Zen Gamer
Reviews
Blood & Magic (DOS)
Fun and solid real-time strategy using an AD&D liscense
The Good
Blood & Magic offers something fresh to the real-time strategy genre. It bases itself around the creation and maintence of Basal Golems which collect power for you and become the building blocks of your army. Unlike other RTS games you do not need to spend a long time building and defending a base - instead you focus on building a core contingent of golems and then begin exploring for items and mystical sites. The game is easy to play and a good distraction.
The Bad
In a number of scenarios the computer would send a horde of units against your defenceless golems really early in the game which forced you to constantly restart or resort to cheating. Quite frustrating.
The Bottom Line
A satisfying blend of real-time strategy and the world of AD&D Forgotten Realms. You owe it to yourself to try this game if you enjoy both.
By Zen Gamer on June 3, 2000
King's Bounty (DOS)
A gem of a game that has addictive gameplay and great presentation.
The Good
Everything. The gameplay is so simple and rewarding you forget the time. The tactical battles are challenging and a fun diversion from the RPG-like quest. Simple economics, army building, and character development round out a classic game that inspired a new genre of strategy games.
The Bad
Hardly anything. Probably the only detraction is the need to tactically battle every monster that attacks you. It would have been nice to have an auto-resolve option.
The Bottom Line
Pick this game up if you are looking for rewarding gameplay in a fantasy setting. It combines elements of role-playing, strategy, and problem solving into a well written package.
By Zen Gamer on June 3, 2000
War of the Lance (DOS)
A comprehensive fantasy war game that captures the struggle of good and evil.
The Good
For a strategy game written in 1989 this game has it all. It has diplomacy, tactics, heroes, and good old fashioned war gaming. The computer poses a good challenge and you really gain a sense of desperation as the Highlord Dragonarmies begin picking off your allies one by one.
The Bad
The controls are completely keyboard driven and require some getting used to. I experienced one bug in the game where my Whitestone armies could not sack the enemy capital because a small force was not engagable.
The Bottom Line
If you like AD&D and strategy then this game is for you. It is a classic game set in the rich fantasy world of Krynn.
By Zen Gamer on May 26, 2000
Birthright: The Gorgon's Alliance (Windows)
An ambitious effort that attempts to be a lot of everything but ends up being much of nothing.
The Good
Birthright is a complex RPG strategy game with some real-time elements. I appreciated its attempt to capture the battles of armies in graphic, tactical fashion; its attempt to allow your heroes to go adventuring in 1st person; and its attempt to implement the delicate balancing act of conducting diplomacy and economic development. All of this set in the high fantasy world of Anuire. An ambitious effort.
The Bad
Birthright didn't deliver. The game suffers from a complicated and covoluted interface. The game play leaves you scratching your head - you always wondered if you were doing the right thing. Despite three earnest attempts I just could not enjoy it. The voice acting was noticably unprofessional - the most redeeming feature being that it made you chuckle. This is one of the few games I have stopped playing because the gameplay was so difficult and unrewarding.
The Bottom Line
Get this game if you are an AD&D Birthright addict and can put up with an unforgiving interface and painful gameplay. Otherwise get it for its terrible yet comical voice acting.
By Zen Gamer on May 21, 2000