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Crown Wars: The Black Prince is a game that tries to mix things up. It has taken influence from many leading strategy titles, namely, XCOM. However, though this is a much-loved pedigree game, unfortunately, Crown Wars: The Black Prince doesn’t hit the dizzy heights of its counterpart. Instead, glitches and a poor story hold it back from truly excelling. Alongside this, you will be left frustrated with the clumsy UI. Accordingly, I muttered a few choice words whenever things went awry. Sadly, that was more often than not, and I sounded like a cursing sailor after a long alcohol-infused drinking session.
This strategy title was developed by Artefacts Studio and published by Nacon. Moreover, it is a single-player experience that plays out from an isometric viewpoint. This approach isn’t unique and lovers of the genre will feel right at home. Yet, though it treads a lot of familiar ground, it wasn’t as enjoyable or as optimised as its peers. As such, it feels like you are walking through quicksand and this was unfortunate and disappointing.
Crown Wars: The Black Prince blends history with fantasy.
The Hundred Years’ War has been dissected and studied by many historians. Furthermore, it has formed the backbone of plenty of novels and other forms of entertainment. Consequently, I wasn’t surprised that it plays a pivotal role in this title. However, the bizarre fantasy twist wasn’t to be expected. I’m a fan of an unusual approach, but this was such a curveball, that it took me by surprise.
Your Kingdom is failing, and The Order is taking over. Sadly, the world has gone to pot and few people will stand up and be counted. But if you are to survive, you must make your kingdom flourish. Your troops need a leader, and you wish to banish your foes. Subsequently, you must hire the toughest warriors to do your bidding. Yet, saving France from the occult is no mean feat. Danger and death lurk around every corner and only the bravest and strongest of fighters will survive.
A promising story that falls short.
The plot had the potential to be exceptional. However, it is so badly implemented that it is tough to follow. Furthermore, each key element is punctuated by glitches, bugs, and problems. These issues ruin any sense of immersion, and you wait for the game to let you down. Yet, when it works, it is surprisingly smooth, and I adored the tactical elements and the freedom to create a powerful squad.
Unfortunately, these moments are fleeting and you will curse your luck repeatedly. The core gameplay loop focuses on your castle and the surrounding buildings. As you complete key missions, you unlock special buildings to improve your chances and your warriors. You’ll unlock a chapel for healing, a forge for new equipment, an area for potions, and other bits and pieces. Each of these buildings requires special resources to upgrade. This element is key to your progress and deciding what to choose makes a massive difference.
Alongside this, you must pick the right equipment for the task at hand. Sadly, this isn’t always obvious and, occasionally, a lack of resources can prevent you from progressing. If this happens, there is little you can do. Accordingly, I recommend making multiple save points to prevent this from happening.
The good.
Though Crown Wars: The Black Prince has a few shortcomings, I liked the combat elements. The turn-based action was enjoyable as you manipulated your surroundings to work in your favour. If you have ranged units, you must use platforms to increase your advantage. Alternatively, you need to sneak around in the shadows to maximise your chances. Alongside this, you can upgrade your squad so man and beast can work in unity. When this happens, the results are devastating. As such, it is best to pick units that complement one another for the best results.
Another layer I loved was the ability to capture specific units alive. This POW situation can be used to enhance your coffers or improve your facilities. Therefore, you must decide whether you want a quick fix or a long-term gain. Either way, using shackles and a little bit of patience goes a long way.
The developers have also done a great job with the variety of missions. Unlike some of its peers, Crown Wars: The Black Prince has created some unique objectives that require different warriors and a blend of special tactics. This was great as they hadn’t taken a one-size-fits-all approach. Additionally, it allows you to experiment with each unit whilst enhancing the quality of your army.
Crown Wars: The Black Prince keeps things simple.
Visually, Crown Wars: The Black Prince will not blow you away! The simple art style is reminiscent of its peers. However, it is a little rough around the edges and the camera work could have done with some tweaking. What I loved, though, was the brutal finishing moves and when my units worked together. The gruesome cutscenes were fantastic and not suitable for a younger audience. Furthermore, the movement animation is smooth and I liked the unique character models. Sadly, there are plenty of visual glitches that undermine the polished finish.
The audio was similar. At times, it captures the theme and the drama of the cruel story. Yet, the acting isn’t great and this ruins every positive element. This mixed bag of positive and negative moments ruins the immersion and undermines the potential. Effectively, it was two steps forward and one backwards.
Challenging controls.
The controller layout works surprisingly well for console gamers. However, the UI is clumsy and this creates a challenging and often off-putting experience. As you try to move your troops or select different actions, you feel like you are fighting a losing battle. Furthermore, an array of bugs prevents you from progressing through the game. Consequently, you have to repeatedly restart the action if you wish to move forward. This wasn’t acceptable, and it is something that is guaranteed to drive you crazy.
If you can somehow look past the problems, there are plenty of reasons to keep playing. The missions are varied and there are different tactics to try out. Moreover, you can create any combination of warriors to personalise your band of heroes. However, you’ll have to be patient and very forgiving to get the most out of this title.
Crown Wars: The Black Prince should have been better.
I adore this genre. Subsequently, I hoped that Crown Wars: The Black Prince would capture my attention. Unfortunately, there were too many problems and bugs to make this a smooth and enjoyable experience. Furthermore, the poor audio and challenging controls hold it back. Accordingly, I don’t recommend it, but more information can be found here! Can you fight the dark arts? Choose your team, improve your castle, and take back France.
