of the
battle. Be aware though, if things are stacked against the player, then
the outcome will be the end of the player. Once in a while if the player
opts to play things out on the battle map, they can pull off some
victories against the odds, with smart use of troops and characters and
of course magic’s.
Both sides have the ability to protect their forces with a magical
shield. As the magical shield is struck by offensive magic, it weakens.
It’s a bit of a strategically balancing act to keep the players shield
fortified, while using magic to damage the enemies and not leaving the
heroes mana reserve so depleted that they are magically useless.
Much
like the first game there are points on a battle map that are of
interest to capture, a player does not have to capture them to get a
victory in battle. These are now optional locations, but there are some
added bonus items to be had if the player does capture these points
during a battle. Usually in the way of new spells and things that effect
a characters abilities.
The roleplaying aspect of the game reminds me a lot of a choose your way
or choose your quest adventures. Certain points of the game have rather
lengthy story telling going on, so the computer Narrator acts like a
game master (Or Dungeon Master), the person that tells the tale and
introduces new aspects of the adventure, and also offers choices for
your character during key points of an adventure. While these points are
a nice break in the game from the standard gaming, I did a couple of
times find myself clicking the skip button because I wanted to get on
with it. It just sort of started to feel like it was dragging on a bit
too long.
So the
RPG elements choose your path is present in the game, though I did try
different paths after trying play through a couple times, there did not
seem to be any ramifications from trying one path over another. All
paths seemed to lead to the same conclusion. One path got to the desired
results sooner than the other one though.
As noted earlier on in this preview, it is unsure if this build is the
final build for the game, but everything seems to be in place. Having
the game at the highest levels of graphics seems to make the systems
processing power go into over drive, though knocking down the level of
detail is an option so most gamers these days should not run into any
issues in that respect. Spells and special abilities are the major draws
of King Arthur II, mix in the formidable creatures and the RPG elements
and we can see that Neocore Games has delivered a spectacular game
indeed in the form of King Arthur II the Role Player War Game.
Have fun, play games.
Edwin Millheim
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