King's Bounty: The Legend (PC)

...you have played the original King's Bounty game which was published many years ago (I was still a kid back then he..he..he.) the gameplay is more or less the same but of course with LOADS of improvement using the latest technology. Made by the fans of the original game and first published in Russia and now the English version is out.

When the game starts, players can choose between 3 types of heroes :
1. The Fighter : specializing ...
...time exploring the world of King's Bounty. It's all in real time, no turns phase or something like that. Players are free to move his/her hero anywhere around the map by clicking the left mouse button on a spot. Hero's will travel on a horse on land, and requires a boat to travel on watery landscape. The hero can interact with NPCs, Structures, Dig hidden treasures, picking up resources etc.....

The main screen consists of :

more

If you are a gamer who loves RPG style strategy game with some adventure spicing, you shouldn't miss this game. In case you have played the original King's Bounty game which was published many years ago (I was still a kid back then he..he..he.) the gameplay is more or less the same but of course with LOADS of improvement using the latest technology. Made by the fans of the original game and first published in Russia and now the English version is out.

When the game starts, players can choose between 3 types of heroes :
1. The Fighter : specializing in combat and blessed with high leadership capabilities, however rather weak in the magic side.

2. The Paladin : holy knight who stands between Fighter and Mage in power.

3. The Mage. : specializing in magic, has the strongest magic power and highest mana points, but low in leadership ability.

Each heroes have same general skills, and few special skills for each.

As you started entering the main game, you will see the exploring map, this screen is where players will spend most of their time exploring the world of King's Bounty. It's all in real time, no turns phase or something like that. Players are free to move his/her hero anywhere around the map by clicking the left mouse button on a spot. Hero's will travel on a horse on land, and requires a boat to travel on watery landscape. The hero can interact with NPCs, Structures, Dig hidden treasures, picking up resources etc.....

The main screen consists of :

Resource status : on the left bottom of the screen, you will see the amount of Gold the hero currently possess, the amount of rage points to summon spirit of rage (after a certain point of the game it will be useable), and mana points that the hero has in his mana pool.

Hero's level : right to the resource status you will see the hero's picture, his current level and leadership. Leadership is needed to recruit troops, the higher the leadership is the more troops you can recruit in your army. Should the amount of the troop is higher than your leadership can handle, that troop will go out of control, leadership points go up as hero's leveled, picking up banners or bonus from artifacts.

Hero's troops : next to the hero's portrait, right in the middle bottom screen you will see the pictures of troops that the hero has in his army.

Quick menus button : on the right of the troops pictures, there are four menu buttons.
Hero = will open the hero statistic screen, where you can upgrade skills, manage troops, equipping artifacts, etc.
Spells = will open the hero's spell book screen, here you can learn magic spells from scrolls you found or bought, to learn spells the corresponding skill knowledge is needed, spells can be upgraded when the requirements are met.
Quest = will open the quest book, you can check what quests you have at the moment or the quests you have done.
Map = will open the world map screen. Unexplored regions will be shrouded with clouds.

Mini map = at the most bottom right of the screen you will see the mini map. Green dots indicates NPC, red dots indicates enemy troops.

Main menu button = right on the bottom right corner you will see the main menu button, where you can save, load your game, etc.

As I explained before, exploration is done in real time, and enemies won't just stand in one spot doing nothing, when they spot you they will chase you, you can run and avoid or fight them.

Hero status :

Attack : each attack points will add to the attack skill of all troops in your army

Defense : each defense point will add to the defense skill of all troops in your army

Intellect : each points will increase the hero's mana points abount 10 % and spell power/duration.

Skills :

Skills are divided into 3 categories :
1. Might : focuses on improving your troops physical prowess, such as adding special skills to your troops.
2. Mind : focuses on improving your abilities to lead troops, detecting enemies strength, etc
3. Magic : focuses on improving your magical abilities, such as learning new spells, increasing mana points, etc.

These skills can be learned, or upgraded using runes of talents, which are also divided into 3 types, Might, Mind and Magic Runes. These can be found scattered around the map, from treasure chests, rewards, or extras everytime the hero leveled up.

Wives and children :

The hero can have wife and children. During the adventure, the hero may come across quests that involves beautiful maidens, and these maidens may become the hero's wife who will give some bonus status to the hero, and she give birth to (I think) maximum 4 child, and each will give the hero extra bonuses too. Wives are divorce-able (no offense here, just explaining the game feature).

Troops :

There are tons of different types of troops the hero can recruit to his army, from Farmers to Dragons. The more powerful a unit is, the higher leadership points required. Each type of creatures have their own special characteristic and skills, some even inherent magical talents. Such as Monk has the ability to heal others and his attack is holy property thus deals more damage to undead creatures. Ghosts can steal other's life force and add it to it's own. Knights are dragon slayers, etc.... try and see it yourself :-) . Troops are limited in numbers, means that the castle may ran out of archers if you keep buying them because they got killed in combat. Some creatures are unlimited, but usually the weakest in the race.

Artifacts/Items :

Artifacts can give bonuses to the hero, artifacts may be found from treasure chests, dug up, bought or as rewards. When the hero wanders around any field, undergrounds, dungeons, occasionally you will see a faint pillar of light, it means that there's a hidden treasure there, Press "D" to dig it up. It can be gold or artifacts. Items such as healing/mana potions are buy-able. Monsters eggs, seeds, etc can be found in game, and will give the hero extra troops without having to hire them with gold. Some artifacts can be upgraded by fighting the item's spirit keepers, if you win the artifact will become stronger and sometimes gain bonus status.

Spirit of Rage :

After a certain point in game, the hero will receive Rage Casket, and within sealed 4 mighty spirits of rage which can be summoned in battle. But in order to gain their service, the hero must fulfill their needs first. You may have to find a certain item, fight them or feed them. These 4 spirits are :
1. Zerock the stone spirit : A huge creature from the Black Star world. Its flesh is made of a splinter from a dark celestial body that personifies physical might and endurance. Its attacks inflict huge physical damage, breaching any defense and crushing even the most violent enemies.
2. Sleem the swamp spirit : This scaly monster has been summoned by the sorcerers of the Guild of Dark from Arey, the world of poisonous swamps where incredible and terrible creatures live. The Swamp Spirit of Rage feels uncomfortable in this world which is why he is constantly irritated and angry. His power is that of poisonous swamps and their inhabitants.
3. Lina the ice spirit : Battle sorcerer from techno-magical world who has lost her body in the brutal fight. Lina is full of desire to return her normal appearance. She is ready to serve if you help to recharge her magical devices, which energy almost exhausted during the centuries of imprisonment.
4. Reaper the death spirit : Reaper, Sinister and powerful keeper of the Temple of Time, is searching for lost Symbol of the Keeper. Help him and the Death Spirit will serve you. The power upon the time and space given to all Keepers of the Temple make Reaper very helpful servant.

Each have their own experience level, and they will gain new skills and grow stronger as they level up. In order to level them, you have to summon them in combat.

Combat :

Combat commence as the hero encountered an enemy unit or attacking castle. Combat is turn based, the troops with the highest speed points will move first. Combat screen consists of :

Hero's/enemy hero status : on the top left screen, you will see the hero's picture, rage points and mana points. If you are battling an enemy hero, his/her status will be shown on the top right of the screen.

Menu, run, auto : on the bottom left, you will see menu button (don't need to explain what's the use I am sure), run if you decided to run from combat (you will lose all the troops, but better than game over), and auto combat where computer will take complete control.

Combat explanation : next to the menus there's a dialogue box which explains any action commence either by you or your enemy. How many troops died in the attack, how much damage a unit suffered, etc.

Special skills : on the right bottom of the screen players will see. A red casket button which will open the Spirit or Rage screen to summon spirit of rage. Blue spell book to open your spell book in order to use magic spells. 3 slots of unit specific special skills, will be available when a unit with special skills currently acting as the active unit such as Sprites can cast dispel magic.. Hourglass makes the active unit to wait in turn. Shield makes the active unit to do the defensive stance reducing damage suffered.

Units with high speed points can move around the battlefield further than units with lower speed points. A unit can attack an enemy unit when it's adjacent to the enemy unit, the cursor will change into "sword" icon. Some units have long range abilities, and when the cursor moved onto an enemy unit, it will change into an "arrow" or "broken arrow", broken arrow indicates that the unit will only inflict half long ranged damage. Battlefield sometimes has traps or treasure chests, not all traps are bad, some gives blessings such as the Goddess statue. Treasure chest may contain gold, rune stones, etc. Traps can be destroyed by attacking it, or cast damaging spells on it. Some terrains are unaccessable, units can not stop on it, and only flying units can fly pass it.

Okay now for my point of view about this game :

Graphic : EXCELLENT, very detailed, rendered beautifully, colorful and pleasant in the eyes. (At least a 256 Mb graphic card is needed to enjoy nearly full graphical features).

Sound : Soundtracks are so pleasant to my ears. It represents the magical fantasy in game environments very well. Though I think they could do more improvements in sound effects.

Gameplay : Addictive, once you started, it's hard to stop he..he..he.

Replay-ability : Though the game has one goal, but the replay-ability is quite high, especially with 3 different types of heroes available.

Overall : This game is a great game which worth the price. Unless you are not into strategy adventure RPG style game, you won't be disappointed. Give it a go ^^ 

...less