Real-Time Strategy RPG Band Of Crusaders Seems Bland, Lacking The Story Elements I Want To See

As a seasoned strategy RPG enthusiast who’s spent countless hours immersed in tales of fantasy and warfare, I must admit that Band of Crusaders left me feeling like a knight returning from a crusade without his Grail. The preview build, devoid of the rich narrative context that usually enriches these games for me, felt more like a training ground than a journey worth embarking on.


Band of Crusaders seems like a game I might need to revisit – the preview version lacks any story elements, which is a crucial aspect I value in strategy RPGs. I tend to appreciate these games when they offer extensive, captivating stories that justify the many hours I invest in them. Playing this game without its narrative context was an unusual experience for me, but it underscored how essential such components are in keeping me engaged. For me, gameplay alone isn’t enough to hold my interest.

In a fictional version of medieval England, Band of Crusaders puts you in charge of a new order of knights who fight against supernatural entities – demons. You navigate through an open world, strategically deploying your knights to areas most threatened by the demons while trying to find a means to halt their invasion. Your decisions have lasting effects on the narrative, and the outcome of each battle, whether you triumph or fail, influences the storyline. Additionally, there are rival human factions to contend with. The game’s world evolves over time, modifying individual battlefields based on factors such as day or night, season, and demonic influence in a particular region.

Real-Time Strategy RPG Band Of Crusaders Seems Bland, Lacking The Story Elements I Want To See

In simpler terms, although I found the game intriguing, my playtime was limited as it lacked some key elements such as the main story quests, dynamic world simulation influenced by player actions, advanced camp mechanics including healing and armor repair, and various other significant features mentioned in a press release. To avoid confusion, I want to emphasize that my analysis does not reflect a negative opinion towards the game. Instead, it’s because I didn’t have the opportunity to explore what seems like an appealing mix of Band of Crusaders elements and the aspects of the game that could potentially make me a fan were not part of my experience.

In essence, Band of Crusaders resembles its peers by requiring you to command a group of soldiers in real-time strategic battles. You can enhance and customize the abilities of each unit, allowing you to evolve every soldier you enlist. I often prefer having a couple of crossbow sharpshooters on my team, but it’s essential to maintain a balance between swordsmen, shield bearers, and spearmen to prevent the entire group from being overpowered. Despite meticulous planning, setbacks are inevitable, leading to the permanent death of knights, which in turn encourages you to continually recruit and train new soldiers.

Real-Time Strategy RPG Band Of Crusaders Seems Bland, Lacking The Story Elements I Want To See

The initial impression suggested that replacing a fallen knight wouldn’t be much of an issue, as I could easily find a skilled replacement from a nearby stronghold or manor for a few gold coins. After a brief training period and some battles, the new recruit could gain upgrades. However, I’m not fond of how effortless it seems to acquire new recruits, pay them to join your army, and then train them. I prefer the game not to be frustrating, but I don’t want the loss of units to feel inconsequential–this makes me adopt a careless attitude towards my troops, sacrificing them recklessly. Their repetitive battle cries, all sounding similar, reinforce this notion. Later in the game, losing a unit might be a more significant blow, but if encounters scale with your level, I assume later missions will provide enough experience to quickly elevate new recruits to match my higher levels.

In simpler terms, the Band of Crusaders preview seems lacking in engaging storylines and character development, making it hard for players to connect with the world or characters. The gameplay appears repetitive, consisting mainly of fighting human enemies, leaving one wondering about the promised demons that are yet to appear. If this is a taste of what’s to come in the full release, Band of Crusaders might not offer much excitement or enjoyment.

Band of Crusaders is set to launch for PC. A release window has yet to be announced.

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2024-08-30 22:09