Crown Champion: Legends of the Arena
- October 21, 2016
- Pilgrim Adventures
- 13h median play time
Get on SteamCrown Champion: Legends of the Arena is a fantasy RPG/Management simulator where you run a team of fighting slaves in gladiatorial combat, overseeing their training, building your school of combat, managing finances, and enhancing your reputation among the nobles, all to secure a place for your faction in the annals of arena history.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique blend of gladiator management and RPG elements, providing engaging gameplay with character backstories and lore.
- Players appreciate the fun and addictive nature of the game, with many enjoying the management aspects and the thrill of watching gladiators fight.
- The game is considered a great value for its low price, delivering hours of entertainment and a satisfying gameplay loop.
- The combat system is heavily reliant on RNG, leading to frustrating moments where players have no control over their gladiators' actions during fights.
- Many players find the game repetitive and grindy, especially after the initial excitement wears off, with limited depth in combat mechanics.
- Technical issues, such as crashes and poor optimization, detract from the overall experience, making it difficult for some players to enjoy the game fully.
- story60 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, featuring intriguing world-building and character backstories that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the political intrigue and the unique narratives of each fighter, although some find the main plot linear and the ending abrupt. Overall, while the story may not be deeply complex, it effectively engages players and encourages exploration of different choices throughout the game.
“In the background, there’s some political intrigue where the current king is trying to stabilize the kingdom after a recent civil war, but the only sympathetic characters are the insurrectionists who want to start a brand-new war because the current king is just an ascended commoner.”
“Every fighter has a personal story that fleshes them out as more than just stats, and if you treat them well, you might get to hear it.”
“What you get for your $4 is actual entertainment, with a well-thought-out story, choices that matter, and a new game world that you get to take part in.”
“The 'story', if you call it that, is very linear and thin.”
“The 'main story' so to speak didn't really go anywhere.”
“The story is abruptly cut off when you beat the final tournament.”
- gameplay28 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of management sim, RPG, and RNG mechanics, offering a simple yet engaging experience that can provide around 10-15 hours of playtime. While players appreciate the satisfying mechanics of managing fighters and the strategic elements involved, many find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in challenge, as the outcome often feels out of their control. Overall, the game is seen as a solid proof of concept with enjoyable mechanics, though it could benefit from more variety and difficulty.
“It's very simple but engaging; I got about 8 hours of gameplay out of it, but there's probably 3-4 more hours possible past the win point, and it was pretty cheap.”
“The gameplay loop is simple and satisfying.”
“The mechanics of balancing the cost of fighters versus needing them to win to progress is satisfying, and I felt like I was actually managing a stable of gladiators.”
“The gameplay is extremely repetitive and a total crapshoot — you don’t get to control your fighters, so while you can give them all the equipment and skills you want, they can still miss all their hits, get critted a bunch, or just act like total idiots, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“The progression mechanics are also an incredibly unstable equilibrium — your fighters give you more money the more fights they win in a row but can be knocked out of commission for a long time if they lose a fight, so the beginning is incredibly touch-and-go and you basically have to tread water until you get lucky enough for a string of victories.”
“I wanted to see more of it, but the game mechanics limit you to a specific role.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many users describing them as outdated, rudimentary, or "meh," lacking the visual appeal to stand out. While some appreciate the clarity and smoothness compared to earlier versions, the overall consensus is that the graphics do not significantly enhance the gameplay experience. Players suggest that despite the graphics being serviceable, they are not a strong selling point for the game.
“The graphics and design are better than many other games with a larger price tag.”
“Smoother, sharper, and clearer graphics than the earlier version.”
“I'll just add that I'd love to see the concept fleshed out into a larger, more robust title with better graphics.”
“The graphics are pretty 'meh', but they never got in the way of the gameplay.”
“Very bad graphics. 2D NES type game.”
“The graphics are out of date - don't play it for that.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of witty dialogue and light-hearted moments that contrast with its darker themes, such as prostitution and corruption. While the plot is more complex than its predecessor, players find it easier to navigate, adding to the overall comedic experience.
“Some of the dialogue is pretty darn funny.”
“There's something funny about them: even though the plot of this title is slightly more complex than the previous one, it's actually easier to unlock everything without breaking a sweat.”
“Some parts of the game are pretty grim (prostitution, slavery, corruption) while others are rather light-hearted and even funny.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding in the game to be manageable, with random encounters and storyline missions providing enough variety to maintain interest. While some moments can feel tedious, particularly towards the end, the overall experience is not heavily reliant on grinding typical of many RPGs.
“The random encounters and storyline missions help to keep the game interesting beyond the tedious reloading and grindfest of the main battles.”
“In this RPG Maker game, you are not a warrior grinding your way to power through mazes and bad RPG Maker battles.”
“I played the game for 14 hours (I always play RPGs as slowly as possible) and only the last hour or so felt a bit grindy.”
- music3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game remains largely unchanged and is described as neither captivating nor dull, providing a relaxing backdrop that players find acceptable for extended periods.
“Generally speaking, the graphics, sounds, and soundtrack didn't really change much; it's pretty much the same.”
“I could talk about how the music, while not enthralling, does not bore.”
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has mixed opinions on replayability; while some players find it lacking in long-term value, others believe it offers decent replay potential, especially if future updates introduce new content.
“It has pretty good replay value.”
“Doesn't have too much replay value, but I think I'll give it a second run in a few weeks.”
“If they add a few more elements, this might actually enhance the replay value in the future.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its depth, with conversation choices that are nuanced and not easily categorized as simply "good," "neutral," or "bad." Players appreciate the challenge of navigating ethical dilemmas and personal motivations, enhancing the overall engagement with the characters.
“The character development is excellent, and the conversation choices are not easily discernible as 'good/neutral/bad.' I enjoyed deciding whether to pander to my fighter or choose an ethical response.”
“The depth of character development really immerses you in the story, making every choice feel significant and impactful.”
“I love how the characters evolve based on your decisions, creating a unique narrative experience that keeps you engaged throughout the game.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game shows potential but suffers from frequent crashes to desktop (CTDs) and appears to have subpar optimization, hindering the overall experience.
“There is a gem of a little game in here, hobbled by crashes to desktop and what feels like poor optimization.”
“The game has potential, but the optimization issues make it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I love the concept, but the performance problems and lack of optimization really ruin the experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to characters, particularly highlighting the attachment formed with a gladiator through deep interactions and shared experiences. The narrative of loss and elation, as seen when a gladiator chooses to stay despite gaining freedom, underscores the game's ability to evoke profound feelings and investment in character relationships.
“I became emotionally attached to one gladiator and felt sad to see her go after we talked in depth about the god of death and mysteries for months in the game. She curb-stomped anyone I sent her up against, and I felt elated when she wanted to stay with me even after she won her freedom.”
“The emotional depth of the characters made me feel a strong connection to their stories, and I found myself genuinely caring about their fates.”
“Every decision I made had emotional weight, and I often found myself reflecting on the consequences of my actions long after I had finished playing.”
