Lords of the Realm
- December 3, 2015
- Impressions Games
Get on Steam"Lords of the Realm" is a medieval-themed strategy game that challenges players to build and manage their own kingdom. The game combines elements of city-building, resource management, and turn-based combat, as players must construct and maintain their own castles, farms, and armies to defend against rival lords and expand their territory. With a focus on historical accuracy and deep strategic gameplay, "Lords of the Realm" offers a rich and immersive experience for fans of the genre.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a nostalgic experience for players who enjoyed it in their youth, with engaging gameplay that combines economic management and real-time strategy.
- It supports up to 6 players in hot seat mode, making it a fun option for multiplayer sessions with friends.
- Despite its age, the game features deep mechanics for resource management and strategic planning, providing a rewarding experience once players learn the systems.
- The game suffers from significant technical issues, including crashes and compatibility problems on modern systems, making it frustrating to play.
- Its outdated graphics and user interface can be difficult for new players to navigate, leading to a steep learning curve without adequate tutorials.
- Key content from the original game, such as the second map and certain features, is missing in this version, which detracts from the overall experience.
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay offers a diverse mix of economic and military strategies, though some players find it confusing, particularly in managing armies and preventing revolts. While the absence of certain modern mechanics may detract from the experience, the engaging economic system and kingdom management elements remain strong. Customization options enhance player investment, despite the dated graphics.
“There is a large mix of gameplay that you can dive into.”
“Yes, it's a bit dated and the graphics show that, but the gameplay and strategy are as good as ever.”
“The game mechanics (kingdom management) are quite nice; I wish I could've played this game when it first came out.”
“The gameplay itself is lacking many of the new mechanics like troop experience points, but the smart economic/happiness/health system is very interesting to toy with.”
“The gameplay is a bit confusing for me, as I am unsure how to raise armies, fight, or prevent a peasants' revolt from coming out of nowhere.”
“It is recommended to turn the economy down to easy because normal is fairly authentic in that a couple of bad seasons for weather (or a plague breaking out) can seriously set you back, so you probably need the leeway while learning the mechanics.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated and low-resolution, reflecting its 1994 origins, but many players appreciate the nostalgic charm and the focus on gameplay over visual flair. While the graphics may leave much to the imagination, they do not detract from the overall experience, as the game runs smoothly and retains engaging strategic elements. Overall, it appeals to those who enjoy classic strategy games and can overlook the primitive visuals.
“Back to the days when a game relied on quality rather than glitzy graphics.”
“General lower graphical quality from Lords of the Realm 2 (which is expected, I'm not knocking the game for it. It looks great for a 1994 game).”
“Yes, it's a bit dated and the graphics show that, but the gameplay and strategy are as good as ever.”
“The graphics got fancier and the simulation simpler.”
“General lower graphical quality from Lords of the Realm 2 (which is expected; I'm not knocking the game for it. It looks great for a 1994 game).”
- music4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's soundtrack evokes strong feelings of nostalgia, despite some flaws, and while it features continuous music, it lacks variety. Players have the option to turn off the music, which may be necessary for some due to its repetitive nature. Overall, the music is a notable aspect, especially considering the game's age.
“It has its flaws, but damn this game's soundtrack just screams nostalgia to me.”
“I click 'play,' and I get a black screen, music in the background, with a ping-ponging screensaver-type blue text reading, 'signal not support.' Not 'not supported,' but 'not support.' And that's it--not even alt/control/delete works--I have to do a hard restart of my computer.”
“The music is ever continuous and lacking variety, but you cannot ask too much for a game from 24 years ago.”
“Music can be turned off (you might want that).”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game suffers from poor optimization, running exclusively in VGA without support for modern display resolutions or widescreen monitors, and it has not been updated to function smoothly on contemporary gaming PCs.
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with users finding it both nice and funny, contributing positively to the overall experience.
“The humor in this game is absolutely delightful!”
“I couldn't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and hilarious situations.”
“The comedic timing of the characters is spot on and adds so much to the experience.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, with frequent emulator freezes leading to a frustrating experience. As a result, many do not recommend the software due to these reliability concerns.
“I would not recommend this, simply because of the all too likely outcome of regular emulator freezes.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I experienced constant stability issues that ruined my gaming experience.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews for the "story" aspect are currently lacking detail, with no specific insights or critiques provided. Further elaboration from users would be needed to form a comprehensive summary.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players compare the grinding in the game to the advanced farming mechanics of "Lords of the Realm 2," suggesting that the grinding experience feels similar to regular farming in that title, indicating a potentially repetitive and time-consuming gameplay element.
“If you've played Lords of the Realm 2 with advanced farming on, that's pretty much regular farming in Lords of the Realm.”
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“I spent hours doing the same tasks over and over, and it just became a chore rather than fun.”
