Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders

Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders
Cover art used in the Western world
Developer(s)Phantagram
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)Xbox, Microsoft Windows
ReleaseXbox
  • NA: October 12, 2004
  • EU: October 29, 2004
Windows
February 28, 2020
Genre(s)Hack and slash, Real-time tactics
Mode(s)Single-player

Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders is a tactical wargame developed by the Korean studio Phantagram for the Xbox. It is the sequel to the 2001 game Kingdom Under Fire: A War of Heroes, and continues its storyline. Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders combines third-person action and role-playing elements in its gameplay, which differs from its predecessor.

Its prequel is Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes. Another sequel was released in late 2019 entitled Kingdom Under Fire II for Windows.

A Windows port was released for Steam in February 2020, and resurrected by the co-developer of the original Xbox version, Blueside.[1] A DRM-free version was released on GOG.com in early April 2020.[2] The modern Windows release came with several enhancements including full controller support, plus an all-new mouse & keyboard mode (Though, a gamepad is recommended); modern resolutions and widescreen view.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders contains elements from the Dynasty Warriors games and aspects of Real-time strategy and role-playing games. As well as controlling the main character, the player fights with multiple armies or "units", which are controlled in real-time with either a minimap or the main screen. When the main character's unit engages in combat with an enemy unit, the gameplay is similar to Dynasty Warriors.

Any unit in close-quarters combat cannot be used for anything else until the combat is resolved; an exception to this is when two units are in close-quarter combat with the enemy: one unit can retreat while the other keeps the enemy unit occupied.

Reception

The Xbox version received "favorable" reviews, while the PC version received "mixed" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3][4] In Japan, where the former console version was ported and published by Jaleco on January 27, 2005, Famitsu gave it a score of 29 out of 40.[7]

The Xbox version was nominated for the "Most Surprisingly Good Game" and "Best Strategy Game" awards at GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2004 Awards, both of which went to The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay and Rome: Total War, respectively.[17][18]

Notes

  1. ^ In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the Xbox version, one critic gave it 7.5/10, and the rest gave it each a score of 8/10.

References

  1. ^ Brown, Fraser (February 28, 2020). "Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders is finally on PC". PC Gamer. Future plc. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  2. ^ "Release: Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders". GOG.com. CD Projekt. April 2, 2020. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders critic reviews (Xbox)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders critic reviews (PC)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  5. ^ Edge staff (November 2004). "Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders (Xbox)". Edge. No. 142. Future plc. p. 109.
  6. ^ Linn, Demian; Gifford, Kevin; Ford, Greg (November 2004). "Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 184. Ziff Davis. p. 150. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "キングダム アンダーファイア 〜ザ・クルセイダーズ〜 (Xbox)". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  8. ^ "Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders (Xbox)". Game Informer. No. 139. GameStop. November 2004. p. 163.
  9. ^ Shoemaker, Brad (October 15, 2004). "Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders Review (Xbox)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on January 19, 2005. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  10. ^ Maragos, Rich (October 26, 2004). "GameSpy: Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders (Xbox)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on June 9, 2007. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  11. ^ Hopper, Steven (October 20, 2004). "Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders – XB – Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 24, 2008. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  12. ^ Goldstein, Hilary (October 12, 2004). "Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders (Xbox)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  13. ^ "Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US. December 2004. p. 84.
  14. ^ Leeper, Justin (November 23, 2004). "Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders Review". X-Play. G4techTV. Archived from the original on November 24, 2004. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  15. ^ Schaefer, Jim (November 14, 2004). "BATTLE ROYAL: Smart war sim 'Kingdom Under Fire' puts your leadership to the test in a series of medieval melees". Detroit Free Press. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on November 14, 2004. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  16. ^ Goad, Dan (March 25, 2020). "Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders Review (PC)". The Digital Fix. Poisonous Monkey. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  17. ^ GameSpot staff (2005). "Best and Worst of 2004 (Most Surprisingly Good Game)". GameSpot. CNET. Archived from the original on April 5, 2005. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  18. ^ GameSpot staff (2005). "Best and Worst of 2004 (Best Strategy Game)". GameSpot. CNET. Archived from the original on March 8, 2005. Retrieved December 18, 2023.