Kingdom Elemental: Tactics
Verdict: refreshingly irreverent
In a Nutshell: Kingdom Elemental: Tactics is a slimmed down real-time strategy focusing on unit selection and combat.
“KE:Tactics takes core game play elements from real-time strategy, tactics, and role-playing games and combines them into a game that is painfully easy to pick up and play without committing your entire life, unless you have no life…in which case you may not find Kingdom Elemental to be an adequate substitute.”
- Fun Rating: Really Fun
- ESRB: n/a
- Players/Mode: Single-player / Campaign and single battles
- Game Duration: 5-12 hours
- System: PC
- Developer: Liberation Games and Chronic Logic
- Website: http://www.chroniclogic.com/index.htm?ke.htm
- Cost: $19.95 from Chronic Logic
- Demo: pick it up from Chronic Logic
| Would I play this again? | most definitely |
| Would I recommend this game? | yes |
| Was the story good? | yes and it’s not what you would expect |
| Was the music good? | yes |
| Were the graphics good? | yes |
| Was this game difficult? | yes |
| Was this game frustrating? | no |
| Was this game offensive? | no |
| Was this game worth your time/money? | yes |
Playing the game
Kingdom Elemental: Tactics is a progressive difficulty strategy game. Each round the player decides which units to pit against the enemies. The number and type of units that the player can use are limited by cash at the start of the round and which units have been unlocked.
Between each round you have the chance to unlock new units or new unit abilities. This is a crucial part of the strategy as it will determine what you have available by the time you get to the final boss of the level.
During each level you will need to micromanage your units otherwise they will keep doing the last thing you told them to do. The most important button to remember here is the space bar, which will pause or resume the action. Pausing the action gives you more time to get the units going in the direction you would like them to go.
Selecting a unit and clicking somewhere on the arena will move the unit there. Clicking on an enemy with a unit selected issues the attack (units will automatically attack the next available enemy). Some units have special abilities which you will need to tell them to use by selecting the unit and then selecting the ability (if it’s available and the unit isn’t stunned).
What the game gets right
Breathe in the fresh air of a developer that dares to ask important questions like: “Why are female characters always scantily clad? Wouldn’t they WANT to have armor?” This Tough Guide to Fantasyland approach to the genre will keep you smiling from the tutorial all they way to the “Cliche’ Final Boss Arena”.
This is an independent game?! But the graphics and sound are . . . GOOD! Even with a strict focus on intuitive gameplay, these independents didn’t scrimp on the art or audio and added slick camera controls (zoom, pan, and rotate) to boot.
KE:Tactics also comes with a level editor for the skirmishes (battles not part of the campaign). While it’s currently script based requiring you to get your fingers dirty with text instead of drag-and-drop elements, the inclusion of a level editor in an independent game is extraordinary. And, if you like the level you came up with, submit it to Chronic Logic to be on the list of custom levels available for download.
What the game gets wrong
While I appreciated the tongue-in-cheek humor making fun of the genre, the canned unit sound bites get a little annoying after the first 10 minutes or so. Maybe having 10 things to say instead of 3 would have helped.
Sum it up
I really enjoyed playing this game and hope Liberation Games and Chronic Logic are able to put out a sequel. Other than that, there’s really not much more to say other than go pick it up!
Other games you might like to read about:
Zatikon
Project AftermathRate this Game
(2 votes, average: 3.50 out of 4)
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June 21st, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Great games blog, cheers