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
Windows
Reviews
- Kohan II offers a unique squad-based combat system that emphasizes strategy over micromanagement, allowing players to focus on tactical decisions rather than individual unit control.
- The game features a rich lore and interesting characters, with a well-developed narrative that enhances the overall experience.
- Despite its age, Kohan II still holds up well visually and mechanically, providing enjoyable gameplay with a variety of factions and customizable units.
- The game suffers from stability issues on modern systems, often crashing or requiring compatibility adjustments to run properly.
- Many players find the AI to be unchallenging and the resource management system to be less engaging compared to other RTS games.
- The transition to 3D graphics has been criticized for lacking the charm of the original 2D art style, leading to a less appealing visual experience.
- story37 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story of Kohan II is generally well-received, with many praising its engaging narrative, memorable characters, and the nostalgic return of familiar faces from the original game. However, some players find the storyline somewhat linear and lacking in depth compared to its predecessor, with a mix of interesting elements and clichés typical of the fantasy genre. Overall, while the campaign offers a satisfying experience for fans, newcomers may find it confusing without prior knowledge of the series.
“Highly recommendable old but gold fantasy strategy game, with a great story, music, voice acting, and looks even if it's old.”
“Kohan II is a fantastic game, with a gripping story and memorable characters, especially for an RTS game.”
“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.”
“Oh right, and the story is essentially just there to provide stuffing for the lore.”
- gameplay28 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a solid foundation that retains core mechanics from its predecessor while introducing new elements like a reworked settlement system and a focus on tactical troop deployment. While the transition to 3D graphics and the addition of diverse factions are appreciated, some players feel that the gameplay lacks balance and depth in tactical trade-offs. Overall, the game offers a unique strategy experience with an emphasis on combat over resource gathering, though it may frustrate some players with its mechanics.
“It has everything: superb music, excellent mechanics, graphics that still look good to this day, interesting missions.”
“The gameplay itself is solid and holds up well even today, still being a benchmark for other RTS games to be compared to.”
“I like this, because it makes for interesting gameplay, playing your strengths to your advantage, exploiting your enemies' weaknesses while attempting to prevent them from doing the same to you.”
“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.”
- graphics28 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the decent visuals and vibrant colors that still hold up well today, while others criticize the dated 3D models and clunky UI. Although the graphics may not be the standout feature, they are considered above average for their time and contribute to the overall enjoyment of the game, especially for fans of the RTS genre. Overall, while the visuals may not impress everyone, they are deemed satisfactory and functional within the context of the gameplay.
“This game has terrific graphics and there are unique versions of old races you can play, which makes it different and fun.”
“The graphics may be old, but they're still nice to look at and the colors really bring it out.”
“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.”
- music11 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for being pleasant and well-composed, with standout contributions from renowned composer Jeremy Soule. While some players feel it doesn't align perfectly with the series' established style, the soundtrack is often described as superb and enhances the overall experience. Overall, the music is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to its atmosphere and enjoyment.
“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 combination of random maps and competent 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 a robust 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
Players report that the game experiences significant stability issues during intense action sequences, often resulting in lag, freezing, 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 unique, with a charm that sets it apart from other games like Immortal Sovereigns or Ahriman's Gift, especially highlighted by the delightful 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, failing to draw players into the experience.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players report frequent stuttering issues during gameplay, indicating that the game's optimization may be lacking.
“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.”
