Crowntakers
SCORE: 52
For over twenty years now Shining Force has been the king of strategy
role playing games (SRPG). Every single time I hear about a new SRPG, I
hope it will get on the field and compete with the standard Shining
Force set up all those years ago. Sadly none of these games get into the
stadium let alone get on the field to compete.
I had high hopes for Crowntakers on the Personal Computer (PC). I
thought it looked like it might be like Braveland (on the iOS), but
better. I even dared to hope Crowntakers might be able to compete
against Shining Force. The first few minutes of Crowntakers showed all
kinds of promise.
The king has been kidnapped by the Duke. You have the kings blood in
you, so he can telepathically contact you. He requests you come and save
him. You may even get to be king yourself. Then we are on a randomly
generating map where there are places to go, and things to interact
with.
Searching towers, caves, and homes is very important in Crowntakers. It
will grant the player items that can be used to heal, upgrade weapons,
upgrade armor, and sell. Players need enough money in each area to hire
a mercenary. Without them players will not last long.
My biggest gripe against Crowntakers is the save system. I can save and
quit right before a turn based battle. I can then pick the game back up,
and go to the battle. If I lose, and my hero dies I am not allowed to go
back to my last save. One mistake and it is start from the beginning
again. Loss of items, armor, weapons, levels, mercenaries, etc.
Crowntakers is extremely difficult even on the easiest setting. Since
everything is randomly generated you might die in the first area.
Crowntakers seems to take a perverse pleasure in killing the players
off. Crowntakers feels like the Baldur's Gate of the SRPG realm. Meaning
the only way to actually play the game is with cheat codes.
Crowntakers includes references to a false gods, alcohol, and other off
color remarks. Some of them can be funny from time to time. Most of it
feels forced and out of place. There is mild violence in the strategy
role playing screens. We watch our team hack at the characters and
creatures they are fighting.
Easy mode should allow a casual player the ability to get to the game
ending, and possibly even beat it. Crowntakers smacks down seasoned
veterans thanks to low hit points, and everything being random. A couple
of items of bad luck and you will die early in Crowntakers.
If you like doing the same thing over and over again with mild
alterations then you will love Crowntakers. Since we have to play
through the beginning stages over and over again. Crowntakers allows
luck to be the determining factor in whether players survive or not. And
the deck always seems to be stacked against the player.
- Paul
Graphics: 60%
Sound: 60%
Replay/Extras: 70%
Gameplay: 20%
Family Friendly Factor: 50%
System: Personal Computer
Publisher: Kasedo Games
Developer: Bulwark Studios
Rating:
'NR’ - Not Rated
Company provided product
Value/Cost of the review is greater than value/cost of provided product
Want more info on this
product,
or the company that made this product?
Set web browser to:
Link
Got a question, comment,
or a concern regarding this
review?
Email them to:
pbury@familyfriendlygaming.com
