I can’t believe I never played this game before – and now I don’t have long to wait before I can dive back in. In this case, the original King’s Bounty battle classic has been updated to the latest version. It can now be played on modern operating systems, and those who have been following the development have been treated to the inclusion of a few new features. But what has been added?
Since the first King’s Bounty game back in 1996, the King’s Bounty franchise has had a large following. It’s an RPG series that gives players an epic story to follow, rewarding exploration and hard work, and even provides several ways to complete your objectives. This aspect of the game is what makes it so popular, but it’s also what makes it so difficult to review. On the one hand, you could simply give it an 8 or 9 out of 10 , depending on how much you like the game, but on the other hand you could easily give it a negative score because of the game’s flaws.
The e-mail I received says that the game is to be released on November 7th 2009. Still, when I asked for more information, I got a “I’ll let you know when the game is out”.
I miss Might and Magic. Both the mainline series and the phenomenal Heroes of Might and Magic spinoff. It was the game that put blending strategy and RPGs on the map. It’s also the reason I’m rambling about old RPG franchises now. See, there was a game before the first Heroes of Might and Magic. One made by the same company that set the stage for HOM&M’s future success. It was called King’s Bounty. And now over thirty years later, long after the death of its successor, we finally received a true sequel. While there were eventual follow ups to the original game, this is the game to bear the official title of King’s Bounty II. The question is, does it live up to the legacy of the game that smashed my two favorite genres together so successfully?
The answer is complicated. At first my reaction was not really. The game has issues. Not issues in the “every game has issues” kinda way. These kind of issues are built into the game’s core and only become more blatant as you play. The result of ambition and scale unchecked. After thinking about it some more and putting in more playtime though, my answer shifted. After all, the original King’s Bounty was itself an experiment of ambition. An attempt to mesh two genres together, which HOM&M would use to set the standard. So it’s only natural that the game to claim the title of a direct sequel would follow in its footsteps. To not simply settle for what the genre already was, but instead push it forward. Also, this game’s simply my brand of fun.
It’s a very nice-looking game, to be honest. Although not the greatest, it is nevertheless pleasing to the eye.
So there’s King’s Bounty II. The concept is straightforward, and the setting is much simpler. You begin the game as a prisoner in the custody of Nostria’s current king. Trouble is building, and it’s up to you to stop it. You’re then freed under strange circumstances by the same monarch who imprisoned you. Nostria is, without a doubt, the most generic fantasy world imaginable. To be clear, I mean this in a positive way. Because the genre has gotten so engrossed with dark and gritty subversions, some good old-fashioned fantasy is just what the doctor prescribed. To be honest, King’s Bounty II isn’t exactly a straight shooter either. There are lots of tongue-in-cheek moments and a good bit of comedy, as is typical of the series. Of course, your mileage may vary, but I thought it amusing enough.
The gameplay is the meat of the game. There are two major gameplay components, although one of them is very unique in comparison to other games in the category. You explore the area from a third-person viewpoint rather than an overworld. This is the game’s most significant and ambitious update, as well as the source of the majority of criticisms. However, although it isn’t ideal, I believe it isn’t bad, and with a few changes, it might be fantastic. It gives the game and narrative a personal touch that isn’t often seen in similar games. It also does a better job of transforming this section of the game into a full-fledged RPG. The puzzles are now a little simpler, the landscapes are lovely and detailed but lack interactivity, and the game is rather linear. However, because this isn’t the whole game, it doesn’t, in my view, break the entire game.
The user interface may be a bit…messy… But after I got accustomed to it, it wasn’t an issue.
The second half of the game more than makes up for that. King’s Bounty II has a tile-based, turn-based combat system rather than a real-time battle system. It also doesn’t happen on the global map, but on a series of discrete combat maps. It’s a great combat system, and the diversity of units and spells is what makes it amazing. The fight consists of two parts: your army and your commander. Your army is made up of a range of troops that you choose from four ideals. Instead of actively participating in the fight, your commander rule over it. They contribute by using boosts and spells that have a direct impact on the battlefield. There is a broad range of both, as well as a large range of gaming styles. This is also relevant to the RPG aspect of the game, as you may unlock and discover troops, learn spells, and create your own unique ideal.
Your ideal is the most seamless link between the RPG and strategic aspects. And it does so admirably. There are four of them, each on the opposing side of the room. And for both Unit kinds and RPG actions, each has a distinct significance. The word “power” conjures up images of strong troops in the front and decisive displays of might. Finesse, on the other hand, is for versatile utility units and playing smart rather than hard. Then there’s Order, which is for “good” simple units and activities that maintain the status quo. Finally, Chaos symbolizes the world’s “evil” underhanded troops and acts that cause havoc. It’s important to keep in mind that things aren’t always black and white. It is a Chaos action to fight a corrupt monarch. It is an Order to uphold the legalized murder of people. This isn’t a toothless dream, just because it’s a classic. There will be many choices to make, and few of them will be simple.
This hat is appropriate for you to wear. That’s all there is to it.
They are, nevertheless, entertaining for a number of reasons. First and foremost, there’s the basic process of creating your vision. As you consider your choices, you will gradually begin to favor one over the others. You’ll eventually lose the capacity to select alternatives that contradict your views. You’ll eventually arrive at a unique conclusion depending on your ideal, which adds a little replayability to the game. The other benefits are, well, benefits. Making choices and completing missions generally earns you influence for recruiting, gold for purchasing items, and unlocking troops. It’s worth noting that various troops unlock based on your actions. As you make choices, you’ll accumulate relevant units, which will grow stronger as your beliefs become more aligned. As I already said, it all comes together very well. Your decisions have an impact not just on the plot but also on the makeup of your army.
Your commander, the main character, is the last piece of the jigsaw. At the start of the game, you have three options to select from. Katherine the Mage, Elisa the Paladin, and Aivar the Warrior. Backgrounds, dialogue, and skill trees are all unique to each game. It’s worth noting that the narrative itself stays constant, despite the fact that how you experience it may vary dramatically. Outside flavor and personal taste, I felt that the army itself has a greater effect on gameplay. At least in the early game, I didn’t see a significant difference in gameplay between Katherine and Aivar. However, I greatly like Katherine as a character, so your decision is still significant.
This game has a lot of backstory to absorb, and the most of it is really very fascinating.
If you’ve ever wanted to know what a western JRPG might be like, King’s Bounty II is it. Sure, it adheres to the genre’s fundamental values by combining RPG with strategic gameplay. Furthermore, the strategy gaming is enjoyable, complex, and takes some thinking in terms of combat and force formation. But the way it’s done reminds me of JRPGs like Dragon Quest. Personally, I don’t mind. JRPGs are one of my favorite genres. I also like Dragon Quest. I like fantasy, strategic, and role-playing games. While certain aspects of the game aren’t ideal, they all work together to produce an entertaining game that accomplishes exactly what it says on the box. This isn’t a flop; instead, it’s a promising start for a new strategic RPG series.
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It isn’t the most visually appealing game ever, but it does look nice, and in some instances, fantastic.
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Although the RPG aspects are light, the strategic gameplay is deep and meaty.
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The voice acting is atrocious, to the point that you should turn them off or switch languages. The music is also generic, but the sound effects are very visceral and well-done.
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It’s entertaining. Some of it is generic, some of it is dull, and the combat system is by far the greatest part, but I had a lot of fun with it and will continue to play it in the future.
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On PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch, King’s Bounty II is now available.
On a computer, I reviewed it.
The publisher supplied a copy of King’s Bounty II.
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King’s Bounty 2 (KHB2) is the sequel to the turn-based strategy game King’s Bounty, which was released in 1997. The game is available for play on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android devices, and is for $9.99 USD at the time of writing. As with all strategy games, KHB2 is played by moving your units around a grid-based game-play map.. Read more about king’s bounty 2 review reddit and let us know what you think.
