Celtic Kings brought a two-fold variety to the mundane game industry: it was developed by a Bulgarian developer Haemimont Games, and its design is a rather bold departure from a typical RTS concept. Namely, Celtic Kings combines real-time strategy with RPG elements, but doing it in a few key aspects quite differently than for example Warcraft III. Firstly, instead of cut-scenes there is written dialogue and storyline like in an isometric RPG, giving the single player campaign of Larax the Gaul the according feel. Secondly, structures in CK cannot be built but only upgraded, thus the player spends a lot of time exploring of the map and progressing in his quest - just like in an RPG - instead of sitting in the same spot developing your base like in a typical RTS. Thirdly, to reinforce unit development by experience Celtic Kings did not cut down on the numbers like WC3 but rather came up with some very smart controls: units can easily be sorted by health and experience levels, and attached to a group leader whom they then will follow with every action until detached (three army formations can be used). More interesting than units' basic properties is perhaps the food supply that each unit carries with him and that starts to decrease when out of base, ultimately leading to the decrease of the health of a unit until on friendly ground. Another interesting feature: your units can also train by fighting between themselves, which costs health but brings up their experience levels. Besides fighting, you will also do some besieging in the campaign, using catapults that can be constructed and manned by your infantry. Celtic Kings features just three resources: gold, food, peasants, and sending mules between towns where a particular resource is lacking can make for an exciting challenge. Minimap is very good for that as well as for overviewing soldiers. Cities structures are simple: town hall is the command center, tavern grows population by food, barracks equip peasants to produce six types of warriors (55 total types in CK), blacksmith is for weapons, druid's hut / Roman temple makes priests, and heroes can be hired and trained at arena. Although all that goes a long way for a real-time strategy (war) game that can also be played enjoyably in a single player mode, there remains an issue that bothers both players of today's RTS's and hack and slash RPG's: why does it sometimes feel like you're like watching a TV, interferring only to mouse-click your units to proceed or attack a new group that might all just as well be made automatically? In addition to this typical plague of today's RTSs and RPGs, only sound in Celtic Kings seems to be notably sub-par. Overall, Bulgarian developers have to be congratulated on outstanding design of an RPG-RTS hybrid that is free of the continuous hacking and slashing of the first and the repetitive base building of the second. Rage of War also comes with LAN and Internet play, random map feature and a scenario/adventure editor. 17/20 - Based on 3 HOURS 3/4 PRODUCTION VALUES - Nice work overall, but has a slightly low-budget title look to it. 4/4 ACCESSIBILITY - Great tutorials! 3/4 PACING - Good but not perfect. 4/4 INNOVATION - Exploration and dialogue like in RPGs, smart controls that enable to attach any units to heroes and move the heroes instead (probably exists in WC3 add-on too). 3/4 IMMERSION - Nice campaign.
Other Helpful Reviews for Celtic Kings: Rage of War
This games was so great I played the demo and bought the game and its sequel. I would have to say this was way better than Ages of Empire. Don't get me wrong ages was a great game. But when it comes to war and strategy i... Read Full Review
well what can i say about this game. one its awesome. rwo its awesome. 3 its even more awesome!!!!!!!!! it was the first game i played still my favorite wish i still had it but it got scrathed up from me playin it too m... Read Full Review
