Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes

Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes
North American cover art
Developer(s)	Blueside, Phantagram
Publisher(s)	NA: Microsoft Game Studios PAL: Deep Silver
Platform(s)	Xbox
Release	NA: September 20, 2005[2] AU: September 30, 2005[1] EU: October 7, 2005[3]
Genre(s)	Hack and slash, real-time tactics
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes is an action strategy game, the prequel to Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders, released in 2005 for the Xbox.

Gameplay

Both games deal with commanding large armies in epic, magical battles. When the commanding unit enters a battle, the player can control the hero. Each group or army consists of 20 to 30 soldiers, but the player is limited to only five armies and a support unit per game. A support unit, or a special unit, is an army whose main attack does not rely on the race that you control (Humans, Orcs, Dark Elves) but instead on technology for the humans and magical creatures for the Orcs and Dark Elves. Support units are directed and used as powers instead of regular army units and besides the Swamp Mammoth, all support units fly.

Besides a new storyline, commanders, and game type, there are also four new units that look like support units, but act as regular ones. The Fire Wraiths, Ice Maidens, Thunder Rhino, and Earth Golem use their respective elements to destroy enemy forces quickly.

In Heroes the player has access to seven new heroes, all of whom were in Crusaders: Ellen (half-elf), Leinhart (half-vampire), Urukubarr (ogre), Rupert (human), Cirith (dark-elf), Morene (half-vampire), and Walter (human).

Each character has their own campaign which determines the time period of gameplay. When playing as Ellen, Leinhart, or Urukubarr, the game takes place five years before Crusaders. As Morene, Cirith, Rupert, or Walter, the game takes place during Crusaders.

Plot

Reception

Reception

Aggregate score

Aggregator	Score
Metacritic	78/100[4]

Review scores

Publication	Score
Computer Games Magazine	[5]
Edge	7/10[6]
Electronic Gaming Monthly	5.5/10[7][a]
Eurogamer	8/10[8]
Game Informer	7.5/10[9]
GameSpot	8.2/10[10]
GameZone	8.4/10[11]
IGN	8.5/10[12]
Official Xbox Magazine (US)	8.8/10[13]
X-Play	[14]

The game received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.^[4] Edge felt that some troop types are still unable to flourish during situations when they should, some AI glitches and inconsistencies, and it feels more like a set of tweaks and fixes than a fully honed sequel. However, it was still recognised as a stirring, challenging experience which rewards a player for using levelheaded, adaptive tactics. The chaotic, brutal melee combat and support for online play was also highlighted.^[6]

Notes

1. Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 5/10, and the other gave it 6.5/10.

References

1. Keller, Matt (September 26, 2005). "Updated Australian Release List - 26/09/05". PALGN. Archived from the original on December 10, 2005. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
2. Onyett, Charles (September 2, 2005). "Kingdom Under Fire Hero Profiles". IGN. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
3. Bramwell, Tom (October 7, 2005). "What's New? (7th October 2005)". Eurogamer. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
4. "Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
5. "Review: Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes". Computer Games Magazine. No. 181. theGlobe.com. December 2005. p. 92.
6. Edge staff (November 2005). "Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes". Edge. No. 155. Future plc. p. 106.
7. Ashley, Robert; Nutt, Christian; Sewart, Greg (November 2005). "Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 187. Ziff Davis. p. 150. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
8. Rossignol, Jim (October 27, 2005). "Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
9. "Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes". Game Informer. No. 150. GameStop. October 2005. p. 142.
10. Mueller, Greg (September 26, 2005). "Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
11. Knutson, Michael (October 3, 2005). "Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes – XB – Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
12. sng (September 30, 2005). "Kingdom Under Fire Heroes". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
13. "Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US. December 2005. p. 119.
14. Speer, Justin (October 25, 2005). "Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes Review". X-Play. G4 Media. Archived from the original on November 3, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2023.

External links

• Official website
• Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes at MobyGames