Battle Realms

"Maybe the best but not the greatest..."

Yet another Real Time Strategy Game that would make somebody get addicted on it. Who could resist a game that looks like a mix/cross between the Warcraft Series and the Red Alert Series. How good is this game? Let see to find out...

Gameplay (9/10)

The Gameplay? Who won't like a game that has over 50+ unique characters, 18 Zen Masters/Special Characters that has around 26 scenario, and over a hundred different abilities? The game offers over different new systems like the way you harvest resources and stuffs. Battle Realms like waht I've just said is a mix/cross between the Warcraft and Red Alert Series. Take the good stuffs from those series and combine them together and you have Battle Realms. The game offers much realism like when somebody or an army walks in a forest birds will just start flying away and stuffs or when a building caught fire it won't stop until taken care of and a small fire can start into a big one if left alone. It also gives you the choices on handling resources adn maximizing the troops you were given. Another good thing is the units. You can have train them into a1st level unit then train them again for a better one. Okay, back to the resources the game uses rice and water as resources much like WarCraft's Wood/Gold System but you won't be needing roads now. Another best thing is that it has the unit limit set where your only alloted to either 30, 40 or 50 units to be trained in the entire game this will make you micromanage stuffs like the number of peasants taking care of your economy and the number of your defending and attacking forces. Overall the new system is quite refreshing and is good for the change instead of doing the old build buildings, upgrade stractures/technology, train hundreds of units then rush your enemy.

Story (7/10)

After seven years of exile, Kenji(you) returns to his war-torn homeland. As you return you'll have to make the first choice you'll ever make in the game to either side with the serpent clan or side the dragon clan. The Story isn't that grade though the number of scenarios and choices are great (over 26 scenarios). I find the Story quite familiar its your typical Father dies take his part the continent falls apart you then by force turn it back to its old self. Its only in this game you can use different heroes to help you with your quest. You gotta love their cutscene which doesn't take too much loading time. By far the story is great with much choices to choose that'll affect the whole story and the characters you'll get.

Graphics/Sound (8/10)

Talk about the Graphics and the Sound. The Graphics are simply good. Every unit has very different idle moments and fighting style. The cinematic cutscenes during missions are great as well. Every character differs from each fighting style let say Monks and some others. You should watch out for battle when two large armies collide 2 words Total Bloodshed. Its quite great like some chaos going around. What I didin't like about the Graphics are the status effects like blindness and slow. The game only symbolize it as some circling sparkling thingy on the units head not that great eh? Overall the Graphics are great.

Now for the sounds, Since the game offers over 68 units each has 3 or so voices when given an action. Some are quite funny like the Chemist reacts when you ask them to do something but some are gruesome like the sound when a Dragon Warrior dies ''Aaarrraaggrraakkhh...'' Though I haven't noticed the background music that much due to the intense gameplay but after playing the game again the background music do really set the mood of the game it really changes the atmosphere of the game.

Replay Value (9/10)

The game got 2 scenarios each has 3 or so different ways to beat it. Giving the Replay Value a higher score rating. The game allows you to either side the Serpent or the Dragon Clan each has different ways of getting around it and gives you different endings as well. Overall the replay value is given this high for the 24 different scenarios and those different choices you got to choose that'll affect which Zen Master will join.

Multiplayer Value (10/10)

I've replaced the Rent or Borrow section for this one since a PC game can't be rented. There's nothing like beating a friend over Lan or Internet Game. We all know that Human Brains are better than AI so theres nothing like battling a friend that uses over different strategies and tries to push the game a little bit further. The Multiplayer Value was given this high points for the simple reason that theres nothing much refreshing than battling a Human Player than an AI which you could either mock or point out something. Also, some multiplayer game got a little Highlights like defeating a large force with a few units and the likes.

Overall (9/10)

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/17/02, Updated 02/17/02