Introduction

Developer: Phantagram
Publisher: G.O.D.
Kingdom Under Fire official page: http://www.kingdomunderfire.com/
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More Real-time strategy

Let's get one thing straight, Kingdom Under Fire (KuF) isn't a ground-breaking, genre-defining game. It's basically fantasy Starcraft. But is that so bad? Mods thrive with every incarnation of Quake, and have even spread out to other games. Just think of Kingdom Under Fire as a professional mod.

Dungeon expedition

Mmmm.. glowing pentagram

That said, Kingdom Under Fire is a real-time strategy game in a fantasy setting: knights, damsels in distress, and dowries. The game takes place on the continent of Bersiah. War-torn, ravaged by battles between gods; your usual fare. Seven races inhabit the realm - Humans, Elves, Orcs, Ogres, Dwarves, Dark Elves, and Vampires. As with any fantasy setting there are plenty of nasties to go around, from undead hordes to mud-flingers to your every day demons. While none of the races like each other, there's an unsettling peace throughout the land. Add in an iconoclastic super-villain with a cheesy name (Rick Blood) and a tendency to take over the world and voila - you have yourself a real-time strategy game.

Orcs in Space? Back on Earth

The RTS game in Kingdom Under Fire builds upon the strategy games that came before it. There are three resources to harvest - gold, iron, and mana. The tech tree is very basic; you need building A and B before you can make building C. This also includes the mandatory "build a Farm before you can control more units," as well as the classic, "upgrade your castle before you can make advanced buildings."

Two sides fight the battles in Kingdom Under Fire, creatively named the "Light" and "Dark" legions. The Light Legion consists of the stereotypical good races, humans, dwarves, and elves. Their units range from Warriors (melee-attacking grunts), to Bomber Wings (hot air balloons that drop explosives). The Dark Legion is made from the redheaded stepchild fantasy races, Orges, Orcs, Dark Elves and Vampires. Their units are all equivalent to a Light Legion unit. For example The Dark Legion Ogres are the same as the Light Legion Knight Templars (heavy melee units). Oddly enough, the Orges have a special ability - Blood Lust. I wonder where the designers got that from?

Dragon battle

Red snow

The difference between KuF and Starcraft is the number of options you have in constructing your army. The tech trees are wide and take a long time to flesh out. You're probably better off rushing for upgraded Dwarven Artillery rather than waiting to get all of the different units before you attack.