Warrior Kings: Battles

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 160 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • music
Warrior Kings: Battles Game Cover
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Warrior Kings: Battles is a real-time strategy game set in a medieval fantasy world. Players command armies and engage in battles, while also managing resources and building structures to support their forces. The game features a single-player campaign and multiplayer modes, with a focus on historical accuracy and strategic depth. Players can choose from multiple factions, each with unique units, technologies, and playstyles.

  • PC
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 160 reviews
gameplay6 positive mentions
graphics5 negative mentions
  • A nostalgic classic that offers deep strategy and unique gameplay mechanics, allowing players to choose their faction through building choices.
  • The game features a diverse selection of units and a detailed tech tree, providing a satisfying experience for strategy lovers.
  • Despite its age, the game still holds up well in terms of gameplay, offering hours of fun and a strong community for support and mods.
  • The graphics and user interface are outdated, which may deter new players and can lead to a frustrating experience.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs, including poor AI pathfinding and unit responsiveness, which can disrupt gameplay.
  • Multiplayer functionality is limited and requires third-party software, making it difficult to find opponents online.
  • graphics22 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, reflecting a late 90s to early 2000s aesthetic that may not appeal to all players. While some appreciate the nostalgia and find the visuals passable for its age, many criticize them as clunky, blocky, and lacking detail compared to modern standards. Despite these graphical shortcomings, players emphasize that the gameplay remains engaging and solid, often arguing that graphics are secondary to the overall experience in a great RTS.

    • “For a 2002-2003 game, it has decent graphics.”
    • “The art style is not as iconic as other games nor as distinct, but it's certainly not sub-par, and it creates the necessary medieval feel.”
    • “While the game's graphics have probably not aged very well for those not viewing it through nostalgia-tinted lenses, the strategy side is still rock solid, and its implementation of formations and terrain remains uniquely excellent in my opinion.”
    • “Though today the graphics look pretty bad, the gameplay is still catchy.”
    • “Clunky graphics, AI path glitches, and a bland campaign.”
    • “Of course, the game is quite old now, so the graphics aren't its strong point, appearing blocky and, when zoomed in, blurry and lacking detail and definition.”
  • gameplay18 mentions

    The gameplay is praised for its nostalgic appeal, engaging mechanics, and strategic depth, reminiscent of classic RTS titles from the Age of Empires and Warcraft III era. Players appreciate the variety of units and strategies available, making each battle feel distinct, although some note that the game lacks a compelling story compared to its predecessor. While the graphics may not hold up to modern standards, the overall experience remains enjoyable and offers many hours of fun.

    • “Classic RTS from the AOE/WC3 era with great sound design and art, fun gameplay, and a surprisingly fun campaign.”
    • “I love the logistical aspect of the gameplay and the numerous units you can build.”
    • “The gameplay is not repetitive, considering that you can build everything you want and use different strategies; it's like every battle is different from the other.”
    • “The whole thing is weird, it's like the game's mechanics don't fit what it's trying to be; the game is out of sorts with itself.”
    • “Though today the graphics look pretty bad, the gameplay is still catchy.”
    • “Gameplay: gameplay is simple, you build small settlements around a keep and your peasants farm/mine by a village, take the resources to the village and the cart will take the resources from the village to your keep (manor).”
  • music14 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it pleasant yet ultimately distracting, especially during gameplay. Many users reported that turning off the in-game music significantly improved performance and reduced lag, while others noted that the music often felt mismatched to the game's context, with jarring transitions and inappropriate intensity during combat. Overall, the soundtrack is characterized as hit or miss, with some tracks being enjoyable and others deemed dull or irritating.

    • “The game plays quite relaxing, serene tracks while not in combat, but when your troops start fighting, the music ramps up to war-drums.”
    • “Decent music”
    • “However, I did find that turning the music off in-game (i.e. reducing volume to nothing) helped profoundly - make sure you do this when you play, as pleasant as the music for Warrior Kings is.”
    • “Sounds: the music sometimes doesn't relate to the game and when in combat, the music can sound very awkward.”
    • “The music is either hit or miss, with some tracks being really good and some being really bad, and the way the music jolts around at times can be very unsettling and quite disruptive.”
  • story8 mentions

    The story in this game is generally considered weaker than its predecessor, "Warrior Kings," with many reviewers noting a lack of depth and narrative compared to the original. While the campaign is described as straightforward and focused more on gameplay mechanics, players still find the experience enjoyable, particularly in terms of combat efficiency. Overall, the game prioritizes gameplay over a compelling storyline, making it more of a skirmish-focused experience.

    • “The single player story is somewhat weaker in this game, but I'd recommend giving it a try since I still found it enjoyably challenging.”
    • “Nice thing is that compared to the previous title, at the beginning of each mission we can choose which culture we will play.”
    • “Although the story is much better in the first title 'Warrior Kings', the gameplay itself is enjoyable.”
    • “I do wish this had an actual story like the first one, but where it lacks in that, it makes up for it in the overall improvement of gameplay as the first game was a little glitchy.”
    • “Compared to 'Warrior Kings', this came across as much more straightforward, with less pre-generated buildings and confusing story objectives.”
    • “- No story in the campaign, just skirmish battles.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game's stability is generally criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, unbalanced gameplay, and issues like clunky graphics and AI pathfinding glitches. While some players find enjoyment in mastering these challenges, others note that the game's age and the developers' bankruptcy have left many issues unresolved. Overall, players should expect a mix of frustrating glitches and moments of enjoyable gameplay.

    • “Expect a rather difficult, buggy, and unbalanced game, but if you can master it, it's pretty enjoyable.”
    • “Clunky graphics, AI path glitches, and a bland campaign.”
    • “Buggy pathfinding - can be worked around, but don't expect a fix - the game's devs went bankrupt and it's 11 years old.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some consider it more enjoyable than traditional farming, many describe it as tedious and frustrating, especially when managing a large number of units, which can lead to chaotic and unresponsive gameplay.

    • “Tedious and frustrating game experience.”
    • “Good bit of fun; however, once you get into the big game (800 unit cap), with a friend or two, your units will lose their minds and be unable to perform basic functions such as walking or farming.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Reviewers highlight the game's strong replayability due to its diverse selection of maps, extensive customization options, and the freedom to choose different alignments or factions. The inclusion of a skirmish mode further enhances replay value, making the experience feel fresh and engaging with each playthrough.

    • “A great selection of maps varying in size and number of players, along with excellent settings customization, greatly improves the replayability of an already huge selection.”
    • “Tons of replay value.”
    • “The level of freedom in choosing an alignment or faction is brilliant and unique, and the replay value, thanks to its skirmish mode, is massive.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the games is praised for being innovative and enjoyable, contributing to a fun experience. Reviewers suggest that a remaster could enhance gameplay while preserving the appealing atmosphere.

    • “Innovative, atmospheric, and fun.”
    • “I would think that if they remastered both of these games and improved the gameplay system while keeping the great free atmosphere, we would have some amazing games.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game suffers from poor optimization, lacking support for modern display resolutions and the 4:3 aspect ratio, resulting in a subpar experience on contemporary gaming PCs.

  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy is criticized as a cash grab, with reviewers feeling that the game has not been updated to meet modern standards, leading to a negative perception of its value.

    • “Generally a bit of a cash grab as they didn't bother to update it for the modern era.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
    • “It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, which detracts from the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

40hMedian play time
40hAverage play time
40-40hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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