Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders

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"Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders" is a real-time strategy game with RPG elements, set in a high fantasy world. Players command vast armies across large battlefields, while also controlling individual hero units with unique abilities. The game features a single-player campaign, skirmish mode, and multiplayer options, with a focus on strategic warfare and resource management.

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Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders screenshot

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 695 reviews

story71 positive mentions

atmosphere3 negative mentions

The game successfully blends RTS and hack-and-slash gameplay, providing a unique and engaging experience.
The nostalgic value is high, as many players fondly remember enjoying this game on the original Xbox.
The soundtrack is fantastic, featuring heavy metal music that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.

The graphics and voice acting show their age, with some textures and audio quality being subpar compared to modern standards.
Controls can be clunky, especially when using a keyboard and mouse, making it more enjoyable with a controller.
There are some bugs and issues with the port, including occasional crashes and audio glitches.

story
211 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
62%
5%
The story of the game is generally described as a solid yet somewhat generic dark fantasy narrative, featuring engaging characters and a mix of political intrigue and epic battles. While some players find the storytelling and dialogue to be dated or poorly executed, many appreciate the depth of character development and the intertwining campaigns that enhance the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the narrative remains compelling and is often cited as a significant draw for players, especially when combined with the game's strategic gameplay elements.
- “The story is engaging, a little dated, and in some cases hilariously translated or voice acted.”
- “The story, while limited by the era it was created in, still packs a punch, and the characters are unforgettable.”
- “The game delivers an interesting story full of political intrigue and supernatural elements, and despite being a fantasy title, it has a realistic feel to the whole thing.”
- “The story is awful, just ignore it.”
- “The plot also moves at a particularly glacial pace; one could say that the game doesn't 'really begin' until the third and fourth campaigns, with the first two being more of an opportunity for tutorialization and world building.”
- “The 'story' is boring and is told via several paragraphs of text at the beginning and tiresome dialogues after.”
gameplay
157 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
69%
2%
The gameplay of "Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders" is widely praised for its unique blend of real-time strategy and hack-and-slash mechanics, offering a captivating experience that remains relevant despite its age. Players appreciate the depth of strategy involved in managing units and engaging in combat, alongside RPG elements that allow for troop customization and progression. While some technical aspects, such as graphics and controls, show their age, the core gameplay is considered innovative and enjoyable, making it a standout title in its genre.
- “This game's unique blend of real-time strategy and action elements continues to captivate, and the gameplay holds up remarkably well by today's standards.”
- “The gameplay is both different and innovative from its predecessor while at its core it's still an RTS. What makes Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders so special is the refined hybrid nature of the RTS formula combined with the Dynasty Warriors-style Musou combat mixed alongside RPG-lite features, all-in-one, turning it into a large-scale hack and slash strategic masterpiece.”
- “The mix between RTS and action gameplay this game provides is so unique that you would truly be missing out on an experience not replicated by any other game.”
- “The controls are wonky and game mechanics are clunky.”
- “Not because of any aging or technical limitations, but because of the controls and some mechanics.”
- “As for players who haven't played Kuf Crusaders, the game is set in a pretty generic European high fantasy world and mixes some basic action gameplay with some really awkward real-time strategy controls.”
graphics
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
71%
8%
The graphics of this game, originally released over 20 years ago, are generally considered dated but still hold up reasonably well for their time, showcasing a unique art style and character designs that many players appreciate. While some reviews express a desire for a modern remake with updated visuals, others note that the gameplay and story remain engaging despite the graphical limitations. Overall, the visuals are seen as a nostalgic element that does not detract significantly from the game's enjoyment.
- “The art style and character designs are fantastic.”
- “The graphics hold up to this day - another surprise to me.”
- “Graphics for an original Xbox game are very impressive; despite its age, it still looks great with a lot of care given to both animations and overall art style to give that immersion that you're in a different world where you're in command.”
- “The graphics are old and blocky, though.”
- “The graphics are still pretty dated, so don't expect much in that department.”
- “Graphics are terrible, animations are clunky, music is some guitar shit that is supposed to be 'cool', but it's not.”
music
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
53%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for its exceptional heavy metal soundtrack, which enhances the epic and immersive atmosphere during battles. Reviewers highlight how the energetic and intense tracks perfectly complement the gameplay, making combat feel more exhilarating, although some note that the music can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's unique character and appeal.
- “One of the game's standout features is its exceptional soundtrack, which adds an epic and immersive atmosphere to every battle.”
- “The metal soundtrack surprised me, initially by its existence, and then by how well it fits in with and creates intensity with the game every step of the way.”
- “The soundtrack is legendary, 'metal heavier than any knight’s plate!' indeed, each song fits the scene and battle like a glove and I can't stop listening to it, making smashing your horde of orcs against an enemy line so unique.”
- “The soundtrack isn't huge, but is a work of genius nonetheless; who would have thought before this game that 'medieval fantasy warfare' and 'heavy metal' would mix so well.”
- “6 hours of the same soundtrack going on repeat of the same electric guitar started to feel like barbed wires scraping against my ear.”
- “Graphics are terrible, animations are clunky, music is some guitar shit that is supposed to be 'cool', but it's not.”
optimization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
Overall, the game's optimization for PC has received mixed reviews. While many players report smooth performance even on lower-end hardware, with minimal bugs and good resource management, others criticize the controls and frame rate limitations, suggesting that the game is better suited for controller use. Some users noted that the optimization choices prioritize visuals over performance, leading to a lack of customizable settings and a narrow field of view.
- “Performance-wise, it seems to work very, very well for a PC port with only some minor bugs here and there regarding mostly unit pathing that can be resolved with commanding to halt then move/attack. Rarely visual bugs, but overall runs very smooth. I do advise you to play the game and its expansion packs with an Xbox controller because the PC controls seem a bit janky for camera buttons, particularly when you need to react quickly, which is almost all the time.”
- “I am currently playing the game on a non-gaming laptop, and it runs smoothly without issue. The game performs well during heavy combat and troop movements, so that is great.”
- “The PC version of the game is very well optimized.”
- “Was really terribly optimized for PC.”
- “Poorly optimized for PC, controls are very funky; better off playing with a controller, but I do not have one though.”
- “Which is good, because outside of the shadow map size and screen resolution, the game otherwise has zero performance options available.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
36%
27%
Overall, the game offers high replayability due to its engaging multi-character story, diverse troop customization, and the ability to replay stages for experience and resources. However, the absence of multiplayer and custom battle modes has led some players to feel that replay value is limited. Despite these drawbacks, many players find the campaigns enjoyable enough to revisit multiple times.
- “The game has some jank for sure being an older game but it tells a great multi-character story and is very replayable!”
- “Let me explain further, during each campaign you’ll choose stages on a map according to the story, some stages will be replayable for experience and money grinding.”
- “These campaigns are so good that I've lost count of how many times I've played them; the troop customization, diversity of units, officers, and companions add so much replayability.”
- “The only real complaints that I have are against the replayability and character selection.”
- “No multiplayer means little to no replay value.”
- “Just wish there was the old school PvP that we had from the console days... the replayability if that was available would be endless.”
humor
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
91%
9%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players noting its engaging and nostalgic story, complemented by amusing dialogue and voice acting, despite some dated elements and translation errors. While the character models can be unsettling, the overall comedic experience, particularly in specific campaigns, adds to the enjoyment. Players appreciate the blend of funny tactics and memorable lines, making for a humorous gameplay experience.
- “The story is engaging, a little dated, and in some cases hilariously translated or voice acted.”
- “Funny to boot too, on the second campaign: Lucretia, and their dialogue a few levels in just cracks me up.”
- “The only thing my rose-tinted glasses hid from me was the hilarious translation errors.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Character development in the game is noted to be somewhat limited, primarily serving the narrative within a solid dark fantasy framework. While some players appreciate the character banter and unique playstyles, others criticize the overall depth of character growth, suggesting that the focus leans more towards action and strategy than on extensive character arcs. The art and design elements receive praise, but the voice acting and graphics have drawn mixed reviews.
- “It's story is solid dark fantasy fare, its levels are fun, the character designs are cool, and each character plays very differently.”
- “The art style and character designs are fantastic.”
- “I find the story to be interesting and the character development/banter enjoyable.”
- “It has dated graphics and ugly character designs, and the English voice acting is basically every mediocre to bad Japanese anime-esque English dub ever (yes, I know this game is Korean, don't bite my head off).”
- “There's a bit of character development as far as story goes, but more action and strategy than anything.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its exceptional hard rock soundtrack, which enhances the immersive experience during battles and complements the gritty, low fantasy setting. The combination of dark, retro visuals and well-developed characters contributes to a unique ambiance that many reviewers find compelling, setting a high standard for similar titles. Overall, the atmosphere is described as epic and god-tier, effectively drawing players into its war-torn world.
- “One of the game's standout features is its exceptional soundtrack, which adds an epic and immersive atmosphere to every battle.”
- “Has a hard rock soundtrack that just brings you into the atmosphere of the game itself in a way other games in its year lacked.”
- “The low fantasy, gritty, dark, headbanging atmosphere made this game one of a kind, as well as setting a standard that makes Kingdom Under Fire 2 such a major disappointment.”
- “The overall graphics and art style do well enough to immerse you in the atmosphere, though they’re certainly a long shot from what you probably prefer in an action game at this point.”
- “Characters are fleshed out and endearing, the metal soundtrack more than fits the world and story, and the overall atmosphere is dark and gloomy - Warhammer-esque.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, the game's stability on PC is mixed; while many players report a functional experience with no game-breaking bugs during campaigns, there are notable issues with bugs and control adjustments due to its nature as a straight port. Some users enjoy the gameplay despite these bugs, indicating that while the game is playable, it may require patience with its PC controls.
- “No glitches that I noticed going through Gerald's campaign, starting Luci's, and enjoying the bad guys running around slaughtering people!”
- “The game runs great on PC, and it's probably the definitive way to play now, but don't be mistaken, it's a straight port.”
- “The game attempted a PC port but is a bit buggy with PC controls.”
- “Not talking about the game as a whole, it's an excellent game, but it's buggy as hell.”
- “Really enjoying it again in 2020 - a tad buggy though.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be a rewarding experience, as the combination of strategy and coordination evokes a sense of mastery and accomplishment. While the voice acting is somewhat inconsistent, with only about half being noteworthy, there are moments of genuine emotional resonance that enhance the overall experience.
- “The games are both mentally, emotionally, and physically taxing but immensely rewarding when you finally figure out how to coordinate your troops.”
- “Only criticism is that about half of the voice acting in English is a little... eh... but at least 53% of it is solid with some instances of truly heartfelt delivery.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often unenjoyable, with missions described as unclear and boring. The need to replay stages for experience and currency adds to the sense of monotony in the gameplay.
- “Then there's the missions and how tedious, unclear, or straight-up boring they can be.”
- “Tedious and simply bad.”
- “Let me explain further: during each campaign, you’ll choose stages on a map according to the story. Some stages will be replayable for experience and money grinding.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The monetization of the series is criticized as being a cash grab, with users expressing disappointment over the lack of substantial new content beyond basic features like widescreen support. There is also a call for better advertising to promote the game, which some consider to be in a state of abandonware.
- “The only new thing it has is the widescreen support and loose file support; other than that, this port is pretty much a cash grab and is now abandonware.”