Wars and Warriors: Joan of Arc
- September 3, 2015
- Enlight Software Limited
You play as the heroic title character during the height of the Hundred Years' War—sadly, without Joan's divine inspiration. The 3-D locations and characters look spectacular in this third-person action game. But the hack-and-slash game play wears thin, and the seemingly endless melees and mang
Get on Steam"Wars and Warriors: Joan of Arc" is a third-person 3D action game set during the hundred years' war in medieval Europe. As the player, you will engage in intense battle scenarios, slaying enemies and leading troops to victory. With experience gained, unleash more powerful combo attacks and transform from a single warrior into a military leader, all while battling through eight epic battles.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Unique and nostalgic experience that combines RTS and action gameplay, making it a classic for fans of the genre.
- Engaging story centered around Joan of Arc, with enjoyable combat mechanics and a variety of characters to play.
- Visually appealing for its time, with a great soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, including poor AI pathfinding and controls that can be frustrating.
- Levels are often long and repetitive, with some missions taking over an hour to complete, leading to a tedious experience.
- Limited content with only eight levels and a lack of multiplayer options, which may leave players wanting more.
- story47 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of the game, centered around Joan of Arc and her historical battles, is generally praised for its engaging narrative and satisfying conclusion, with many players appreciating its historical accuracy. However, some reviews note that the plot development is slow, with mandatory escort and collectathon quests that can detract from the experience. Overall, while the story is well-received, the gameplay mechanics and mission design have received mixed feedback, impacting the overall enjoyment.
“The story is based upon the character of Joan of Arc and other great warriors who helped her in battle.”
“The story is well done and the ending is very satisfying.”
“What makes the game enjoyable is the historically correct story (to my knowledge).”
“No plot development until the final level.”
“The story is okay for a game like this, but Joan/Jeanne doesn't talk a single time.”
“What could have been a simple and fun action game is marred by awful camera controls, missions that last far too long, and RTS mechanics that feel out of place.”
- graphics28 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally viewed as outdated, with many reviewers noting that while they were impressive for their time in 2004, they do not hold up well in 2022. Some players appreciate the enhancements provided by HD mods, but others find the original graphics lacking and reminiscent of older gaming systems. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they are serviceable and fit the game's nostalgic charm.
“The graphics are actually pretty amazing for its time (2004) and at the same time they aren't particularly anything to freak out over.”
“Everything about this game was mind-blowing to me at the time: the graphics, the gameplay, etc... I couldn't ask for more.”
“Graphics wise it's amazing for 2004!”
“To call this game graphically and physically unrefined would be an understatement.”
“The graphics are not the best as you can imagine and the archers sometimes shoot somewhere, for no reason or just in the wrong direction.”
“It's old, its graphics looked meh even in 2004, the AI is silly.”
- gameplay26 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it enjoyable and engaging despite its dated controls and occasional clunkiness. While the core mechanics offer a blend of hack-and-slash and RTS elements, many noted issues such as poor camera controls and long missions that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as challenging and fun, but it may not meet modern standards for gameplay quality.
“Very fun, some parts involve well-elaborated strategy, but nothing impossible. Despite being a bit dated, you get used to the gameplay.”
“This game is an older one but incredibly rich in historical storyline, and the gameplay is actually really smooth.”
“Great gameplay overall, would recommend if historical inaccuracy doesn't bother you too much.”
“The gameplay is not good enough for 2019.”
“What could have been a simple and fun action game is marred by awful camera controls, missions that last far too long, and RTS mechanics that feel out of place.”
“I finally did some hours ago and I must say that other than the bugs (people get stuck around: soldiers mostly when using a cannon) and a little cranky gameplay controls - don't ever use a horse - it's still very enjoyable thanks to the beautiful background music.”
- music25 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its epic quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with a soundtrack that effectively complements both combat and non-combat scenarios. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful orchestral compositions and sound effects, noting that they evoke strong emotions and fit seamlessly with the game's themes. While some mention that the music can become repetitive, the general consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's enjoyment.
“The soundtrack is great and perfectly fits with the mood of the game.”
“The soundtrack still gives me chills.”
“Overall, the music is satisfying if you like music that really goes for the home-run and fits into where it's placed.”
“However, the peplum-esque soundtrack will forever make me think of the very unmedieval Romans fighting Egyptians on the Nile or Alexander the Great chasing Persians throughout Mesopotamia instead.”
“Now that I've grown up, I can see that the game is really shabby (bad quality audio conversations, one resolution, AI is a little bit dumb, the fun fact that Joan has a squirrel as hair and can jump like 3 meters with full iron armor, etc.) but playing it with the hardest difficulty can be really fun.”
“The soundtrack, whilst it can eventually get a bit irritating, as it tells you there's an enemy just out of sight, is magnificent.”
- stability7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, which significantly impact gameplay, including issues with AI and pathfinding that can lead to units becoming stuck. While some players appreciate its nostalgic value, the overall stability is poor, making it a challenging experience for those expecting a smoother performance.
“It should be warned that, due to its age, it's quite buggy.”
“However, the lack of any options outside of the campaign limits the experience; the pathfinding is poor and there are still glitches that lead to units getting jammed in unmovable objects.”
“This game is very buggy, has horrible AI, and has overall bad balancing with enemies, specifically generals and archers/crossbowmen.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a mixed bag; while it features immersive environmental sounds and fitting non-combat music that enhance the overall experience, some players feel it falls short of creating a truly expansive or engaging atmosphere.
“It has atmospheric sounds (e.g. dirt crunching beneath feet, sound of metal armor hitting the ground when moving, bird chirping, shouting and cheering sounds when fighting, etc.) that go very well with the game.”
“The first side being the atmospheric non-combat music like this one, my personal favorite.”
“They wanted to shoot for the moon, but boy, did their ship not even leave the Earth's atmosphere, let alone get lost among the stars.”
“It kills a bit of the atmosphere.”
“It just has a great feel to it for what the game's theme and atmosphere is.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and monotonous, often describing it as a long slog with little depth. While some acknowledge the grindy leveling system and frustrating controls, they still believe the overall experience can be enjoyable despite these challenges.
“The rest of the game is a boring, mundane, long, tedious slog with no depth whatsoever.”
“Then there are the archers which not only interrupt your attacks, but also run away when being chased, making it a tedious job to chase them down and kill them.”
“Yes, the leveling system is grindy, and people get stuck on scenery from time to time, and just don't get on a horse (the controls are god-awful), but the game is fun!”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally acceptable, with performance remaining stable as enemies scale appropriately; however, players have noted occasional stuttering and a lack of graphical options, with a maximum resolution capped at 1024x768.
“The enemies scale accordingly, so if you're doing it right, you'll see no difference in performance.”
“The game runs smoothly even at high settings, showcasing excellent optimization.”
“I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the game to maintain a consistent frame rate across various hardware.”
“Mechanically it's okay, but there is a little stuttering sometimes. The lack of options overall and the resolution is limited to only 1024x768.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game lacks significant replayability, with players noting minimal variation in gameplay and describing the RTS mode as more of a mechanical task than an engaging experience.
“No variation or replay value.”
“They are playable in RTS mode, but that's not so much 'playable' as it is just moving them around.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game deeply emotional, often experiencing a profound sense of heartbreak and emptiness that lingers even after stepping away from it, highlighting its impactful storytelling and character development.
“It was heartbreaking for me, and I still hadn't finished the game, so I had to go on living my life with a feeling of void in my soul because I didn't manage to complete it.”
