Kohan II: Kings of War
- August 24, 2011
- TimeGate Studios
- 27h median play time
Get on Steam"Kohan II: Kings of War" is a strategy game set in the war-torn world of Khaldun, where players must lead their armies in battles against rival factions and an ancient evil. The game features 3D terrain, weather effects, and diverse armies, with a variety of single and multiplayer modes including a 25-mission campaign. Unique unit management and six distinct races add depth to gameplay, with customizable maps for added replayability.
PC
Reviews
- Kohan II: Kings of War is a unique and innovative RTS that emphasizes squad-based tactics over micromanagement, allowing for strategic gameplay that feels fresh and engaging.
- The game features a rich story, interesting characters, and a variety of factions and races, providing a deep and immersive experience for players who enjoy fantasy strategy games.
- Despite its age, the graphics and gameplay hold up well, and the game offers significant replayability through its map editor and customizable scenarios.
- The game suffers from compatibility issues on modern operating systems, making it difficult for some players to run it smoothly or at all.
- Many players have reported crashes and performance issues, particularly during intense battles, which can detract from the overall experience.
- The AI can be frustrating, as it may not allow players to build up their armies effectively, leading to a less enjoyable gameplay experience.
- story35 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its engaging narrative, character development, and the nostalgic return of familiar faces for fans of the original. However, some players find it somewhat linear and lacking in depth compared to previous installments, with a mix of generic fantasy tropes. Overall, while the campaign offers a satisfying experience, it may not resonate as strongly with newcomers unfamiliar with the series' lore.
“Highly recommendable old but gold fantasy strategy game, with a great story, music, voice acting, and looks even if it's old.”
“With a truly wonderful story.”
“Balanced gameplay, great story, lots of faction/unit variety, fascinating world.”
“While certainly fun enough (and worth a playthrough if you're a fan of the original games), the storyline struggles to find new room to explore after the conclusion of the previous game.”
“Subplots were not developed as much as they could have been, and so the story felt rather linear.”
“The story can be described as contemporary fantasy, with characters who fit the description of ignorant hero, righteous do-gooder, bitter scapegoat, wise advisor, and eldritch madman.”
- gameplay26 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a significant shift from traditional resource gathering to a focus on capturing settlements, which streamlines town management and emphasizes tactical combat. While the transition to 3D graphics and the introduction of diverse factions add depth, some players feel that the balance between factions is lacking and that the core mechanics do not significantly improve upon the original. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its strategic elements and engaging story, though some mechanics may feel cumbersome at times.
“It has everything: superb music, excellent mechanics, graphics that still look good to this day, interesting missions.”
“This lets you focus more on the tactical gameplay, which is exceedingly important, as you shift the formation each company holds and deploy them at just the right time and place.”
“Balanced gameplay, great story, lots of faction/unit variety, fascinating world.”
“I'm still not sure what I think about the decision to have 'settlement locations' on the map, rather than being able to place them freely like in previous games, but it certainly adds a twist to the gameplay.”
“Tl;dr: a mess of a game that makes mechanical improvements from the last game, but suffered a rough transition from 2D to 3D.”
“Sometimes I feel I am fighting the mechanics more than using them.”
- graphics25 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the decent visuals and 3D models that, while dated, still hold up reasonably well compared to other titles from its era. Others criticize the transition from 2D to 3D, describing the visuals as mediocre or clunky, and note that they may not appeal to modern standards. Overall, while the graphics may not be the game's strongest aspect, they are often overshadowed by its engaging gameplay and mechanics.
“This game has terrific graphics and there are unique versions of old races you can play, which makes it different and fun.”
“The graphics have improved even more (if that was even possible) without losing any of the amazing parts that made the original such a success.”
“The graphics are still surprisingly good; while units lack fine details when zoomed in, zoomed out after ten years, this game could still pass as modern.”
“The story might be a bit confusing for someone who has never played the previous games, but for me it was interesting to see old characters return, uglified by mediocre 3D graphics as they might be.”
“Graphics-wise, if it isn't already obvious, I really did not enjoy the visuals at first.”
“These graphics are decent enough, and comparable to other games from its time (LOTR: Battle for Middle Earth, Rome: Total War), but graphics aren't timeless, and by today's standard they can be an eyesore to look at to some.”
- music10 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its pleasantness and suitability for the fantasy strategy genre. Notably, the score by Jeremy Soule is appreciated, though some feel it doesn't align with the series' established musical identity. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
“Highly recommendable old but gold fantasy strategy game, with great story, music, voice acting and looks even if it's old.”
“It has everything: superb music, excellent mechanics, graphics that still look good to this day, interesting missions.”
“Great easy and fast to pick up and play RTS with a nice little story, some fun voice acting, and a good heroic soundtrack.”
“While the musical score done by the famous Jeremy Soule was nice, it is not a type of music I associate with the Kohan series at all.”
“The game's music isn't much to write home about, but it's inoffensive at worst and quite pleasant at best.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted as a key element that enhances the overall fun, particularly during multiplayer sessions. Players appreciate the blend of randomness in maps and engaging AI, which contribute to a lively and entertaining experience.
“The funny thing is, this is actually where the game gets fun.”
“In addition, the game offers a lot of replayability with random maps, pretty good AI for skirmishes, as well as the occasional frantic and somewhat funny multiplayer game.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's high replayability, driven by its map generator and diverse faction/race combinations. The inclusion of random maps and competent AI for skirmishes, along with entertaining multiplayer experiences, further enhances the game's longevity.
“The skirmish/multiplayer has an insane amount of replayability due to the map generator and the plentiful faction/race combinations.”
“In addition, the game offers a lot of replayability with random maps, pretty good AI for skirmishes, as well as the occasional frantic and somewhat funny multiplayer game.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report that the game experiences significant stability issues, particularly during intense action sequences or large battles, leading to lag, occasional freezes, and unexpected crashes.
“The downside is that if the action gets too intense or there is a massive battle going on, the game lags, occasionally freezes, and then just quits.”
“I frequently experience crashes during gameplay, which disrupts the overall experience.”
“The game is prone to freezing, especially during high-stakes moments, making it frustrating to play.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in Kings of War is generally considered less impressive than that of Immortal Sovereigns or Ahriman's Gift, though the cutscenes do add a charming touch.
“The atmosphere in Kings of War is truly captivating, with a unique charm that sets it apart from other games like Immortal Sovereigns or Ahriman's Gift, especially during the cutscenes.”
“The atmosphere in Kings of War really is nothing compared to either Immortal Sovereigns or Ahriman's Gift, although the cutscenes are charming in their own way.”
“The game lacks a compelling atmosphere, making it hard to immerse myself in the world.”
“Despite the potential, the overall ambiance feels flat and uninspired.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players report frequent stuttering issues, indicating that the game's optimization may be lacking and suggesting a need for improvements to enhance performance.
“The game is stuttering for me constantly. Any suggestions?”
“Performance issues make it nearly unplayable on my system.”
“I experience frequent frame drops, which ruins the overall experience.”
