Field of Glory II: Medieval
- February 3, 2021
- Byzantine Games
Field of Glory 2: Medieval is the closest to a tabletop miniatures experience you'll get on PC.
"Field of Glory II: Medieval" is a turn-based tactical game set in the High Middle Ages from 1040 AD to 1270 AD. The game allows you to command armies from various European countries and experience major themes of the period, including the struggles of the Kings of France, English wars of conquest, Baltic Crusades, and the Mongol invasion. It features heavily armored knights delivering devastating charges and simulates the constant state of war during the period.
Reviews
- Captures the feel of a historical miniatures wargame with deep tactical gameplay.
- Well-researched and historically accurate, offering a unique blend of strategy and history.
- Great graphics and a variety of units, providing a rewarding experience for both casual and veteran players.
- The game can feel chaotic and lacks a cohesive command system, leading to disorganized battles.
- Heavy reliance on RNG can result in unpredictable outcomes, which may frustrate players seeking strategic control.
- Multiplayer options are limited, and the absence of a robust campaign mode detracts from the overall experience.
- graphics31 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the beautiful and clear visuals, particularly for the knights, while others criticize them as outdated compared to modern standards. Many players appreciate the game's artistic style, which resembles miniature models and enhances the tabletop experience, but some find the graphics functional yet lacking in detail. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered an improvement over previous titles, they may not meet the expectations of players seeking cutting-edge visuals.
“Love the graphics, especially for the knights, but others as well.”
“Top it off with a respectable AI and outstanding graphics and you can’t go wrong.”
“Beautiful graphics and maps.”
“The graphics are worse than most of the games I played from the year 2005, and the losing makes it even worse.”
“Basic rough UI, bad graphics for a 2021 game, very basic game mechanics. This is more a custom battle simulator; if you are looking for a Total War/Paradox game experience, this is not for you.”
“This game is good enough as it goes; it is a workmanlike effort and I will give it a thumbs up, but to me it just feels like a pretty ordinary hex game with pretty graphics.”
- gameplay31 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its unique mechanics rooted in tabletop gaming, offering a mix of depth and accessibility, though it presents a steep learning curve. While some players appreciate the fun and challenge of maneuvering various troop types, others criticize the mechanics for being confusing or poorly executed, leading to unpredictable outcomes. Overall, the game provides a visually appealing experience with a focus on tactical multiplayer, but opinions vary widely on its effectiveness and historical authenticity.
“Because of its tabletop roots, Fog has rules and mechanics that are very different from any other computer game.”
“The gameplay is just about right for this type of warfare as you set up your troops pre-battle and issue commands, then hope they are carried out.”
“This game has a serious amount of depth to its mechanics while remaining instantly accessible, and I can't recommend it enough.”
“But the fact that you cannot get the mechanics right, that's just unforgivable.”
“The gameplay is still terrible.”
“The battle mechanics just don't make sense.”
- music8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for being excellent and thematically appropriate, effectively setting the mood during gameplay. However, some users noted that while the soundtrack is enjoyable, it doesn't represent a significant upgrade from previous versions, and there are mixed feelings about the marketing music being overly cheesy compared to the game's quality. Overall, the music contributes positively to the gaming experience, enhancing immersion without major innovations.
“Excellent music.”
“The cracking good music and loading screen set the mood perfectly.”
“I played Battle of Hastings - there were no bugs, it looked splendid, I liked the music, and it was easy to get underway and start playing.”
“It seems the devs invested as much money in the marketing (that voice-over narrator and music in the trailer... omg, so cheesy and comically contrasting with the quality of the game) as they did in the game itself.”
“There is also more thematically appropriate music, but none of these are significant upgrades.”
“The sounds are almost exactly the same as before, except for the rally sound and the music, with only a few ambient sounds added.”
- story6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
While players appreciate the engaging gameplay and variety of missions, many feel that the story lacks depth and personality, which detracts from the overall experience. The tutorial is criticized for being minimal and lacking narrative context, leaving players wanting a more immersive storyline to elevate the game from good to great.
“I moved on to play the first two missions of a randomly generated campaign, and by the looks of it, the thrill will last.”
“Great game, just what I wanted! It's set in the medieval era for a change, with plenty of factions to choose from, not to mention the epic historical missions and custom play and campaigns. I'm looking forward to DLC; well done, devs!”
“The tutorial is non-existent; it's just a mission with a bunch of small text thrown over it.”
“I have only 8 hours at the time of writing this, and even if the thrill doesn't last, the fact is that just by completing the three tutorial missions on 2/6 difficulty, I already feel like I got my money's worth, and that is a rare thing.”
“My army was massacred in the second tutorial mission because I underestimated the enemy.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its realistic historical setting, appealing graphics, and immersive sound design that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the engaging battlefield dynamics and the variety of factions, although some feel that it lacks a true "battlefield" atmosphere despite its tactical depth.
“Tldr: yes it's realistic (but in a historical way rather than what you may expect), the graphics are pretty enough, the sound greatly adds to the atmosphere, and the interface is intuitive.”
“While pursuing, it will also auto-attack another unit that gets in its way, and I actually enjoy this; sometimes there will be a chain of such events that result in a great battlefield atmosphere.”
“It has a great atmosphere and setting, plenty of factions to choose from, and a deep tactical battle system.”
“I got tired of Age of Empires and the toxic atmosphere that game sometimes attracts, so I went looking for something new.”
“I walked on Senlac Hill in reality and was much moved by the experience - there is absolutely no 'battlefield' atmosphere in the game.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game highly replayable due to the extensive variety of tools and options available, including historical battles, campaigns, and the ability to create random or custom scenarios, which contribute to an almost limitless gameplay experience.
“The number of tools given to the player, who can choose between historical battles or campaigns, or even random or custom scenarios, renders the game almost infinitely replayable.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for its lack of meaningful impact from player performance, as enemy forces do not evolve or adapt over time. Additionally, the randomness in troop performance, coupled with uninspired battle themes and restricted unit movement, detracts from the overall strategic experience.
“Your performance in battles matters very little, because the enemy force is also not persistent (unlike, for example, Ultimate General, where the enemy army’s size and quality is tracked across battles and is affected by the player’s actions).”
“Troop performance is random, the choice of themes and battles is uninteresting, and unit movement is handicapped.”
“Your performance in battles matters very little because the enemy force is also not persistent (unlike, for example, Ultimate General, where the enemy army’s size and quality is tracked across battles and is affected by the player’s actions).”
“Troop performance is random, battle choices are uninteresting, and unit movement is handicapped.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky mechanics, which some players find amusing despite their confusion. Overall, it is described as a funny strategy game that blends humor with its gameplay elements.
“If I'm honest, I still don't fully understand the game and find some of the mechanics confusing and a bit funny.”
“Funny strategy game!”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, as it involves a cumbersome process of assigning troops to leaders before each battle, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of gameplay.
“Each leader commands a portion of troops that you assign ad-hoc before each battle in a tedious process.”
“The grinding feels endless, with repetitive tasks that offer little reward.”
“Leveling up requires an excessive amount of time spent on monotonous activities.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate disappointment with the monetization strategy, as players expected a high-quality experience based on advertisements but found the game lacking in quality, reminiscent of early 2000s titles. This disconnect has led to frustration regarding the value for money.
“The monetization model is incredibly aggressive, making it feel like the game is more about squeezing money from players than providing a fun experience.”
“I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, which ruins the overall enjoyment of the game.”
“It feels like every aspect of the game is designed to push you towards spending money, rather than allowing you to enjoy the content freely.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While players suggest waiting for additional DLC to enhance the game's emotional depth through expanded content, they still find the current offering engaging enough to provide dozens of hours of immersive gameplay, particularly appreciating the multiplayer experience.
“The game masterfully captures the emotional weight of its characters, making every decision feel impactful and personal.”
“I was genuinely moved by the story; it resonated with my own experiences and left a lasting impression.”
“The emotional depth of the narrative is astounding, drawing players into a world where every moment feels significant.”