BC Kings
- June 16, 2009
- Mascot Entertainment
"BC Kings" is a strategy game with story-driven campaign, featuring adventure elements and a brave hero named Mradin. The game offers 63 unique units, 32 buildings, 84 technologies to research, and 8 devastating magic spells. Completing main objectives and side quests earns Shell-coins for character upgrades, exploring mysteries like Stonehenge and the Yeti.
Reviews
- The game offers a nostalgic experience for those who played it in their youth, with charming art direction and atmosphere reminiscent of late 90s/early 2000s RTS games.
- Despite its dated graphics and some bugs, many players find the gameplay enjoyable and worth the low price, especially for fans of classic RTS mechanics.
- The unique premise of cavemen fighting aliens adds a quirky twist to the traditional RTS formula, making it an interesting option for genre enthusiasts.
- The game suffers from numerous technical issues, including crashes, poor optimization for modern systems, and a lack of support for widescreen resolutions.
- Many players criticize the game for being a low-quality ripoff of Warcraft III, with uninspired unit design and a generic gameplay experience that fails to innovate.
- The multiplayer aspect is largely non-functional, and the overall presentation feels outdated, leading to a lack of engagement for new players.
- story56 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as engaging and entertaining, blending serious and comedic elements, though it is criticized for being convoluted and requiring extensive reading to understand. While some players appreciate the unique themes and side quests, others find the narrative lacks originality, often feeling like a derivative homage to classic RTS titles like Warcraft III. Overall, the story adds a layer of interest to the gameplay, but technical issues and pacing problems detract from the overall experience.
“For what it is, it's a pretty good game, an interesting story and I would definitely recommend it to people who enjoy RTS games.”
“If you like basic RTS gameplay and some serious/comedic campaign story-line, I guarantee you will have a good time with BC Kings!”
“These points aside, it's a pretty interesting theme for an RTS, with a fairly entertaining story; it was engaging enough that I stuck through the campaign to the end.”
“The whole story of this game is that one guy really wanted to make his own Warcraft.”
“It looks dated, it feels dated, it has literally nothing new in it, it comes with a lot of copy-pasted concepts from popular RTS titles (at some points it feels exactly like a poor man's Warcraft III), while the story is just stupid and not really fun.”
“To understand the story, all you have to do is just read, read, and read.”
- graphics44 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely criticized for being dated and technically subpar, often described as "ugly" and reminiscent of older titles like Warcraft 3. While some players find them serviceable and readable, many express a desire for a graphical overhaul to enhance the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, the gameplay remains enjoyable for those who appreciate classic strategy games.
“Awesome game, fun graphics, great controls.”
“Graphically, the game feels dated but it's okay as long as it is able to entertain you.”
“Greatest game ever, can't believe these cutting-edge graphics were around in 2008!!!!”
“The biggest drawback is the graphics.”
“I really wish this game had better graphics.”
“First of all, the graphics are very ugly, but despite that, the game mechanics and quests are really interesting.”
- gameplay32 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by standard RTS mechanics reminiscent of classic titles like Warcraft and Command & Conquer, featuring simple controls and a focus on exploration through optional side quests for unlocking new abilities. While the graphics are dated and the multiplayer aspect is limited, players who appreciate old-school RTS elements and a mix of serious and comedic storytelling may find enjoyment in the experience, especially if purchased at a discount. Overall, it offers a nostalgic feel but lacks the polish of modern RTS games.
“There are some additional mechanics, such as being able to unlock new weapons and abilities for your heroes, not by an experience-based leveling system, but rather by getting points from finishing optional side quests in the game, which usually aren't a hassle and revolve mostly around exploration, rather than having to chase around a time limit.”
“Although multiplayer is kinda dead and you can't really play against more than one computer at a time, the game still holds up as a fun gameplay experience in my opinion.”
“Granted the gameplay at the time was similar to the 'big two' being Command and Conquer and Warcraft, it stands out due to its storyline as it ties in playing out our history.”
“The game mechanics are nothing special, just the standard RTS formula.”
“Adding to the patience requirement is the speed of your units vs the size of the map vs the amount of back-and-forth required for some missions; basically, some of the game's mechanics result in artificially inflated playtime.”
“If you don't mind dated graphics, generic gameplay, and poor humor, you can enjoy it for what it is.”
- stability14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous reports of bugs that render it nearly unplayable. Users frequently mention freezing, unresponsive controls, and an overall "ugly" experience, leading to a consensus that the game is not worth the investment due to its persistent technical problems.
“And yet, it is unplayable, ugly beyond your imagination, and intolerably buggy.”
“As for the game per se, the mouse doesn't always respond and everything freezes every ten seconds.”
“Looks like a decent game but it's just buggy as hell!”
- music6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its fitting and engaging quality, effectively complementing the gameplay set in a BC times era. However, some players find the music tracks less appealing, though they still enjoy the overall experience.
“The music is spot on, it fits the whole BC times era gameplay!”
“Also, the music slaps.”
“Despite the dated and simple graphics, this game turned out to be quite fun to play.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its nostalgic art direction, evoking memories of late 90s and early 2000s RTS games. While the graphics may not be impressive, the overall ambiance is considered enjoyable and engaging.
“I love the art direction and atmosphere; it took me back to the late 90s/early 2000s RTS times.”
“Graphics not good, but atmosphere is nice here :)”
“Love the art direction and atmosphere; it took me back to the late 90's/early 2000's RTS times.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely criticized for being outdated and lacking originality, with references to clichéd jokes like alien tropes and "I'm your father" lines. Many players find the humor to be poor and detracting from the overall experience, although some suggest that those who overlook these flaws may still find enjoyment in the game.
“The humor is a delightful mix of clever puns and absurd situations that kept me laughing throughout the game.”
“I loved the quirky characters and their hilarious dialogue; it added so much charm to the overall experience.”
“The game is filled with witty references and laugh-out-loud moments that make it a joy to play.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game suffers from poor optimization, lacking support for modern display resolutions and widescreen monitors, which results in a subpar experience on contemporary gaming PCs. It has not been updated to run smoothly, leaving players frustrated with its performance.
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy for this game has been criticized as a cash grab, with many users feeling it exploits nostalgia for abandonware rather than offering genuine value.
“This seems to have been put on Steam as a nostalgia gouge, or just a cash grab to try to profit from abandonware.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players consistently highlight the game's high replayability, indicating that it remains enjoyable and engaging even after multiple playthroughs.
“Still a great game overall, with a lot of replayability!”
“Still a great game overall, with a lot of replayability!”