Tzar: The Burden of the Crown

About

In the game Tzar: The Burden of the Crown, you are tasked with saving the kingdom of Keanor from a sinister evil, leading vast armies, and building deadly weapons to defeat the enemy. You have the power to train wizards, conjure mythical creatures, and wield arcane magic to ensure the triumph of good over evil. Your heroism will determine the fate of Keanor's citizens as you strive to fulfill the prophecy and become the true leader they need.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Tzar: The Burden of the Crown screenshot

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 161 reviews

gameplay7 positive mentions

optimization2 negative mentions

A nostalgic classic that still offers engaging gameplay and unique mechanics, making it a favorite among RTS fans.
The game features three distinct races with unique units and technologies, providing a high level of replayability.
Despite its age, the graphics and soundtrack have aged well, contributing to the overall enjoyment of the game.

The game suffers from significant compatibility issues on modern systems, particularly with resolution and crashing problems.
Multiplayer functionality is poorly implemented, requiring third-party software to connect with friends, which can be frustrating.
The Steam release lacks HD support and feels like a lazy port, missing out on content from previous expansions.

gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
38%
19%
The gameplay of this RTS title is highly praised for its innovative mechanics, many of which have become standard in the genre, such as unit experience and spell learning. Players appreciate the complexity of the economy and the vast, randomly generated maps, although some aspects may feel outdated by modern standards. Despite its low resolution and lack of modern graphics, the game is celebrated for its engaging mechanics and unique features that set it apart from contemporaries.
- “It introduced mechanics to the RTS genre that still have not been replicated to this day, while some mechanics were copied by others and now are standard to the genre.”
- “Beyond that, it offers a plethora of mechanics never seen again in an RTS; normal units can gain experience to become hero units, any unit can learn any spell, any unit can learn to have mana or increased mana, you can lose your castle and all your buildings but still have another base across the map hidden that you can build with a singular peasant, and unimaginably huge randomly generated maps - the game has it all.”
- “I believe that the way this game nailed its unique features and implemented a smooth gameplay already earns this game the right to be mentioned among those known titles and shouldn't be compared to them.”
- “Thus, some gameplay aspects may look outdated by today's standards.”
- “Great classic, awesome gameplay but low resolution sucks, why not remaster it for HD or 4K?”
- “It was way ahead of its time; it introduced mechanics that became widely accepted in the years to come by the big titles out there.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
57%
21%
The story in the game revolves around a ruler's journey from peasant to king, featuring a single campaign with three factions and 18 missions. While the narrative is considered enjoyable and engaging, it suffers from uneven difficulty and some grammatical issues. Overall, players appreciate the challenge and variety in gameplay, despite the campaign's limitations and technical issues.
- “Anyway, tzar is yet another game that tells us a story of a ruler who used to be a peasant.”
- “It's fun getting to play the story finally.”
- “During the campaign and story, it was amazing, from having to restore your kingdom and fight the evil king who decided to take it and do evil deeds.”
- “The story isn't great, and there's definitely some typos and grammar issues, but it's still really fun, and very challenging.”
- “Especially since naturally, this game is pretty rough and unbalanced, while the single-player campaign is full of those nasty missions, in which you either know exactly what to do or die in agony.”
- “At the same time, though, only three factions with only 18 missions (only one campaign here) is something more Blizzard.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
17%
25%
The game's music is widely praised for its nostalgic and captivating quality, enhancing the overall experience with a beautiful soundtrack that complements its dark fantasy setting. While some players note the soundtrack's brevity and the absence of certain tracks in newer releases, the music remains a standout feature that evokes strong emotional connections and adds depth to the gameplay. Overall, the combination of great music and stunning visuals contributes significantly to the game's enduring appeal.
- “I feel nostalgic when I hear the music of the game.”
- “Still in love with the game's music.”
- “The soundtrack for this game is amazing and really captures the feel of the setting and world you're in.”
- “Some of you may not know this, but some regions (like Germany, Sweden, and Finland) actually had versions of this game that featured CD audio music on disc.”
- “Also in these re-releases, the intros from starting the game are completely gone, and during the skirmish battles, only one song track plays.”
- “Make sure to enable CD audio in the game for the truly original soundtrack blasting during gameplay.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
9%
27%
The graphics of the game are praised for their beauty and charm, particularly for a title released in 2000, showcasing a classic 2D artwork style that remains appealing even at lower resolutions. However, some users note the lack of HD support and optimization for modern systems, which detracts from the overall experience. Many express a desire for a remastered version or sequel that could enhance the visuals while retaining the original gameplay.
- “Brutal dark fantasy setting, mighty wizards and mystic creatures, epic battles with limits above 200 units, great music and beautiful visuals - the game grants a lot of fun even today.”
- “Game had quite beautiful graphics when it was released in 2000.”
- “We have a classic RTS game with beautiful 2D artwork that looks good to this day, even in lower resolution, and a very nice soundtrack.”
- “The only thing it misses is some HD graphics because it supports a maximum resolution of 1024x768, and multiplayer is only available via public IP, Hamachi, or Gameranger.”
- “Well implemented and fun to play, but the graphics are not that good.”
- “The game is not optimized for other recent operating systems. This isn't as much an issue in terms of graphics, but the constant crashes make it impossible to play a full skirmish or even progress through missions.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Reviews on the humor aspect of [b]tzar[/b] are mixed; while some users find its attempts at humor to be unsuccessful and frustrating, others report having numerous genuinely funny moments during both single and multiplayer gameplay. In contrast, [b]the horde[/b] is noted for delivering a more consistently enjoyable comedic experience.
- “I had so many hilarious moments with it, both in single-player and multiplayer.”
- “The humor in this game really stands out and adds to the overall experience.”
- “The witty dialogue and funny scenarios kept me entertained throughout.”
- “And it's supposed to be funny.”
- “The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
- “I expected humor, but it was more cringeworthy than comedic.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight the game's exceptional replayability, noting its combination of sandbox and RTS elements, along with random maps that create diverse and unique playthrough experiences.
- “The ultimate sandbox and RTS rolled into a single unbeatable package of replayability.”
- “+Random maps give tons of replayability with several settings allowing for more unique playthroughs.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, particularly on recent operating systems, leading to frequent crashes that hinder gameplay and mission progression. While graphics are not the main concern, overall performance remains inconsistent, impacting the user experience.
- “The game is not optimized for recent operating systems. This isn't as much of an issue in terms of graphics, but the constant crashes make it impossible to play a full skirmish or even progress through missions.”
- “The performance is kind of off.”