King's Bounty 2 in the test: a challenging tactic

Hero Games (DOJ, Inc dba Hero Games) is the author of the Hero System, a generic roleplaying rules set that can be made use of to simulate several categories, as well as was the co-developer of the Fuzion system.

What was 1990 for an exciting year. Germany celebrated the reunification. Tim-Berners Lee created the first web server and thus creates the basis for the World Wide Web and the Internet. In the field of video games, well-known titles saw the Secret of Monkey Island, Ultima 6, Metal Gear 2, Wing Commander and King's Bounty the light of the world. The latter received only average ratings and did not belong to the economically successful titles of the year, yet it should take a very special position in the video game history.

From the title, in the following years, the Heroes of Might and Magic series emerged, which should determine the genre of round-based tactical role plays with a total of seven parts in the coming three decades. After over thirty years and some subtitled offshoots in the years 2008 to 2014, the Russian developers of 1c Company thought that it would be time for King's Bounty 2 (Buy Now).

11:20 King's Bounty 2 | Review | Gorgeous challenging tactic RPG

King's Bounty 2

Typical fantasy problems

The developers designate the game as a long-awaited continuation of the 1990 iconic tactical roleplaying game, but in many aspects, their own ways go. So the world and background history of the successor has nothing to do with the events from the first part. You can regret that. However, in view of the fact that a large part of the target group was probably not even in the world, when King's Bounty seemed, certainly not the wrong idea.

In King's Bounty 2, we now succeed in the Kingdom of Nostria, which masters a whole continent of the world of Antara. The Reich makes difficult times because some provinces seek their independence, bandits make the streets uncertain and, for all, three prefabricated character is a potential heroes to choose from. Source: PC Games was also poisoned the king, while dark powers in the background pull their threads. As a player, we hatch in the role of one of three potential heroes, who are supposed to ensure the order on behalf of the prince.

Each of the three protagonists has their own background history and embodies another style of play. The Countess Katharine is a magician. She is rightful ruler of a mountainous region in Nostria, but has lost its power to her nephew during many years of absence. The Warrior Aivar was once a knight of the Royal Guard, but fell in disgrace. In the exile he developed a reputation as a mercenary and built his own troop. The third in the bundle is Elisa, a farmer's girl, which sees it as her special task Nostria to save. With her history, which is strongly reminiscent of Johanna of Orleans, she embodies the ideals of a paladin.

Which heroes we decide is not really a role for the action. In some dialogues, the background occasionally comes to speech, but the basic story does not change anything. The plot itself is average fantasy food in which we uncover secret machinations and track the source of boner powers. Nothing makes experienced role players behind the oven. There are missing narrative highlights or memorable characters. But after all, the plot ranges as a benchmark, which explore the world of Nostria and deny grasping fighting.

Looking the hero over the shoulder

At the actual game principle, little changes have changed towards the predecessors and genre colleagues. We roam a versatile fantasy world with our hero. We meet NPCs that provide us with quests, we collect countless treasures, recruit troops for our army and fall into battles against monsters and other enemies. And yet King's Bounty 2 is so differently than you are worth looking in all corner and niches of the game world. Everywhere treasures can be discovered. Source: PC Games Genre is used to. Traditionally, the exploration of the game world takes place in games of this kind on an isometric card in round-based manner. The developers of 1C Company have completely adopted. Instead, we control our heroes in the shoulder perspective in real time through the world how to get used to role games such as The Witcher 3.

Not only does the perspective change, but it also robs the exploration of the game its strategic component. If you had to think well earlier, for which the motion points of the hero in a round in each one most useful, without plasticing too much time on the way to the final destination, this aspect is now completely away. We have all the time in the world and can mostly move freely in the game world. While we still do the same things: treasures loten, collecting troops, deny struggles, but it is also comprehensible that this dramatic change of the game principle of the genre will scare.

Especially since the developers with this decision did not necessarily have done a favor. Because if you are already seeking a transposition as third-person role-playing, then you should also ensure that you can optically convert the whole thing optically. At the horse you are traveling faster. However, the Gaul is rather bulky and interacting with the game world can not be done on it either. Source: PC Games Graphical representation corresponds to King's Bounty 2 but not what you expect from a third-person game today. Although the general artstyle is consistent and fits the fantasy world, but blurred and washed out textures, detailed objects and character models as well as a generally very grainy optics do not pamper the eye.

Even with the handling of the hero in the shoulder perspective, there are defects where you prefer to rejoice the traditional style of play. The game world that created the developers is pretty big. Accordingly, you spend a lot of time with the area at the Latschen. Thanks to numerous quests, which repeatedly require backtracking. Since the hero puts only a rather leisurely pace on the day, much of our playing time is only for running. You have a horse available, but it could be a little faster. Especially since the Gaul usually disturbs only if you have to descend every two, three meters to lose a box or interact with a shrine. None of this can be done in the mounted state. When attacking an enemy unit is displayed, which damage to the opponent and our squad is to be expected. Source: PC Games

Round tactics of the finest

But certainly not everything is bad in King's Bounty 2. His strengths has the game above all in the areas that have hardly changed compared to its predecessor. First of all the tactical fighting. On the journey through the game world, the hero can hire different troops. There is a diverse offer to choose from. Classic fighters with sword, bow and lance, magical beings like elemental and spirits, mystical creatures like chimeras and kites as well as undead, dwarves and a lot more. In the active army of the hero, up to five squads can always be located. How many units can consist of these troops, determines guidance value of the protagonist. Unfortunately, this system is declared inadequately inadequate by the game and it may take some time to internalize the subtleties behind it.

In the active army (left) are up to five troops. We maintain the rest in the reserve (right). Source: PC Games comes to fight, the game switches to a special combat field view. The battlefield corresponds exactly to the terrain where the battle takes place in the open game world. A hex frame grid is placed above. Before the first round, we still have the opportunity to position our troops meaningfully. This is also necessary bitterly because the automatic installation is always unfavorable. For newcomers not exactly beneficial. So we put close fighters forward, remote fighters in the second row and start the battle. The train order of our troops and the opponent is determined by their respective initiative value. Gradually, therefore, the different units in the series are now trying to inflict the opponent. The site that first loses all units has lost the fight.

The tactical diversity that King's Bounty 2 attaches to the day is excellent. To describe it with a simple stone scissor's paper principle would be a much too simplified presentation. Through the variety of different troop types, you have to set yourself again and again to new situations. Corresponding considerations even start before the actual battle. If I see that my opponent has some units that are insensitive to fire attacks, I'll leave my fire elementary at home better and take other fighters. In the fight itself, it is advantageous to know exactly how far enemy troops can move and what special abilities you have to vote on your own actions.

It depends on the character development

During all of this, the own hero is not necessarily an uninvolved observer on the edge. Depending on the skill, the protagonist can learn more or less powerful spells. This even applies to the warrior, because the skill system is completely open. Alternatively, magic can also be used by captured scrolls that are consumed. For this purpose, the hero in combat mode can usually access the magic book once per round. The sayings divided into four magic chillers range from the evocation of new units, about meaningful buffs and debuffs to mighty damage spells.

The hero can intervene with mighty spells in struggles. Here we revive a fallen rider unit. Source: PC Games With these hero capabilities, the leaf may then be the leaf of a battle. But one is in no way forced to put on males of the hero. If one pursues another specialization one obtains advantages in other areas that allow for larger troops or lend the allied units more harm. The skill system is divided into the four areas of discipline, starch, anarchy and agility. Which skills are available to us in these areas for learning, our actions are determined during the game.

In the course of a variety of quests, whether the main or ancillary task, we have the choice of two different procedures. These always correspond to one of the four areas mentioned. By decision for one of the ways we get points in the area concerned. With this rising point, we then turn on new skill steps in the talent tree. An interesting way to make the actions of their own character to the abilities available to him.

As it belongs to a real role-playing hero, we improve our protagonist not only through talent points, but also about his equipment. As a quest reward and as a prey, a variety of objects can be found again and again in different quality levels. These are not just bonuses that increase the values ​​of the hero, but also those that affect the entire army. Even when choosing the equipment, there is therefore strategic considerations to be made. Depending on which playing way in the fighting is preferred, other item values ​​may be important. Before each battle, we use the preparation time to strategically place our troops. Source: PC Games

RPG with balance problems

The role-playing substructure of King's Bounty 2 works well and leaves a lot of space for experiments. Fans tactical RPG struggles with a variety of strategic possibilities will have their joy in the game. But it is also a danger to bend. In addition to the already mentioned defects of the third-person game world, balancing is not really mature. There are no difficulty levels and just over the end can be the fighting to tremendous challenges if your own style of play and army composition does not fit the opponent. Then victories are hardly and often only with many losses to achieve.

To compensate for this, new units must be recruited, which is quite expensive at the end of the game. But since only a limited amount of gold is present in the game, it can happen that one goes out for the end of too many losses towards the end. This requires a game already to operate the game already Save Scumming, so save permanently and to load it with bad battle output and to try it again. After all, the distribution of the talent points can be reset - the first time even free. Hopefully, the developers turn on the balancing screws. In addition, King's Bounty offers 2 interesting and tactically sophisticated role-playing food for all, for which high gloss optics is not so important and that can overlook a few shortcomings in the gamed design.

My opinion

Von Matthias Dammes editor [Email Protected]

A wonderfully challenging tactic RPG with many unpolished edges.

King's Bounty 2 is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the complete departure from the isometric, strategic playing way has pretty surprised. I can understand when serial veterans do not find themselves in this game anymore. Personally, it was no longer disturbed after short earning. However, I would have wanted more care if you decide for this third-person approach. On the other hand, the tactical fights really convinced me. Another time I have changed my tactic, my assembly and my playing way to find the right strategy. This tinker makes scary fun, especially when it was crowned by success. If the game would not put so many balancing stones in the way, it would be even better. But I'm still looking forward to a second passage, in which I learn from the mistakes of the first experiment and everything is better accomplished again.

King's Bounty 2 (PC)

7/10

graphic - Sound - Multiplayer -

King's Bounty 2 (PS4)

7/10

graphic - Sound - Multiplayer -

King's Bounty 2 (XBO)

7/10

graphic - Sound - Multiplayer -

Pro Contra

Tactically diverse fighting
Many different unit types
Extensive item system
Skill system with many possibilities
Interesting ideal mechanics
Lots of quests
Decisions with impact on character orientation
Large game world to discover with a lot
Random puzzles for loosening
Decent scope (40-50 hours)

graphically not up to date
A lot of carving and backtracking
No interactions from the horse out
Balancing does not tackle
No difficulty levels
Game explains too little
Story rather boring

OTHER PROS & CONS ...

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From Matthias Dammes editor 02.09.2021 at 17:45

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