Lionheart: Kings' Crusade Updated Impressions

We’ve already seen extensive portions of the Richard the Lionheart campaign in the strategy game that’s based on historical events that occurred during the Third Crusade and Europe’s battle against the forces of Saladin. However, we did take the time to look at one mission in that campaign in which Crusaders are looking to take the city of Acre, which happens in three stages. First you have to take and hold the port. Then you have to take and hold siege points. And finally you can storm the walls of the city. Just to give an idea of how detail-oriented this game is, you have to be aware that invading a port inherently means your units can only arrive in waves, so the troops you decide to bring in the first wave (whether they’re foot soldiers, archers, or cavalry) need to hold the line until reinforcements can arrive.

Actually, a better indication of just how granular this game can get has to do with the units themselves. You can individually equip them with different weapons, armor, potions, and even elixirs that grant permanent status effects. Additionally, individual units can earn achievements in battle (such as "slaughterer," for killing many foes) that also grant bonuses and don’t serve just as an indication of skill. Therefore, army management is a big key to success, but so is making sure that the various political benefactors of the Crusade are pleased, meaning the Papal Court, the Holy Roman Empire, the Templars, and the French royalty. Certain decisions you make might please one entity but anger another, something that can be seen at the beginning of missions when you receive strategy recommendations. For example, the Templar may want to attack Acre under the cover of nightfall, whereas the Papal Court might want you to attack during the daytime. There are also other ways to boost your so-called fame within these groups, such as by answering to accusations from one group about another. It’s all very political.

It’s also worth noting that before a mission starts, you will have opportunities to make preparations for your army based on the terrain, weather, and other sorts of information that could mean the difference between victory and defeat for certain types of units. In some instances, you can also include special units, such as captains (who function like hero units) or priests (who can improve morale). Additionally, you can also purchase bonuses related to objectives you have to complete in a particular mission. In the case of the siege of Acre, you’re going to need a lot of engineering points, so you can give yourself a little boost for a little bit of gold.

We didn’t see the full siege take place, but we did learn a little more about Saladin’s faction. On a basic level, there aren’t many functional differences between Saladin’s forces and Richard’s--the notable exception being that priests are replaced with imams. But there is a huge difference in the type of units Saladin has access to--you won’t find many heavy armored units, but rather a light-armored force capable of moving quickly and taking advantage of terrain and other various conditions. Likewise, Saladin has to deal with all of the political posturing on his side as well, as you have to make decisions that will inevitably anger someone, but please another. The game does support two-player multiplayer action, so friends can compete against each other to rewrite a little bit of history.

Lionheart: Kings’ Crusade is scheduled for release at the end of September on Steam and other PC digital download services.