by Sheila Robinson

Created on: April 05, 2010

About the Game

Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders is a battle filled RPG style action and strategy game in a medieval setting. By controlling troops of various types of fighters,  you can battle Elves, Orcs, Vells and other  enemies with sword, bows and Elemental magic.  The story revolves around a campaign against the Dark Legions who seek to control the Ancient Heart artifact.  

Difficulty Levels and Modes of Play

Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders a single-player Xbox game that can be played as a standalone on your console or on the Internet with Xbox Live.  

 There are three levels of difficulty: Easy, Normal and Hard. In each level  you play a different character. In Easy, you will have Gerald the human Hironeiden. For Normal mode, play Lucretia the Vellond of the Dark Region. Once you complete the game in Normal, you can play Regnier Hexter of the Dark Legion in the Hard mode.  

Game Play

Battle scenarios are challenging and filled with armies of Archer, Infantry, Sappers and Spearmen. The action is up close and personal. You can direct your army in each campaign mission using specific commands with your Xbox controller.

Game play can sometimes be a bit difficult.  A training section is available to learn how to become familiar with troop commands and abilities. It is useful since quite a few of the abilities are not intuitive and can make or break your success in the campaign missions. With practice, giving commands to troops becomes easier. Camera and controller options are also available to customize your gaming experience.

As missions are completed, you earn money and points to spend on leveling up your troops and buying new armor and weapons. Notable elemental abilities include Lightning, Fire, Ice, and Earth attacks.

Graphics and Audio

The graphics in Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders are very detailed. Combat actions look quite bloody and fierce. Plated armor and melee weapons look  like shiny polished metal.  In the game’s brief video clips, some characters appear a bit flat and plain. However, this should not discourage you from playing this game. 

As for audio, heavy metal rock music is prominent throughout the game. Although it does not fit the medieval theme, it does sound cool. Character dialog is a bit corny, but voices seem to fit.

 Overall Impressions

Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders a challenging, action-packed, medieval RPG and strategy Xbox game  that will provide hours of enjoyment for gamers. The storyline is involving with battle scenarios that include multiple types of troops. Control commands are a good tool to direct troops with melee weapons, bows and Elemental magic. The training feature is helpful in preparing  yourself for intense battle situations. Do you have the skills to become a great medieval military troop leader? Give this game a shot.

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