Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes™ is the follow-up to the critically lauded 2004 action/strategy release Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders™. Like its predecessor, the game (from Korean developer Phantagram) is a rare animal—a unique mix of real-time strategy and third-person action that's unlike anything you've ever played before.
I spent some time with a prerelease build of Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes, and put it to the test. After slogging it out for hours on blood-stained battlefields, I have some good news to report to fans of the series: This game rocks.
Battles like this are par for the course.
Exotic Lands, Exotic Creatures The look and feel of Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes is an inspiring blend of Dungeons & Dragons and medieval lore with just a hint of Asian flair. After navigating the various menus and listening to dialogue snippets from some of the game's large cast of characters, you are transported into the fields of a war-torn countryside. Within moments, get thrust into a fantastic world populated with strange monsters, gritty soldiers, and wild weaponry.
The commander of your military force is a slender and nubile woman, scantily clad in revealing armor that just barely covers her curvaceous frame. A simple button press gives the troops their marching orders, and in seconds they run where you tell them to. The clink of armor and clashing of blades pierces the air as the men follow her lead. Meanwhile, a heavy metal soundtrack pumps steadily in the background. Charred tree stumps line the mountain path as your men slice through the fog en route to the fight.
Using a simple control interface, guide the direction of your platoon toward your objective and give the order to march or engage. Sometimes you have to seek the enemy out, and other times your foe will ambush you. Once you make contact, the controlled military atmosphere is instantly transformed into total chaos. Your view is instantly clouded by legions of unholy Elven warriors with swords drawn. Now the action gets down and dirty.
Real-Time Insanity For those unfamiliar with the real-time strategy (RTS) genre, here's a quick primer. Typical RTS games let you manage wartime activities from a resource management level. Working within the confines of a fixed economy and insulated environment, you are responsible for building weapon units (like tanks, infantry, airplanes, and so on) and deploying them against your foe as the clock ticks away. While the action is sometimes exciting, it's hardly immersive; usually you view the action from above like an entomologist studying ant colonies at war.
Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes is anything but typical. It differentiates itself from other RTS titles in combat. When you engage the enemy, the view zooms in tight on your commanding officer. With little warning, your position is overrun by dozens of rabid killers. In a scene that rivals the intensity of the Mel Gibson flick Braveheart, two forces collide with the ferocity of lions, and you quickly lose track of reality.
Using a combination of normal and special attacks, hammer away at the horde fighting alongside your brethren. Skillful commanders will assist pockets of their troops where the action is hottest, though there are so many creatures battling it out at once, you rarely find yourself without someone (or something) to fight.
Stay on your toes in the field—enemy support forces will take every opportunity to rain fiery death upon your squad in the form of burning arrows, fire barrels, and magic. The scene is as chaotic as it is enthralling. Mere words don't do it justice. You have to experience the insanity firsthand to truly appreciate it.
Take a moment to plan your next move.
Part Action, Part RPG When you emerge from the chaotic battlefield, the game shifts gears and lets you catch your breath. All the experience points and gold you accrue from fighting you can exchange for new gear and enhanced fighting abilities. There are so many permutations for each character, fighting style, and weapon load-out that the possibilities are nearly endless.
When you're through playing dress-up, tour the local pubs and eavesdrop on the locals. If you need reinforcements, hire mercenaries to join your cause. If you haggle over price, keep in mind that you can also annoy your prospects away, so it pays to be wise when negotiating.
Let’s get ready to rumble!
Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes is remarkably deep in both its combat and its strategy elements. More importantly, it's a blast to play. Be sure to check out our combat tips and strategy coverage for more details.
