XIII Century: Gold Edition
- August 27, 2009
- Unicorn Games Studio
Get on Steam"XIII Century: Gold Edition" is a real-time strategy game set in the Middle Ages, allowing players to lead various factions in large-scale battles across five campaigns. The game features detailed historical events, including the defense of Pskov by Prince Dovmont against the Teutonic Order in 1266 AD. With a focus on realistic medieval warfare and immersive environments, players can test their strategic and battlefield tactics in this Gold Edition, which combines "XIII Century: Death or Glory" and its sequel "XIII Century: Blood of Europe."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game is praised for its historical accuracy and detailed research, making it a must-have for historical enthusiasts.
- The AI is challenging and requires strategic thinking to win battles, providing a rewarding tactical experience.
- The game offers a variety of units and formations, making battles engaging and enjoyable despite its age.
- The game frequently crashes, especially after the tutorial, leading to a frustrating experience for many players.
- There is a lack of campaign mode and replayability, as the game consists mainly of preset battles without empire building.
- Technical issues, such as memory access violations and compatibility problems with newer operating systems, significantly hinder gameplay.
- graphics11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some users expressing a desire for a remaster to enhance the visuals to modern standards, while others appreciate the decent quality and historical accuracy compared to older titles like Medieval II Total War. The aesthetic is described as having a dark, dream-like quality, though some players note issues such as pixelation and awkward camera angles. Overall, while the graphics may not reach the heights of more recent strategy games like Shogun II or Rome II, they are considered satisfactory for the game's genre.
“The visuals have a rather dark, dream-like quality and are over-bloomed, but this is an amazing game for what is often just a buck or two in sales.”
“But when I played it for the first time, I was mind-blown by the variety of units, factions, and graphics.”
“Although I admit the graphics are not rising to Shogun 2 or Rome 2 in the Total War series, they are still quite good.”
“I would love to see this game come out with a remaster for 2022 graphics and more 3D, less pixelated, and less old-school looks to it, like Rome II: Total War. If you're a fan of the older Total War games (specifically Medieval II: Total War), then this game is a complete upgrade but with the same character design and just more historical accuracy.”
“On the other hand, the graphics and textures are reminiscent of the oldest strategy game for PC called Imperial Glory.”
“Although I admit the graphics do not rise to the level of Shogun II or Rome II in the Total War series, they are still quite good.”
- story7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game features a series of campaigns across various nations, each containing multiple missions. However, players have reported significant technical issues, including frequent crashes and inaccessible missions, which detract from the overall experience and hinder progression through the narrative. Despite these challenges, the game offers a substantial amount of content for its low price.
“It includes a series of campaigns for different nations (England, France, Spain, Teutonic Order, Russia, etc.) with around 5-6 missions per.”
“On the 2nd English mission, I basically had my whole army go against William Wallace and his other 2 cavalry groups, and the rest of his army didn't react.”
“I eventually managed to start the game, but after a few missions, it decided it was going to crash on one particular level every time I tried to play it.”
“Then the game wouldn't load for the 4th English mission; I tried some fixes, but nothing worked.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a notable concern, with users reporting frequent crashes and errors before battles, leading to screen freezes and blackouts. While the overall gameplay remains enjoyable, these bugs detract from the experience, particularly for an older title.
“For an older title, it is still fun, yet buggy with crashes. No big deal; mostly battles are strung together to form the campaigns.”
“As mentioned before, I get an error before every battle, and the screen freezes and goes black.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability due to its focus on preset armies and historical battles without empire building, making it more suitable for quick tactical skirmishes rather than extended play.
“The game offers a variety of modes and scenarios that keep each playthrough fresh and exciting.”
“With multiple factions to choose from and different strategies to explore, the replayability is off the charts!”
“Each campaign feels unique due to the dynamic events and choices that can lead to different outcomes.”
“There is no replayability with this setup.”
“The game lacks any meaningful choices that would encourage multiple playthroughs.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the character development in the game, noting it as an upgrade from older titles like Medieval II Total War, particularly in terms of historical accuracy. However, there is a desire for a remaster that enhances the graphics and modernizes the character design to reduce the pixelated, old-school appearance.
“The character development in this game is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with their characters and witness their growth throughout the story.”
“I appreciate how the game offers multiple paths for character development, making each playthrough feel unique and personal.”
“The depth of character backstories and the choices that influence their development really enhance the overall experience.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on a personal level.”
“I was disappointed by the limited growth options for characters; it feels like they are stuck in a one-dimensional role.”
“The characters don't evolve throughout the game, which makes the story feel stagnant and unengaging.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally considered unremarkable, but it effectively fulfills its role without standing out.
“The music is nothing to write home about, but it serves its purpose and is okay.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, users find the game to be well-optimized, contributing to an enjoyable experience, which is consistent with the performance of its sibling titles.
“I was surprised at how enjoyable and well-optimized this game and its sibling games are.”
