Battle Realms: A Martial Arts-Inspired Strategy Game
Overview Battle Realms is a real-time strategy game developed by Crave Entertainment for PC. It draws inspiration from martial arts films and Japanese manga, featuring unique gameplay and art design. Like other strategy games such as Command & Conquer Red Alert and Age of Empires II, Battle Realms offers various factions, each with its own story, traits, and abilities.
Story and Factions The single-player campaign follows Kenji, the last heir to the Serpent's Throne, as he returns from exile and makes decisions that will shift the power in the land. The game features four clans:
- Dragon Clan: Honors the Dragon deity, valuing honor above all.
- Serpent Clan: Uses thievery and deceit to survive.
- Wolf Clan: Values freedom and harmony with nature.
- Lotus Clan: Follows the Forbidden Path, focusing on death and decay.
Players can choose their path, impacting the game's direction.
Gameplay Players start by building from scratch, using peasants for resource gathering and construction. The unit progression system allows peasants to be trained into military units, which can be further specialized for battle, recon, or building destruction. Units can be upgraded through three tiers and can take on different roles such as melee, ranged, or mounted. Victory is achieved by meeting specific battle conditions, such as destroying all enemy buildings and units.
Critiques While the gameplay is fun and engaging, it can be frantic and overwhelming. The game's AI is often problematic, deviating from commands during intense skirmishes.
Conclusion Battle Realms stands out with its unique theme and focused gameplay. Despite some issues, it remains a hidden gem in the strategy game genre. If you haven't played it yet, it's worth giving it a shot.
