Fantasy medieval and castle games
by G.C · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 10/27/2004 (5:58 pm) · 13 replies
Hi folks-
What have been your favorite medieval and castle games over the years? What is it about them that makes you play over and over again? I imagine you guys being game developers, you'd have some thoughts about what makes a medieval game great, and how to improve on what's been done before.
Have you preferred the medieval RTS's or RPG's, and why? What interests do you have with historical accuracy, exaggerated fantasy creatures, multiplayer features, or storyline quality? Are you bored with new renditions of elves or zombies or dragons, and like to see more witches, giants, demons, and other mythological medieval characters?
A features-packed 3D multiplayer game is a large project for the small development team I work with. I'm mentioning castle game concepts to larger developers that I visited with in the Pacific Northwest. Hopefully somebody will make a quality castle game and we'll have something great to play!
Does anyone remember playing the fantasy theme in Civilization II Test of time?
http://www.zocks.de/images/db/2000/07/2000-07-29-458_orig.jpg
What do you think of the 3D medieval towns in this new game?
http://www.medievallords.com
So, let's chat about it!
What have been your favorite medieval and castle games over the years? What is it about them that makes you play over and over again? I imagine you guys being game developers, you'd have some thoughts about what makes a medieval game great, and how to improve on what's been done before.
Have you preferred the medieval RTS's or RPG's, and why? What interests do you have with historical accuracy, exaggerated fantasy creatures, multiplayer features, or storyline quality? Are you bored with new renditions of elves or zombies or dragons, and like to see more witches, giants, demons, and other mythological medieval characters?
A features-packed 3D multiplayer game is a large project for the small development team I work with. I'm mentioning castle game concepts to larger developers that I visited with in the Pacific Northwest. Hopefully somebody will make a quality castle game and we'll have something great to play!
Does anyone remember playing the fantasy theme in Civilization II Test of time?
http://www.zocks.de/images/db/2000/07/2000-07-29-458_orig.jpg
What do you think of the 3D medieval towns in this new game?
http://www.medievallords.com
So, let's chat about it!
About the author
#2
Hard to pin point what I like about it, not many turn based strategy games out there (except for board games) it requires a different approach and more careful strategy than RTS.
Strangely I didn't like HOMM IV.
Medieval Total War looks good, I haven't played it yet, but played Shogun Total War and that game is fantastic :)
Nick
10/28/2004 (2:13 am)
Heroes of Might and Magic III, I install it play it, lose a few days, uninstall to stop myself playing and come back to it a few months later.Hard to pin point what I like about it, not many turn based strategy games out there (except for board games) it requires a different approach and more careful strategy than RTS.
Strangely I didn't like HOMM IV.
Medieval Total War looks good, I haven't played it yet, but played Shogun Total War and that game is fantastic :)
Nick
#3
Me and me wife cant get enough of it. And we played Heroes4 for about half an hour before uninstalling.
I think the reason was the art. Fourth part just didnt have that *fairy tale* look, it was too plastic and shiny.
Check out Disciples and Disciples2 - really great spin-off of Heroes, great on its own right. And I'll hazard an opinion that it has the best art direction ever.
10/28/2004 (4:59 am)
Heroes3 is crack. CRACK, I say!Me and me wife cant get enough of it. And we played Heroes4 for about half an hour before uninstalling.
I think the reason was the art. Fourth part just didnt have that *fairy tale* look, it was too plastic and shiny.
Check out Disciples and Disciples2 - really great spin-off of Heroes, great on its own right. And I'll hazard an opinion that it has the best art direction ever.
#4
Great game for saying it was quite old. No MMORPG, no fragments, not even 3D. Just fun!
Edit: Bad url (note to self, use [] not <>)
10/28/2004 (5:29 am)
My wife was completely addicted to Lords of the realm 2 for quite a while.Great game for saying it was quite old. No MMORPG, no fragments, not even 3D. Just fun!
Edit: Bad url (note to self, use [] not <>)
#5
Yes, I've read reviews about the Heroes series, with similar comments as these. It's unfortunate how the quirky, witty personality of the characters, vocals, and graphics weren't as strong in the newer versions as the older ones. I like that in games, such as Black and White, Dungeon Keeper, Theme park world, or even the comical cast of Baldur's Gate, eh? A convincing storyline that you can play through multiple ways (in RPG or RTS) is great too, don't you think?
It'd be fantastic if there was a new and improved medieval leadership game. RPG elements in the powerful leader you play, strategizing decisions that involved complex societal issues including (but not limited to) war, historically influenced campaigns twisted with fantasy creatures... Similar to what we've all played before, but deeply "reinvented" to possibly attract a large, new audience of older intellectual gamers, including women.
What do you think? :)
10/28/2004 (2:35 pm)
Hello again all!Yes, I've read reviews about the Heroes series, with similar comments as these. It's unfortunate how the quirky, witty personality of the characters, vocals, and graphics weren't as strong in the newer versions as the older ones. I like that in games, such as Black and White, Dungeon Keeper, Theme park world, or even the comical cast of Baldur's Gate, eh? A convincing storyline that you can play through multiple ways (in RPG or RTS) is great too, don't you think?
It'd be fantastic if there was a new and improved medieval leadership game. RPG elements in the powerful leader you play, strategizing decisions that involved complex societal issues including (but not limited to) war, historically influenced campaigns twisted with fantasy creatures... Similar to what we've all played before, but deeply "reinvented" to possibly attract a large, new audience of older intellectual gamers, including women.
What do you think? :)
#6
seems like nobody knows the games "Gothic" and "Gothic2"(+AddOn"Die Nacht Des Raben"). These two games are definitely my two most favourite games, but I gues Gothic1 is only available in Germany. But I think there's an English version of Gothic2... so if you want to give the best fantasy medieval rpg a try... buy it. I don't know if the english translation is as good as the original but if it is... BUY IT. OK spent 2 mins for an ebay.com-search, you can buy it for $13 or so thats an awesome price-> go and get it just earch for 'gothic 2'.
here's the link to the english website:www.piranha-bytes.com/gothic2/content_english/news_headlines.php
have fun
Lukas Kimme
10/28/2004 (10:17 pm)
Hi,seems like nobody knows the games "Gothic" and "Gothic2"(+AddOn"Die Nacht Des Raben"). These two games are definitely my two most favourite games, but I gues Gothic1 is only available in Germany. But I think there's an English version of Gothic2... so if you want to give the best fantasy medieval rpg a try... buy it. I don't know if the english translation is as good as the original but if it is... BUY IT. OK spent 2 mins for an ebay.com-search, you can buy it for $13 or so thats an awesome price-> go and get it just earch for 'gothic 2'.
here's the link to the english website:www.piranha-bytes.com/gothic2/content_english/news_headlines.php
have fun
Lukas Kimme
#7
*My wife* forced me to upgrade my PC just so we could play Gothic2 properly:) Says something, hehe.
10/28/2004 (11:03 pm)
Ah...Gothic... Both parts were released in English. The only thing thats German-only is the add-on to second part. *My wife* forced me to upgrade my PC just so we could play Gothic2 properly:) Says something, hehe.
#8
Lords of the realm I & II - Empire building is always good. Custom castles are nice too.
Castles - Loved this game when it was first out, but it is old now. I have always thought of a remake. Simple you design your castle and then manage construction, with occassional combat.
Stronghold and Crusade - Same as Castles, but I found the map was too small for two human player castles
1060 AD, old but fun - Empire building also, but the battles were fought in first person, decent at the time
Total War: Shogun - All TWs in general are great and worth playing, the AI is a bit predictable, but the scale is grand. each new release only seems to get better. Was bummed however that campaign play is not multiplayer.
Total War: Medieval and Vikings Expansion
Total War: Rome
The City Builder series from Sierra (Ceasar I & II, Pharoah, and the Chinese one Shogun I think) - Some of the best city building I have played IMO. The cities can huge, and worder building is fun. Trying to build an elegant city is more challenging than it seems. Better than the Simcities, I felt the overall design of a city was too defined. Residents don't want to live near businesses, or industry and the same for the others, I just don't feel a real city can be made. If you took any existing city layout, like New York for instance, your city would fail for sure.
Settlers - Don't remember much about it, but I did like it.
Prefer RTS, I love the time period, and ruling a kingdom is fun. The RPGs are also fun, but most are lengthy, if you step away too long, you don't care. I was playing dungeon siege awhile back, but never finished, it was fun though. One I did finist was Icewind Dale. The bioware engine used, was very impressive.
I you actually decide to make an RTS, I would be happy to help out. I'm new to TGE and learning, but I would love some practical hands on experience.
01/19/2005 (12:05 pm)
A few come mind:Lords of the realm I & II - Empire building is always good. Custom castles are nice too.
Castles - Loved this game when it was first out, but it is old now. I have always thought of a remake. Simple you design your castle and then manage construction, with occassional combat.
Stronghold and Crusade - Same as Castles, but I found the map was too small for two human player castles
1060 AD, old but fun - Empire building also, but the battles were fought in first person, decent at the time
Total War: Shogun - All TWs in general are great and worth playing, the AI is a bit predictable, but the scale is grand. each new release only seems to get better. Was bummed however that campaign play is not multiplayer.
Total War: Medieval and Vikings Expansion
Total War: Rome
The City Builder series from Sierra (Ceasar I & II, Pharoah, and the Chinese one Shogun I think) - Some of the best city building I have played IMO. The cities can huge, and worder building is fun. Trying to build an elegant city is more challenging than it seems. Better than the Simcities, I felt the overall design of a city was too defined. Residents don't want to live near businesses, or industry and the same for the others, I just don't feel a real city can be made. If you took any existing city layout, like New York for instance, your city would fail for sure.
Settlers - Don't remember much about it, but I did like it.
Prefer RTS, I love the time period, and ruling a kingdom is fun. The RPGs are also fun, but most are lengthy, if you step away too long, you don't care. I was playing dungeon siege awhile back, but never finished, it was fun though. One I did finist was Icewind Dale. The bioware engine used, was very impressive.
I you actually decide to make an RTS, I would be happy to help out. I'm new to TGE and learning, but I would love some practical hands on experience.
#9
Settlers 4 rocked btw :)
01/21/2005 (2:22 am)
Just remember, gameplay is all about game mechanics, not game scenarios. Look at good games for inspiration, but only after you strip away the graphics, unit names, setting etc. Decide what game mechanics you're after, then build up a scenario and 'feel' around that.Settlers 4 rocked btw :)
#10
01/21/2005 (2:40 am)
As for me, I like to build ;) But in real life, I'm to lazy to build a whole castle by myself :D That's why I play them...
#11
01/21/2005 (6:14 am)
I totally agree with Andrew, mechanics is the crucial, but from a design standpoint that is easy to say. From marketing, graphics have to take the cake. But if you have solid game mechanics, the graphics should just be icing.
#12
http://youtu.be/iRS8VxJiQPQ
not sure if posting links is allowed. if not, I will remove it.
Anyu feedback would be greatly appreciated. I'm hoping to have it ready for release before January.
10/11/2012 (6:26 am)
I am currently working on a castle design game of sorts. I posted the first of several videos of how it works.http://youtu.be/iRS8VxJiQPQ
not sure if posting links is allowed. if not, I will remove it.
Anyu feedback would be greatly appreciated. I'm hoping to have it ready for release before January.
#13
10/15/2012 (11:26 am)
Master of Magic is one of my favorite fantasy strategy games, right up there with Heroes of Might & Magic 3 and Warlords 3. What makes MoM special is the tactical combat mode. Think of it as similar to HOMM 3 tactical combat, but with an open, 3-D-like battlefield (like tabletop Warhammer). 
Torque 3D Owner Billy L
But i often get really disappointed when i see the real game !