Lords of the Realm II
- December 3, 2015
- Impressions Games
- 18h median play time
Get on Steam"Lords of the Realm II" is a historical real-time strategy game set in 13th century England, where you lead a band of peasants and build them into a powerful army to conquer enemies and unite the people. The game features thrilling battles, improved graphics and sound, and the option for nail-biting castle sieges. With the addition of the Siege Pack expansion, the game provides even more castles, battle maps, and scenarios for endless strategic possibilities.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- A nostalgic classic that brings back fond memories from childhood, still enjoyable today.
- Simple yet engaging gameplay that combines turn-based strategy with real-time battles, making it accessible for new players.
- Great voice acting and memorable music that enhances the overall experience.
- The AI is often predictable and can be easily exploited, making the game less challenging over time.
- Graphics and controls feel dated, which may deter new players unfamiliar with older games.
- Multiplayer functionality is limited and can be difficult to set up, reducing replayability for those seeking competitive play.
- graphics182 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, reflecting the mid-1990s aesthetic with a limited color palette and blocky visuals that may deter modern players. Despite this, many reviewers appreciate the retro charm and argue that the graphics do not detract from the overall enjoyment and engaging gameplay. There is a strong desire among players for a remaster that updates the graphics while preserving the core experience.
“The game combines beautiful retro-style graphics with immersive gameplay to create an easy-to-learn-hard-to-master style of medieval politics.”
“Though the graphics may be dated, it's a wonderful little strategy game.”
“Graphics may be dated but they are still pleasant to look at, upholding the atmosphere which is further strengthened by the music and sound quality.”
“Today is unplayable, especially due to the 256 color palette and the very bad graphics.”
“The graphics are absolute garbage, but still fun.”
“Yes, graphically it looks very dated, no arguing there.”
- gameplay150 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a nostalgic blend of kingdom management and active combat, featuring unique mechanics that immerse players in a medieval setting. While the controls can be clunky and the graphics dated, the game remains enjoyable and addictive, offering a simple yet rewarding experience that has held up over the years. Despite some balance issues and a lack of complexity compared to modern titles, it is praised for its depth and the ability to engage players for long sessions.
“The game combines beautiful retro-style graphics with immersive gameplay to create an easy-to-learn-hard-to-master style of medieval politics.”
“Gameplay is a combination of kingdom building and active combat.”
“The gameplay itself can be very addictive; prepare for long gaming sessions, especially on the larger realms.”
“Nostalgia at its finest... great intro sequence, beautiful soundtrack, and completely crap game mechanics in terms of actually controlling your troops on the battlefield.”
“Sadly though, this game shows its age, the user interface feels dire compared to more modern games, the skirmishes are crazy, the gameplay is fairly simple and not complex enough to satisfy modern strategy gamers - more modern games offer more depth in gameplay, better graphics, UI, and AI and satisfy the same urge.”
“Be warned, the controls are clunky, and some of the mechanics take a bit to relearn though.”
- music106 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and immersive quality, with many players highlighting its ability to evoke strong memories and emotions. Reviewers appreciate the beautiful soundtrack, which complements the medieval setting and enhances the overall atmosphere, making it a standout feature even decades after its release. While some mention minor issues like repetitive tracks or volume control preferences, the consensus is that the music remains a significant and enjoyable aspect of the gameplay experience.
“Accompanied by some of the most iconic and beautifully-appropriate music found in any game of its time, this is a game you can play until you tire of it, find yourself whistling or humming one of the various tunes, and dive right back in to binge it like your favorite bag of chips, year after year.”
“The music is iconic and has been echoing in my head since my childhood.”
“Fantastic musical score makes playing it still a joy after all these years.”
“My only issue is that for me, the game's music stutters and loops every five seconds.”
“I turned the music off so it is fine, but I lose that finishing touch the music does for me.”
“Nostalgia at its finest... great intro sequence, beautiful soundtrack, and completely crap game mechanics in terms of actually controlling your troops on the battlefield.”
- humor28 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting the hilarious voice acting, witty NPC interactions, and customizable insults that add a comedic flair to diplomacy. Memorable lines, such as "you are ugly and your mother dresses you funny," and the narrator's dry delivery contribute to the game's charm, making it a nostalgic and entertaining experience. Overall, the humor is a standout feature that enhances the gameplay, despite some criticisms regarding controls and micromanagement.
“The communications between the NPCs is unforgettably funny.”
“The brash and aggressive knight is hilarious with his young voice and whiny dialogue, especially when he loses.”
“The narrator's indifferent upper-class voice as he asks affirmative questions such as 'Slaughter these villagers, my lord?' is hilarious.”
- grinding22 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Grinding in "Lords of the Realm II" is heavily tied to micromanagement of farming and resource allocation, where players must carefully balance food production to avoid catastrophic failures like drought and starvation. The game offers various difficulty settings and modes, allowing players to customize their experience, but mastering the farming mechanics is crucial for success, especially in single-player mode. While some find the micromanagement tedious, others appreciate the depth it adds to the gameplay.
“It's a tedious game if you love to micromanage.”
“Unless you use crop rotation mode (advanced farming, I think it was called?), it's almost unwinnable in single player.”
“Also, without experience, things like food management and farming can spiral horribly out of control, almost game-ending.”
- story20 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The story of the game is described as simple yet believable, centering on a powerful lord in England who has been denied the throne. While some players criticize the narrative as lacking depth, others find it engaging enough to feel a sense of impact through their gameplay. Overall, the story receives mixed reviews, with many players prioritizing the enjoyable gameplay over the narrative itself.
“It's a good story and you feel like you are actually changing that when you play.”
“Moral of the story, you never know what life holds in store for you, and if I would have given up when all the odds were stacked against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“Story 1/10”
“Crap AI, cheap tactics, and a bad (non-existent) story... I love this game haha.”
“The story is simple yet believable; you are one of the most powerful lords in England and you have just been denied the throne.”
- atmosphere20 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its excellent presentation, engaging music, and immersive sound design, particularly during intense moments like siege battles. Players appreciate the medieval vibe and the effective use of narration, which collectively enhance the overall experience, making it enjoyable even with dated graphics. Overall, the atmosphere is described as captivating and integral to the game's appeal.
“I also like the atmosphere of the game, especially when a siege battle starts. The awesome combat track starts to play and your men shout as they attack.”
“The atmosphere, the music, and the balance between running an economy and tactical castle-siege combat is so good that it's still a lot of fun even after all this time.”
“It captures the atmosphere in an unbelievable way.”
“The atmosphere, the music, the balance between running an economy and tactical castle-siege combat is so good that it's still a lot of fun even after all this time.”
“It's also pretty cool that a narrator reads things that happen in the game; things like this just create an atmosphere for the game.”
“I also like the atmosphere of the game, especially when a siege battle starts; the awesome combat track starts to play and your men shout as they attack.”
- stability18 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is characterized by occasional glitches and bugs, particularly in AI behavior and mechanics, which can detract from the experience. Despite these issues, players find it functional on modern systems like Windows 11 and Steam, appreciating the nostalgic value and fun it still offers, even if it feels more buggy compared to contemporary titles. The graphics are considered outdated, but many users still enjoy the game for its charm and character.
“Runs great on Steam.”
“Weird mechanics and so many glitches, but there is a certain character that still makes it fun today.”
“This is a great game, but it's more buggy than when it originally debuted.”
“Well, while it overall runs without problems, sometimes strange glitches occur like enemy armies or merchants going over mountains or even the ocean.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players consistently highlight the game's strong replayability, noting that it offers a wealth of content and a balanced gameplay experience that encourages multiple playthroughs. The combination of engaging mechanics and varied strategies contributes to its lasting appeal.
“Still provides a lot of replayability.”
“The game gets the following rating based on my own subjective criteria: 1 star for excellent presentation and atmosphere, 1 star for content and replayability, and 1 star for having a nice balance between managing economics and military.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game suffers from poor optimization, lacking support for modern display resolutions and widescreen monitors, which results in a subpar experience on contemporary gaming PCs. It has not been updated to run smoothly, leaving players frustrated with its performance.
- monetization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a complete DLC bundle without any microtransactions, providing players with new maps and a comprehensive experience, which is highly praised by users.
“A fantastic turn-based strategy game, possibly the best... new maps from the original with the complete DLC bundle, no microtransactions, and world conquest.”
“A fantastic turn-based strategy game, possibly the best... new maps from the original with the complete DLC bundle, no microtransactions, and world conquest.”
