The Settlers: Heritage of Kings
- February 8, 2005
- Blue Byte Software
- 60h median play time
The Settlers series developed a cult following by focusing more on resource and building management than most real-time strategy games. Strangely, the latest chapter has actually become a straightforward RTS. The game looks fine but is a bit dated, and the single-player campaign moves at a tedious p
"The Settlers: Heritage of Kings" is a historical real-time strategy game that offers both single-player and multi-player options. The story follows a prince named Dario working to reclaim his father's throne from the villainous Mordred. This 2005 installment of The Settlers series features 3D graphics, breaking from its predecessors' style, and introduces new gameplay mechanics similar to those of Cossacks: European Wars. Expect roughly 60 hours of gameplay to complete the campaign.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and engaging campaign that many players enjoy, especially for its nostalgic value.
- It features unique gameplay mechanics that allow for interesting resource management and city-building strategies.
- The graphics, while dated, are still appreciated by players for their charm, and the game provides a decent amount of playtime with various missions.
- The game suffers from significant compatibility issues with modern systems, particularly Windows 10, making it unplayable for many users.
- There is a lack of multiplayer options and AI functionality, which limits replayability and overall enjoyment.
- The game is criticized for its slow pacing and repetitive gameplay, with some players finding it tedious and lacking depth.
- story19 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the narrative about Dario, a lost prince reclaiming his land, and finding it engaging and well-told. However, others criticize the storyline as thin and repetitive, noting that the scripted missions can become tedious and lengthy, detracting from the overall experience. While the voice acting is deemed acceptable, the lack of variety in gameplay and mission structure has left some players disappointed.
“If you play games for graphics or over-the-top effects then maybe this isn't for you, but if you play for the story and core of the game, then it's a definite must buy.”
“The campaign tells a nice story and the scenery is quite okay in the introductions as well.”
“The game tells you the story about the character called Dario, as he attempts to regain his land and reclaim his rightful throne.”
“There are few skirmish missions; however, there is no skirmish AI or generated maps/encounters - each mission is heavily scripted and keeps repeating simple tactics.”
“Many missions take around 45 minutes to complete, the first 15 of which are waiting, and the other just cumbersome.”
“I got about 6 missions in before I just quit, not because of difficulty, but because the fun-to-work ratio was not high.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, showcasing a blocky 3D style with improved coloring and shading compared to its predecessor, but still feeling outdated overall. While some players appreciate the art style and find the visuals acceptable for an older title, others note issues like blurriness on modern systems and a lack of vibrancy. Ultimately, the graphics may not impress those seeking cutting-edge visuals, but they serve the game's story and core experience adequately.
“Graphics look okay for what you can expect from an older game, and the zooming function adds a decent amount of good-looking material to the game.”
“Graphics are not that bad considering the original release date, and I have not encountered any bugs so far; I have almost completed the campaign.”
“Great graphics for an old game.”
“Now, it's not a terrible game - far from it - it's just really showing its age in graphics and gameplay.”
“On a modern computer with a snazzy graphics card and a decent wide-screen monitor, the game looks blurry and finding an acceptable aspect ratio is frustrating.”
“Graphics look okay-ish for what you can expect from an older game and the zooming function adds a decent amount of good looking material to the game.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is highly praised for its engaging mechanics and enjoyable campaigns, making it a strong recommendation for newcomers to the RTS genre. While the graphics may not be groundbreaking, the overall experience is enhanced by great models, animations, and ambient sounds. However, some players express disappointment over the lack of available expansions on Steam.
“This game is great! I really enjoy the game and its mechanics, so I recommend it to newcomers who enjoy a good RTS game!”
“Great gameplay and campaigns, but I'm so disappointed that Steam does not offer the expansions.”
“First, let me state the goods: great models and animations, ambient sounds, and core mechanics.”
“Gameplay-wise, the mechanics feel clunky and unresponsive, making it frustrating to enjoy the experience.”
“The level design is repetitive and lacks creativity, leading to a monotonous gameplay experience.”
“There are numerous bugs and glitches that disrupt the flow of the game, making it hard to stay immersed.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its excellence and compatibility with the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience. However, some users noted that the soundtrack is limited, featuring only one repetitive track throughout the game.
“The music is excellent and goes well with the game. I have played this game before and I recommend it.”
“The soundtrack during the game only has one track that plays over and over.”
“The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it feel monotonous.”
“There are very few music tracks, which makes the gameplay feel dull and uninspired.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
While the campaigns are enjoyable, the game's replayability as an RTS is considered very poor, leading to a lack of recommendation from users.
“The campaigns are very nice; however, I cannot recommend this game to others, since its replayability as an RTS game is very, very poor.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with a slow-paced single-player campaign that feels somewhat outdated.
“The game looks fine but is a bit dated, and the single-player campaign moves at a tedious pace.”
“Grinding feels like a chore rather than an engaging part of the game.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay invested in the game.”
Critic Reviews
Heritage of Kings: The Settlers
The Settlers series developed a cult following by focusing more on resource and building management than most real-time strategy games. Strangely, the latest chapter has actually become a straightforward RTS. The game looks fine but is a bit dated, and the single-player campaign moves at a tedious p
50%The Settlers: Heritage Of Kings
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