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
- The game offers a nostalgic experience, combining hack-and-slash gameplay with RTS elements, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- Players appreciate the engaging story and character development, particularly the ability to control multiple characters with unique abilities.
- The graphics and music, while dated, are still considered charming and fitting for the game's historical setting.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, including poor AI pathfinding and issues with troops getting stuck, which can disrupt gameplay.
- Many players find the combat repetitive and unbalanced, particularly when facing overwhelming enemy numbers and powerful bosses.
- Compatibility issues on modern systems lead to performance problems, such as mouse stutter and difficulty running the game in fullscreen.
- story70 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story, centered around Joan of Arc and her battles, is praised for its historical accuracy and engaging narrative, culminating in a satisfying ending. While the storyline and quests are generally well-received, some players note a lack of plot development and frustrating mission objectives that can detract from the experience. Overall, the combination of a compelling story, innovative gameplay elements, and a rich soundtrack contributes to a unique gaming experience, despite some user interface challenges.
“The story is based upon the character of Joan of Arc and other great warriors who helped her in battle.”
“It's basically the whole Joan of Arc story, but it ends on a happy note.”
“The story is well done and the ending is very satisfying.”
“The plot is very simple.”
“However, that's as far as the story goes.”
“The main takeaway is that there is next to no plot development whatsoever.”
- graphics49 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered decent for its release year of 2004, with some players appreciating the nostalgic charm and others noting their outdated quality. While the visuals may not impress by modern standards, they are enhanced by HD mods, making them more palatable for contemporary audiences. Overall, the graphics fit the game's aesthetic, though many reviewers suggest that a remake with improved visuals would be welcome.
“Graphics wise it's amazing for 2004!”
“The graphics are actually pretty amazing for its time (2004) and at the same time they aren't particularly anything to freak out over.”
“The graphics fit the game and it doesn't hurt my eyes.”
“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.”
“Needless to say that the graphics don't hold up on a game this old.”
- gameplay46 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Joan of Arc: Wars and Warriors" is characterized by a mix of 3rd person hack'n'slash and RTS elements, offering a challenging experience that some find enjoyable despite its clunky controls and dated mechanics. While the core gameplay loop can feel repetitive and lacks innovation, the simplicity and RPG elements provide a degree of fun, especially for those who appreciate historical themes. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some praising its charm and soundtrack, while others criticize its execution and technical issues.
“An honestly good game, with pleasant gameplay and nice soundtrack.”
“Great gameplay overall, would recommend if historical inaccuracy doesn't bother you too much.”
“Definitely gives Joan of Arc the ending she deserved and it definitely makes Joan of Arc awesome, gameplay-wise.”
“Finally, after all these years I just finished it after so many hours of struggling with the rotten gameplay, and don't get me wrong, it still was as hard as before for me.”
“But to be honest, the gameplay is not good enough for 2019.”
“The gameplay is repetitive and mundane when it is not a pain, and the controls and animations are janky.”
- music43 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with a mix of non-combat and combat tracks that resonate well with players. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, noting its emotional impact and suitability for the game's themes, despite some mentioning that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music is considered a significant asset, contributing to the game's immersive environment and enjoyment.
“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.”
“On the other hand, the game will not impress you with its graphics but the story is still pretty nice and the soundtrack is great, and perfectly fits with the mood of the game.”
“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.”
“Also, the soundtrack, whilst it can eventually get a bit irritating, as it tells you there's an enemy just out of sight, is magnificent.”
- stability12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is plagued by numerous glitches and bugs, particularly affecting AI behavior and pathfinding, which can lead to units becoming stuck. While some players appreciate the nostalgic value and find it worth the low price, the overall stability issues significantly detract from the experience.
“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.”
“Cons: glitches ruined the entire experience from level 1.”
- atmosphere9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by immersive sound effects, such as the crunch of dirt and the clanking of armor, which complement the non-combat music and overall theme. However, some players feel that certain elements detract from the atmosphere, suggesting a mixed reception regarding its effectiveness in creating an engaging environment.
“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.”
“It just has a great feel to it for what the game's theme and atmosphere is.”
“The first side being the atmospheric non-combat music like this one, my personal favorite.”
“All things considered, Joan of Arc is one game that shot for the moon but didn't even leave the earth's atmosphere, let alone become lost in the stars.”
“It kills a bit the atmosphere.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to clear missions and level up. Despite the frustrations with controls and occasional obstacles, many feel that the overall enjoyment of the game makes the grind worthwhile.
“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!”
“All of this combines to make the game a test of your tolerance where you spend more than an hour or two trying to painstakingly clear every single mission while tediously mowing down hordes of enemies and hoping that the RNG works out in your favor.”
“Although it is a bit tedious to go through it, I think it is worth it.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a lack of replayability, with players noting minimal variation in gameplay. While the RTS mode offers some level of interaction, it is described as more of a mechanical task than an engaging experience. Overall, the game fails to provide compelling reasons for repeated play.
“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.”
“No variation or replay value.”
