King's Bounty: Warriors of the North
- October 25, 2012
- Fulqrum Publishing
- 68h median play time
Get on SteamIn "King's Bounty: Warriors of the North," players lead an army of northern warriors in a quest to defeat the undead and reclaim the kingdom of Darion. With new heroes, units, and spells, players must navigate a richly detailed world, engaging in strategy-based tactical battles and making choices that affect the game's outcome. This hassle-free RPG adventure takes players on an epic journey, full of mythical creatures and strategic challenges.
Reviews
- Engaging turn-based combat system that requires strategic thinking.
- Beautiful graphics and immersive world with a rich storyline.
- Variety of units and spells, allowing for diverse gameplay strategies.
- Frequent crashes and bugs that disrupt gameplay experience.
- Repetitive quests and enemy encounters, leading to a sense of monotony.
- Some issues with localization and grammar, affecting immersion.
- story117 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The story in "King's Bounty: Warriors of the North" is generally regarded as an improvement over its predecessors, featuring a rich and immersive narrative that captivates players despite some repetitive fetch quests and occasional bugs. While many players appreciate the engaging quests and humor, some criticize the plot for being bland and formulaic, often revolving around the familiar theme of battling undead foes. Overall, the game offers a solid storyline that enhances the tactical RPG experience, though it may not satisfy those seeking deep narrative complexity.
“King's Bounty: Warriors of the North is a tactical RPG that features excellent storytelling and superb music.”
“I found myself completely immersed in the story and couldn't put it down until I had conquered every challenge.”
“Great story, kept it worth the grind.”
“The main story is like a train ride, you just ride along; other story quests may have only 2 options or outcomes. I usually like to save before so I can choose the good outcome.”
“The story is boring and the characters aren't very memorable or ones you'll want to connect with.”
“The quests are boring and the game is too long and drawn out.”
- gameplay52 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the latest King’s Bounty installment is a blend of classic mechanics from the series, featuring turn-based combat, resource gathering, and RPG elements, though some players find it repetitive and padded with unnecessary content. While the introduction of new mechanics like runes and valkyries adds some freshness, many reviews highlight persistent bugs and crashes that detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, fans of the franchise appreciate the engaging combat and strategic depth, making it a worthwhile play for those who enjoy the genre.
“The gameplay is fun as heck.”
“Good graphics, smooth gameplay, nice music, interesting difficulty (I played on impossible and every battle is a struggle until the 4-5th island later that it eases up a bit), basic plot and nice quests.”
“For me, the gameplay of King's Bounty: WOTN offers is unique and simply the best I have found so far.”
“Some mechanics may feel repetitive over time.”
“The game is an abhorrent mess of bugs and glitches that constantly interfere with the gameplay experience.”
“This game is way overdue for a complete overhaul in both gameplay mechanics and general game engine, and even though I love this style of game probably way more than most people do, I don't think I'll be able to drum up much excitement for yet another stab at the same old thing.”
- graphics38 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics in the King's Bounty series are generally described as decent and colorful, with a charming aesthetic that complements the gameplay, though they are not groundbreaking or revolutionary. While some players appreciate the nostalgic visuals and atmospheric music, others note that the graphics have not significantly improved over time, with some entries feeling less appealing than their predecessors. Overall, the graphics are considered fair to good, serving the game's tactical mechanics well, but they may not impress those seeking cutting-edge visuals.
“The visuals are pure soul and the gameplay is engaging.”
“✔️ Beautiful graphics and atmospheric music.”
“Good graphics, smooth gameplay, nice music, interesting difficulty (I played on impossible and every battle is a struggle until the 4-5th island later that it eases up a bit), basic plot and nice quests.”
“The graphics of King's Bounty: Warriors of the North are, once again, the same as the other games, but because of the rushed development, they feel less appealing than the previous installments.”
“Also, how is it that this newer game has graphics that are worse than the last games?”
“The graphics, what a complete mess, and if you try to play this on anything like a widescreen then forget it, nothing like that is supported; it is really an amateur game.”
- music37 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in *King's Bounty: Warriors of the North* receives mixed reviews, with many praising its beauty and atmospheric quality, while others criticize its repetitiveness and mismatched themes during gameplay. Some players enjoyed the diverse tracks, but felt that the selection was insufficient for a lengthy playthrough, leading to moments where peaceful music played during intense battles. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, it suffers from inconsistencies and a lack of variety.
“I love the setting and the music.”
“King's Bounty: Warriors of the North is a tactical RPG that features excellent storytelling and superb music.”
“There is fine exploration and adventure spirit and absolutely beautiful music.”
“The music disappointed a little.”
“Like I said, the fact that random soundtracks were playing during random events disappointed me.”
“Also, it seems that the devs decided that music in the game makes no sense anyway, so now you will hear peaceful themes during the battles.”
- stability23 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- -9 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with many players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly detract from the overall experience. While some users have noted improvements over time, particularly after extensive play, the game remains prone to issues that can disrupt gameplay, especially during critical moments. Overall, it is described as a "buggy mess," though some players still find enjoyment despite these technical shortcomings.
“After 473 hours of gameplay, I still enjoy it; now it is mostly bug-free.”
“The game runs smoothly without any major issues, making for a stable experience.”
“I've experienced very few crashes, which speaks volumes about the game's stability.”
“The game is an abhorrent mess of bugs and glitches that constantly interfere with the gameplay experience.”
“This is still a very buggy game with random crashes.”
“What absolutely ruined the experience for me is how *buggy* this game is.”
- grinding17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- -12 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often leading to frustration due to the lack of variety in combat and quests. While some enjoy the grind as part of the experience, many feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, with long walks and repetitive battles becoming obstacles to progressing the story. Frequent crashes and limited autosave options further exacerbate the grinding experience, making it a mixed bag for players.
“The grind in this game feels rewarding, as each battle brings me closer to my goals.”
“I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels tedious and always offers a sense of progression.”
“Grinding becomes enjoyable when the rewards are meaningful and the challenges keep me engaged.”
“The combat gets fairly samey, some of the quests are cheerful fetch-quest nonsense and ye gods, the grinding, but it's a fun little thing and if you pick it up in a sale it's more than worth it.”
“Dislikes: gets a tad grindy at times as enemies become inconvenient obstacles to following a storyline.”
“There are few shortcuts, so this means endless, tedious walks to different parts of the world for replenishing your units or completing a quest.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as inconsistent, with some players finding it amusing despite poor translation quality that often results in broken text and literal translations of jokes. While previous installments had better writing and funnier jokes, this game offers a mix of humor that may only resonate with those familiar with the original language. Overall, it provides a lighthearted experience, albeit with significant translation issues.
“The translation is a mess, a funny mess.”
“The previous games were much better written; the jokes were funny.”
“A basic TBS game with good looks, plenty of playing time, and a little humor.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players highlighting its extensive content, diverse character builds, and numerous strategic options that keep the experience fresh. With a lengthy playtime of around 40 hours and multiple skill trees, it offers near-limitless opportunities for experimentation and enjoyment, ensuring players remain engaged for years. Overall, it is highly regarded for its replay value despite some minor drawbacks.
“Endlessly replayable, near limitless new content and new armies to experiment with - I have been playing this game for years, and I see no sign that I'm going to burn out on it anytime soon.”
“Where it excels the most is in the replay value.”
“The variety of units, spells, and items to choose from allow for much diversity, replayability, and most importantly: fun.”
“Game is extremely long; it took about 40 hours to beat. Replayability is also quite strong despite all the negatives.”
“Has three skill trees to build your character, thereby offering replayability, similar to prior King's Bounty games.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beautiful graphics and atmospheric music, creating an immersive experience that surpasses previous titles like Crossworlds. Players appreciate the setting and the developers' efforts to evoke a distinct Viking ambiance, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.
“Beautiful graphics and atmospheric music.”
“I like the gameplay, the setting, and the overall atmosphere of the game.”
“The whole feel and atmosphere of this game just works far better than it did in Crossworlds, which I wasn't that big of a fan of.”
“I understand that the developers tried to create a special Viking atmosphere in their game, but it feels lacking.”
“While I appreciate the gameplay, the setting and overall atmosphere of the game leave much to be desired.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is praised for its depth and variety, featuring a wide range of units, spells, and skills that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the thoughtful progression and customization options available for their characters.
“Nice character development and a great variety of units, spells, and skills.”
“Great character development”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players note that while the game lacks marriage options, the presence of valkyrie maidens adds an emotional layer, despite their generally flat personalities. Each valkyrie is unique and serves a purpose, contributing to the game's emotional depth, albeit in a subdued manner.
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is criticized as a blatant cash grab, particularly with the additional costs associated with the ice and fire DLC.
“Long story short, it's a shameless cash grab, especially if you buy the Ice and Fire DLC as well.”
“The monetization model feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
“It's frustrating that so many features are locked behind paywalls, turning what could be a great experience into a money-making scheme.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is widely regarded as poorly optimized, with players experiencing significant lag even on systems that previously handled earlier titles like "Legend" or "Armored Princess" without issues.
“Overall, the game feels extremely unoptimized and will lag even if you previously had no problem running 'The Legend' or 'Armored Princess'.”
“The performance issues are frustrating; the game stutters and drops frames even on high-end hardware.”
“I constantly experience long loading times and frequent crashes, which makes the game nearly unplayable.”
