It is certainly not as complete as Warcraft 3 but as a downloadable console RTS it does much more than you expect
Swords and Soldiers features a side-scrolling gameplay that only utilizes a button of the controller and its pointer, the latter is used to summon new workers or soldiers and the latter is used to navigate through the map, and as expected everything works perfectly. However, being easy to pick up and play doesn't necessarily make a game shallow, on Swords and Soldiers there is plenty of depth.
It all begins with the three different ten-mission campaigns the game presents. As usual with the games of the genre the three campaigns revolve around the same storyline, the big difference being the perspective from which the battle is fought. Vikings, Aztecs and Chinese are suddenly at war and it all starts with a Viking king and his unstoppable urge to eat a delicious barbecue. The tone of the plot tells you from the get go that Swords and Soldiers is far from serious, and that kind of humor will be present throughout the game from its outrageously over-the-top dialogues to its atmosphere.
Even though some would think the game's simplicity would lead to lack of variety concerning the missions, those worries are quickly erased. Some missions deal with getting through an area filled with enemies, while others – the best, longest and most challenging – put you against another race as they furiously attack your base as you gather resources, and build an army to try to destroy theirs on the traditional RTS fashion.
As you play some circular icons appear on the top of the screen and clicking on them is all you need to do. You can create workers to gather gold, build units when the time is right, create towers to mark territory and make it harder for enemies to advance and even cast powerful spells that are absolutely necessary on harder levels. After a unit is summoned it will pretty much know what to do and there is no need – or possibility – to select it or stop its advancing therefore army management can be extremely crucial in this game.
It may not sound like it, but Swords and Soldiers demands a high level of strategy as you will most certainly find yourself and your army in moments of long stalemate that may last for minutes before a smart strategic decision can be made such as casting spell at the most appropriate time or changing the mix of the units on your army. Difficulty picks up really fast in the game and by the end of the first campaign you will already encounter tough missions that will have you restarting or losing quite a few times, still sometimes the level of challenge can be inconsistent because a few ridiculously easy missions can be found as you get closer to the end of the game.
Each of the game's three races obviously has their own army, spells, vantages and issues still they are all fairly balanced which makes the game's fantastic multiplayer mode even more exciting as you and your friends will certainly battle for hours on the different maps provided by the game. Besides the game's fantastically epic soundtrack and beautiful cartoonish graphics will certainly enhance the experience.
Overall Swords and Soldiers is a fantastic RTS game packed with everything a fan of the genre could possibly want from a console strategy game, expect for an online mode. If the campaigns and multiplayer are still not enough to satisfy your wishes there are still many achievements to be unlocked and some extra mini-games that are very entertaining and challenging. It is certainly not as complete as Warcraft 3 but as a downloadable console RTS it does much more than one could possibly expect.
Actual Score: 8.7