Realms of Antiquity: The Shattered Crown
- March 22, 2021
- Adam Haase
Get on Steam"Realms of Antiquity: The Shattered Crown" is a real-time strategy game set in a fantasy world. Players must build and manage their kingdom, gather resources, and raise armies to conquer enemy territories and uncover the truth behind the shattered crown. The game features multiple factions, each with unique units, abilities, and playstyles, as well as a dynamic campaign system and skirmish mode.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game successfully captures the nostalgia of classic RPGs like Ultima, providing an engaging and immersive experience with a vast world to explore.
- Combat mechanics are fun and tactical, allowing for diverse strategies and requiring players to adapt to different monsters and challenges.
- The developer is highly responsive and dedicated to improving the game, showcasing a labor of love that resonates with fans of old-school RPGs.
- The game suffers from a clunky inventory system and a lack of useful information in the manual, making it difficult for new players to understand mechanics and character management.
- Monster respawn rates can be excessive, leading to tedious encounters that disrupt exploration and pacing.
- The emulator used to run the game has limitations, such as not supporting fullscreen mode and occasional input delays, which can detract from the overall experience.
- story12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story in the game is entertaining and quirky, featuring a complex narrative that subverts classic fantasy tropes and presents morally ambiguous choices. Players navigate a vast, dynamic world filled with well-characterized NPCs and engaging quests, with the plot primarily advanced through dialogue and concise title cards. Overall, the storytelling is impressive for its depth and sophistication, especially considering the game's retro roots.
“The interesting storyline and the scope of the game are impressive for something meant to be played on an old computer from times gone by.”
“The story is more complex than expected; every trope you think is going to pop up just somehow doesn't.”
“The game presents a lot of classic fantasy tropes but subverts your expectations about them, with characters and problems that challenge your moral choices.”
“The story is mainly driven forward through conversations with NPCs and title cards that are shown when, for example, a building is entered.”
“This imposes a tight limit on the amount of text or graphics that can be shown on screen, and it requires a skilled writer to characterize NPCs and drive the story forward.”
“The game presents a lot of classic fantasy tropes but subverts your expectations about them (neither the missing princess, the quest-giving prince, nor the evil overlord are exactly what you'd expect them to be) and presents problems you cannot find an ideal solution to (do you help the rebels or the king even if both of them are power-tripping jerks who don't have the people's well-being at heart?).”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their simplicity and nostalgic appeal, particularly for those familiar with the TI-99/4A, offering colorful and readable visuals that enhance engagement and imagination. While the graphics are considered impressive for an early 80s computer, some users noted minor issues with enemy icon differentiation. Overall, the visuals effectively complement the classic role-playing experience, despite the limitations of the platform.
“The fact that this was developed to run on the TI-99/4A is a fantastic bonus - I had that machine as a kid, and subtle elements in the sounds, graphics, and colors of this game evoke a nice sense of nostalgia.”
“Visuals are colorful and very readable, although there are a few issues where large boss-tier enemies share the same icon as a smaller, less threatening variant.”
“Amazing graphics, well for the TI-99 anyways, and a ton of play squeezed into a computer from the early 80s.”
“Visuals are colorful and very readable (for the most part, there are a few issues where large boss-tier enemies share the same enemy icon as a smaller, less threatening variant).”
“This imposes a tight limit on the amount of text or graphics that can be shown on screen, and it requires a skilled writer to characterize NPCs and drive the story forward.”
“Graphics and interface.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by simple yet enjoyable combat mechanics, featuring a turn-based system that is quick and engaging. Players appreciate the depth and addictive nature of the open-world RPG elements, blending old-school aesthetics with modern mechanics, making it a game worth exploring through gameplay videos before purchase.
“The combat mechanics are simple but fun, allowing for turn-based combat that doesn't take too long.”
“Great gameplay, great lore, great depth, hundreds of hours of gameplay.”
“This game has the addictive core gameplay loop of any open-world RPG down pat.”
“Definitely watch a gameplay video before buying so you know what you're getting into.”
“Old school look, new school mechanics.”
- music2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game features minimal music, with no background score beyond the initial splash screen, prompting players to consider adding their own music or podcasts for a more engaging experience.
“There is not much sound-wise, so you might want to put on fitting music to go with it.”
“Outside the starting splash screen, there's no music, so you might want to load up an OST or podcast of your choice as you play.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its rich, old-school world-building, creating an immersive experience that resonates with fans of classic gaming.
“This is a very good game, and a rare gem if you like old-school world building and lots of atmosphere.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the constant respawning of monsters in certain dungeons, which can either waste time for powerful characters or hinder game progression and suspense. This has led to frustration, especially when players feel compelled to choose more powerful characters to avoid the grind.
“Having played a lot more after my first failed endeavor (some characters are really more powerful than others and I refuse to pick up the hero, that would be too easy... why was my first character a thief? I wonder...), I sometimes feel the constant respawning of monsters in certain dungeons very tedious. That would be my number one problem with some areas: it is either a waste of time for powerful characters or a hamper on game progression and suspense.”
“The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive. I find myself doing the same tasks over and over just to level up, which takes away from the enjoyment of the story and exploration.”
“I appreciate the effort put into the game, but the grinding mechanics are frustrating. It feels like a chore rather than a fun challenge, and it often leads to burnout.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and complexity, with players noting that characters evolve significantly throughout the story. Many reviews highlight the emotional arcs and personal growth of the characters, making them relatable and engaging. Overall, the character development is seen as a strong point that enhances the overall narrative experience.
“The character development in this game is incredibly deep, allowing players to form genuine connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game; their growth feels organic and impactful, making every decision feel significant.”
“The way the game handles character arcs is masterful, providing a rich narrative experience that keeps you invested in their journeys.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
“I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; there was no real growth or change throughout the story.”
“The choices I made didn't seem to impact the characters' development at all, leaving me feeling like my decisions were meaningless.”
