Xbox

Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes

If you made it this far, I'm hoping you have enough interest to try Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes. The delicate mix of three genres has never been pulled off as well as this before. The difficulty is high enough that I finish most missions with very low health and sweat pouring down my face, but it's a welcome challenge. With three starting character campaigns and four unlockable, as well as custom skirmishes and Live multiplayer, there will be plenty to keep you entertained.

Fans of the game have already grabbed this off the shelf and they know what everyone else is missing. Heroes is just as great as The Crusaders and every gamer should at least give this a rental, if not purchase. With over fifty hours of gameplay and a strong multiplayer aspect you just might get your fill of the best action strategy game going.

As stated previously, KUF: Heroes is more or less a game made for the fans rather than the general gaming audience. Though it's still reasonably accessible to newcomers, the lack of extensive tutorials will play some part in how many of those newcomers will make it to veteran status. Once you're there, it's a rewarding experience, but Heroes is better left to gamers who want to take on a challenge rather than those just looking for a weekend experience.

Kingdom Under Fire: Crusaders might just be the most misunderstood game ever released. People sampled the Gerald campaign and assumed it was nothing more than a Dynasty Warriors clone with better graphics but a less evolved combat system. They probably never played far enough to realize that the hand to hand fighting was the least important aspect of combat, and that spending too much time taking on the orcs and dark elves mano a mano would lead to certain failure. The key was forming, training, and properly commanding your troops on the battlefield, using tactics and quick thinking to overcome overwhelming odds. If you've already torn through the four campaigns of Crusaders and are feeling hungry for more, then Heroes will certainly satisfy your cravings for a long time to come.

Not quite a nine out of ten, but a solid contender for action/adventure and beating the living daylights out of masses of on screen foes. KUF: Heroes deserves a class all of its own and is a great game. Enjoyable by old and new players alike!

Is Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes a worthwhile purchase? Absolutely. Fans of the original will find more than enough to take part in with this experience, and for those that missed out on The Crusaders, this title is a prequel, so there is no reason not to take it for a spin. With a hearty single player experience, enough online goodies to shake a medieval sword at, and some pristine production quality to top it all enough, Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes equates to the perfect fix for those looking for a great action/strategy experience.

Not only did Kingdom Under Fire: Crusaders come out of nowhere, but Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes also came from the exact same direction and still remains an excellent title to have a great deal of fun with while using one's strategy bone. Dynasty Warriors may be the current king when it comes to your medieval-themed brawler, but Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes easily topples it with the excellent strategic elements that allow for even armchair generals to become masters of medieval warfare. As stated before, the game is not without flaws, and many areas could use a bit more polish, but overall, the quality remains consistently high through the entire run of the game. Essentially, if you enjoy strategic combat, or at the very least love getting into the thick of it and swinging your way through enemy infantry in a fit of rage, Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes is a solid game that no fan of either genre should live without.

And so, is Heroes all that I had hoped for in a sequel to The Crusaders? Yes and no. In my mind, I “expected” things to be different and I “expected” to have to relearn a new KUF game, but I was also scared at what all these changes would mean. Very rarely is change in a video game franchise 100% good. But Heroes plays it carefully and gives fans more of what they really wanted; more levels, characters they know and love and more multiplayer options. In the end, Heroes may not be what I was “expecting”, but I’m truly glad that it turned out to give me what I really wanted; hours and hours (and hours and hours) of amazing gameplay, unbelievable replay value and a great sense of accomplishment when I finally clear a mission tree. It may be more of the same, but I really wouldn’t want it any other way.

Ultimately, Kingdom Under Fire Heroes is not for every gamer. While it has redeeming elements in the 3D combat geared towards mindless hacking, the game is too difficult and too specialised to have broad appeal to the everyman gamer.

If you enjoyed Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders or are a fan of RPGs and strategy games, then needless to say, you have to play this game! It builds and improves upon the previous game in a variety of ways, and ends up being one of the most enjoyable strategy games I’ve ever played on a console.

If you are itching for a good real-time strategy game, with heavy action elements, for the Xbox, then look no further then Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes.

If you liked Crusaders, you’ll be pleased with Heroes. While it’s comparatively short development cycle might be a danger sign, Heroes still manages to fire on all cylinders. But the same advice I offered for Crusaders still applies: it’s “a rewarding experience if you’re willing to put in the time.” It also doesn’t hurt if you can withstand a moderate amount of frustration.

Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes is a solid action strategy endeavor offering the trademark frenetic and fun action the series is known for. If you liked the first one and love playing via Xbox Live then this release is certainly meatier than past releases. But if you're not sure at least give Heroes a rental - you'll get hooked if you do.

Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes isn't much different than The Crusaders. That's to be expected, though, since Heroes was released less than a year after the previous game. Basically Heroes keeps the same solid gameplay and adds just a little bit more in the form of new campaigns and improved online features. Although Heroes feels only slightly improved over the last game, its new features are more than enough reason to play.

Kingdom under Fire: the Heroes is certainly is a solid game, which perhaps fills a void in the previously available games for the Xbox. Fans of RTS' should definitely take a look at this game, as should those who are normally put off other strategy games by the over emphasis on the strategy part. The way it is incorporated in the game doesn’t involve pausing of the gameplay, meaning the action doesn’t have to stop, keeping the players attention more than some other RTS may. Kingdoms under Fire: Heroes may not move the genre forward in the same way its predecessor accomplished but nevertheless it’s certainly worth your attention.

Which all-in-all means Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes is a pretty good bet if you fancy your warfare old fashioned and a bit bonkers. Be warned though that it’s not without its faults: most battles do boil down to ‘go here’ and ‘kill them’, but then it’s a war game so what did you expect? Similarly the story is a problem; it’s so clichéd and tedious that you often pay attention only long enough to learn what the objectives are for the next section, and nothing more, but then that’s a problem with a lot of strategy games these days so we can overlook that too, especially with battle graphics as good and smooth as these.

In spite of that, though, quibbles are minor. Sure, it can sometimes be hard to find the 'correct' way to approach a mission, or frustrating that there is no in-game pause to consider your options (although you can appreciate this is to keep things hectic and immerse you in the heat of the battle - or maybe they just couldn't be bothered to implement it). But Heroes is a suitably different and a well-crafted package, pushing the Xbox for all it's worth, and successfully integrating a trio of gaming elements to form a challenging and cohesive whole. It's a game that is constantly pushing you to improve, where you really will start to think up new tactics on the fly as you play through it. If broken apart into its separate components it's true that none of the individual elements would stand at the top of their respective genres, but that isn't really the point. Mix them all together, though, and you have something special.

Heroes is pretty much the same game as its predecessor with the addition of some new unit types such as Ice maidens and more characters to play as in the single player. The biggest change is the inclusion of the custom mode and as mentioned earlier I think this adds a great deal to the game. The basic combat still remains fairly typical hack and slash but I think generally remains fun when you have the option of switching to other units at the same time. If there is only one Kingdom Under Fire game on your shopping list then I wholeheartedly suggest you invest in this one because although the two games are pretty much identical, this one offers a lot more value and is slightly more polished. A definite must for strategy / action fans.

When I say 'incredible', I don’t mean as in 'leaving you incredulous', or as in some kind of fighting activity you won’t be familiar with. I mean spectacular, showy, and high-fivingly entertaining. Dragons strafe the field of battle, hordes of snarling orcs come barrelling in, axes in hand; heroes spin, kick and scythe their way through a soup of enemies, blades whirling. It’s thrilling stuff. I found myself punching the air after the defeat of one particularly hairy band of orcs; much to the bemusement of my girlfriend, who was sat behind me on the sofa, practicing her frowning.

Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes is recommended to those who enjoy Dynasty Warriors as well as those who yearn for a similar, but more cerebral offering. If not for the disappointing multiplayer and at times ludicrous difficulty, we would have recommended it even more heartily and perhaps gave an additional point to its final score. Nonetheless this is brilliant and we look forward to seeing what sort of magic the developers conjure up in the coming generation.

This is a solid follow up to KUF: The Crusaders and a welcome addition to the collection of any RTS fan. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s a must have title, but it is a nice change of pace from most of the games currently out on the market.

Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes doesn't attempt to change the formula that made its predecessor so successful, and it's just as solid and fun as that game was, albeit much more difficult. Interested newcomers should take a look at Crusaders first, but for experienced players, this is an easy suggestion. Expect 50 hours of gameplay at least. Highly recommended.

It’s difficult to justify this game to people who haven’t played the first one. Novices will even find it hard to get into this game compared to the first Xbox title. It’s equally tough to imagine people loving this game for its backdrop while overlooking its rougher edges, except for those who understand the story’s native Korean. Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes, as I mentioned, is still an ambitious game. But its ambition is something we saw last year. Since then, it has essentially stayed unchanged with the exception of the multiplayer component. Thus, in the final analysis, it’s less refreshing than it could be. I still hold out hope for the genre to one day work for the masses. Somehow they’ll get it right.

In retrospect, Heroes doesn’t make any huge advances over Crusaders, other than in terms of quantity. Of course, if you liked Crusaders, then you’ll definitely want to buy Heroes. For everyone else, though, it’s worth seeing if you can rent or borrow a copy to try before you decide whether or not you want to invest. It’s fun in parts, but it can also be extremely frustrating at times (as anyone who has tried herding peasants will testify). With a steep learning curve, fiddly controls and some tough levels, Heroes is not for everyone.

Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes is one of the best examples of a console-based RTS currently on the market. Control-wise, it still suffers a bit from the transition of the genre from PC, but it's easier to see how it can be done and done well. Fix some of the camera issues, provide a better tactical view, and spend a little more time on the story delivery and we would have a truly great game. As flawed as Heroes is, though, the core gameplay is sound and the customization and multiplayer aspects are compelling enough to keep playing and testing out new strategies.

Egalant son prédécesseur dans bien des domaines et se révélant même parfois plus complets (nouvelles unités et fonctionnalités), KUF Heroes se laisse néanmoins porter par la facilité. En effet, les modifications ne sont pas légion, et les principaux problèmes déjà décriés sont encore au goût du jour. De plus, la qualité graphique n'a vraiment pas évolué, et commence quelque peu à stagner. Toutefois, et malgré ces problèmes, le titre de Blueside est véritablement un bon investissement, offrant une vision intelligente du jeu d'action et un univers grandement immersif. Si vous désirez revisister Tolkien, vous savez maintenant comment faire.

It's impossible to talk about Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes without mentioning the undying Dynasty Warriors series. It's like Dolly Madison Zingers and Hostess Ho Hos - one will always be compared to the other, even though they have significant differences. But Heroes is unfortunately not as delicious as either of those sweet, sweet snack cakes - although it's not a total crap sandwich, either.

Heroes is different enough to warrant a rental to experience it for yourself. There’s both good and bad here, so it’s hard to recommend the game without suggesting that you take it for a test drive first.

If you didn't get into Kingdom Under Fire before, you probably won't now. And something should be said about the game's progressive difficulty level, which won't be everyone's speed either. However, fans of the original and those looking for a little diversity in the "beat them all up" game category should give Heroes a hearty welcome, looking past its presentation shortcomings and embracing its multiplayer efforts and gameplay comeuppances. It may not be the epic send-off many people hoped for on the Xbox, but, hey, at least it didn't slip under someone's door like a slice of stinky cheese either.

Overall Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes is a respectable and polished effort in an under-populated genre on Xbox. While it might not suit everyone, it is an impressive game with a lot to offer, if you put the time in.

Combined with the grossly flawed camera, abhorrently bad music, and overly melodramatic voiceovers, Heroes unwittingly destroys more than it creates. Those players drawn inexorably toward the RTS genre, and all it entails, may well garner an experience where these criticisms are easily tolerated for the sake of a slightly invigorating twist on a tired genre. However, everyone else would be better advised to seek rental assurance before dipping into the piggy bank.

Apart from the expanded online features (which is still the main reason to pick this up), Heroes does as little work as possible to barely distinguish itself from last year's entry.

The really sad thing about Heroes is that during the seemingly few times when everything works right, this is actually a pretty darn fun game. Fighting in huge epic battles against ogres, vampires, elves and even fire-breathing dragons and giant scorpions is a blast. The missions do get repetitive but overall, the action is quite enjoyable. But the fact that you usually end up fighting the controls and camera more than the enemy really ruins what could have been a premier Xbox title.

Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes doesn't make it easy on you, it's a game that requires you to do a lot of experimenting on your own before you get the handle on how to play and what to do. But once you've trained yourself the game quickly becomes one of the most unique and exciting games of the year. Despite its similarities to other genres, Heroes manages to carve out a unique style that will have you coming back for more … just as long as you can get past the steep learning curve.

If someone were to make a game with RTS elements as strong as C&C: Red Alert 2, as well as action on the same level as Dynasty Warriors, I'd be the first in line to get it. I had high hopes for this game based on the concept alone, but the execution ensured that I didn't have a single moment of fun with it.

Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes is Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders with a few subtle changes. Whilst the developers have focused more on the online side of things, the single player campaign is more of the same. While there's over 50+ hours of gameplay to be had over the 50+ campaign missions, Heroes is basically a replica of Crusaders with extra online modes. Gamers looking for a good RTS with elements of hack n slash Dynasty Warriors and haven't tried Crusaders will be impressed, but those (including us) wanting a true sequel to Crusaders will be disappointed, give or take the online modes.

Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes is a decent action RTS for fans of the genre. If you are after strategy for strategy's sake, or something to play online with other RTS fans, then you will want to give this one a try. Just don't expect to be blown away.

I've possibly been a little harsh on Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes, because its heart is in the right place and it's absolutely packed full of content, campaign missions and customisable armies. However, the amount of cumbersome game elements, flaws and omissions I've experienced while playing, plus some ridiculously hard missions and repeat ad nauseum trial and error gameplay, bog down what could have been a much more streamlined and user-friendly experience. Perhaps real time strategy games are just too tricky to implement without a mouse and keyboard. Or perhaps KUF: Heroes attempts to blend two genres (slash'em up and RTS) and fails to master either. Or perhaps I'm totally wrong and this is a refreshing slice of gaming genius. Either way, I'm not recommending it and I strongly suggest that if you like the look of it, you rent it first to find out whether or not it's for you.

Given that this came out less than a year after KUF: C, this game feels like a mere expansion pack or a patch with a full game price tag. There's not a lot of development in regards to the characters or story. The game's lack of difficulty means that the only challenge you're going to get out of playing this is from the higher difficulty levels or by playing it online. (Although, as I said, maybe my finding the weaknesses and exploiting the flaws in the AI are just a side-effect of my previous employment.) I didn't have a fun time with this, and I found that my time between turns of Civ IV (a game which is difficult and brilliantly designed, btw.) was better spent lifting weights. I would strongly suggest a rental if you are considering a purchase, but if you're the type of person that sounds like they would be exploiting the computer like I was, you probably don't even want to bother with renting this one.

There is a lot of fun to be had here, but unless you have either followed on from Crusaders or are willing to work through the intricacies of the game, then chances are you will lead your army straight into Hell with no way out.