The Kings Crusade

About

"The King's Crusade" is a real-time strategy game set in the Third Crusade . Choose to play as Richard the Lionheart or Saladin and lead your army in epic battles while managing resources and expanding your realm. Two single-player campaigns, Crusader and Saracen, are available with the goal of completing objectives and collecting relics.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

38%

Audience ScoreBased on 97 reviews

graphics5 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game features beautiful maps and a strong medieval atmosphere, making it visually appealing.
It offers a unique mix of Total War-style battles and RPG elements, providing a different gameplay experience.
For hardcore strategy fans, the game has potential and can be enjoyable if you can get past the technical issues.

The game is plagued by frequent crashes and runtime errors, making it nearly unplayable for many users.
It lacks polish and optimization, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences and bugs that have not been addressed by the developers.
The campaign is considered short and lacks replay value, with many players recommending other titles in the genre instead.

story
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
81%
10%
The game's story is described as potentially engaging, featuring elements like siege engines, RPG mechanics, and a variety of missions that could offer replay value. However, players are overwhelmingly frustrated by persistent technical issues, particularly crashes after the first mission, which severely hinder their ability to progress and experience the narrative. Despite the promising premise, the game's broken state leaves many unable to fully engage with the story.
- “A very beautiful and epic game with cool maps and a good story.”
- “While the European power tree in the Crusader campaign seems a little like copy-paste, the different mission approaches give at least some replay value.”
- “There are siege engines and traps added, there are night and day missions, ambushes, late arrival units, potions and elixirs, faith, and of course items and experience (RPG elements).”
- “I have spent the last 2 days looking for a solution and haven't been able to play the game because each time I try to start the first mission, the game crashes with a 'this application has requested the runtime to terminate it in an unusual way' error message. I have tried to play the game with different resolution and graphics settings, but nothing worked.”
- “Games first mission is broken, has been for years with no fix.”
- “Unfortunately, the game is utterly broken and you can't get any further than mission 1 before the game crashes.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay is a mix of RPG elements and faction mechanics that add depth, but it suffers from a steep learning curve, technical issues, and poor troop control, leading to a somewhat stale experience. While the aesthetics are pleasing and the mechanics are generally well-explained, the unconventional controls and dated design detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite its good concept and some improvements, the gameplay feels simplistic and lacks the engaging complexity found in similar titles.
- “The faction mechanic makes it interesting to side since there are bonuses to get at the end.”
- “For the perfectionist, there's also a loot and upgrade mechanic where you can give your most loved units an unstoppable force.”
- “The game has a very good concept and generally good gameplay.”
- “It was not all that bad but given the technical problems, the harsh learning curve, the dated nature of the game with an unconventional control scheme and mechanics, and weird content such as Saracens from outer space, you start to see the wisdom of removing this title for library declutter.”
- “The battles themselves are plagued by poor troop-control mechanics, which is to say, they are unbelievably slow-moving, have barely any formations, and run away to attack the enemy at random.”
- “Gameplay is kinda stale, had some stability issues.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
13%
25%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beauty and detail, with many reviewers noting that they are superb and well-crafted, contributing to an immersive experience. However, some players have encountered technical issues that hinder gameplay, such as crashes related to graphics settings. Overall, while the aesthetics are appealing, the performance can vary depending on the system used.
- “The game runs smoothly (powerful computer preferred) and the graphics are superb.”
- “Be a crusader or a Saracen, this game is a really well-crafted wargame with very good graphics and a great soundtrack.”
- “The same depth of detail is present as with King Arthur; the graphics are beautiful, the sound and music are top-notch, and the history virtually drips off the screen.”
- “I have spent the last 2 days looking for a solution and haven't been able to play the game because each time I try to start the first mission, the game crashes with a 'this application has requested the runtime to terminate it in an unusual way' error message. I have tried to play the game with different resolution and graphics settings, but it didn't work.”
- “The history is there, and the graphics are strangely different, resembling a mix of South Western Asian and Eastern European styles.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game is highly inconsistent, with many users reporting frustrating bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some players on specific systems, like Windows 7 64-bit, report smooth performance without crashes, others face significant issues, such as freezing at startup. Overall, the game's stability appears to be a major concern for a substantial portion of the player base.
- “Buggy, clunky, and often frustratingly inconsistent, playing this feels more like struggling with a malfunctioning system than enjoying a refined strategy experience.”
- “However, where the Total War franchise manages to create suspense, challenge, and fun, Kings' Crusade creates frustration, sadness, and glitches.”
- “Absolutely unable to play Crusader - the game freezes going beyond the first screen.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits a mix of performance experiences; while it runs smoothly on powerful computers and features impressive graphics, some users feel it lacks thorough optimization and appears rushed.
- “The game runs smoothly (powerful computer preferred) and the graphics are superb.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The game features a strong medieval atmosphere, enhanced by beautifully designed and expansive maps that contribute to an immersive experience. Users appreciate the concept of multiple regional units for both sides, which further enriches the overall ambiance.
- “Great concept, multiple regional units for both sides, strong medieval atmosphere.”
- “The maps are very beautiful, atmospheric, and very large.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
- “Despite the promising setting, the overall ambiance is dull and fails to evoke any real sense of tension or excitement.”
- “The game attempts to create a rich atmosphere, but it ultimately falls short, leaving players feeling disconnected from the environment.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is highly praised, with reviewers highlighting its quality and how it enhances the overall experience. The soundtrack is described as top-notch, complementing the beautiful graphics and immersive historical setting.
- “This game is a really well-crafted wargame with very good graphics and a great soundtrack.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the sound and music are top-notch, and the history virtually drips off the screen.”