Band of Crusaders is an RTS Game Set in a Demon-Overrun Europe [PREVIEW]

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Band of Crusaders is an RTS Game Set in a Demon-Overrun Europe [PREVIEW]

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I’ve seen RTS games come and go, but the promise of Band of Crusaders from Virtual Alchemy has me more than just intrigued. With its grandiose medieval fantasy setting, tactical depth, and emergent gameplay elements, it feels like a love letter to the genre that I’ve grown up with.

In a freshly-minted studio in Warsaw, Poland, known as Virtual Alchemy, their inaugural game is titled “Band of Crusaders“. This medieval fantasy RTS takes place in a world where the Knights Templar have crumbled, leaving you, the player as the Grandmaster of a new knightly order, to transform peasants into soldiers. The year is 1350 Europe, overrun by demons. There are two primary gameplay aspects to “Band of Crusaders“. An expansive map that allows exploration between crucial regions, and tactical combat engagements against demons, cult followers, and other adversaries. These battles unfold within maps tailored to the safety level of the overworld’s region you’re currently in.

In the role of a Grandmaster, players will be responsible for establishing a base for their trainees, overseeing recruitment, managing each crusader’s mental wellness, material requirements, and battle skills. These troops will then be deployed in battles where they are likely to perish. The ultimate goal is to repel the cult, vanquish demons and archdemons, and drive the forces of chaos back to their origin. Currently under development, Band of Crusaders is a game tailored for those who thrive on strategy and tactical challenges. Game Rant recently caught a glimpse of Band of Crusaders at Gamescom and it appears to deliver on its promises.

Band of Crusaders’ Overworld Map Simulates Its Large-Scale

In the grand expanse of this continent, I find myself navigating from one region to another, a journey that’s filled with unexpected encounters – be it friends or foes. As I traverse this sprawling map, I might stumble upon combat situations, take on specific quests, or even accept missions from distant lands. For instance, I was shown how to embark on a quest across the map, tracking down enemies while avoiding potential dangers lurking nearby. Another demonstration showcased a tactical encounter where I engaged foes close to my allies, leading us into a barren and devastated region. Having allies on the map can divert the attention of our common enemies, offering unique strategic advantages. The state of each region also shapes these maps; areas overrun by chaos are more destroyed and dangerous. This means that the world in Band of Crusaders is dynamic, constantly evolving as we players strive to combat demons across this vast battlefield.

The Crusader Guild similarly offers an engaging gameplay experience that adapts based on interactions between players and NPCs. It challenges players to navigate human factions, confront demonic forces, and more. Variables in the general gameplay might include the strength of the demonic entities, shifting seasons, and a dynamic day-night cycle. Naturally, the Archdemons are the most formidable adversaries, acting as obstacles on the path to peace. To overcome them, players must fully utilize the strategic aspects of the game to prevail.

The Crusaders’ Camp

Players must contend with numerous adversaries in this game, requiring them to recruit knights for assistance. Each knight comes with their own set of requirements. At any moment, a player can cultivate a squad of up to twenty knights. The camp will cater to their needs, including recruitment, healing and recovery, weapon and armor repair, and training for new skills. Every knight is an individual character, each with distinct backgrounds, strengths, and weaknesses that need to be considered. This setup enables players to create unique partnerships; for instance, one knight might push back or attract enemy attention, allowing a ranged unit to stay safe while dealing damage. Additionally, the camps of these Crusaders provide players with opportunities to strategize, experiment with team combinations, and advance the main storyline.

Players will gain the flexibility to enhance a Crusader’s traits and combat skills through an intricate skill system, which can be thought of as classless, allowing players to customize their own strategies for battle scenarios. Additionally, equipment, campaign-earned upgrades, and weapon-related abilities contribute to this versatility. Essentially, from a strategic point of view, players have control over how their units perform on both grand and minute levels.

Band of Crusaders Requires High-Level Tactics in Granular Combat

While the big picture is undoubtedly important, control over tactics at a granular level is also important. Band of Crusaders seems to accomplish this best at the combat level. All the aforementioned modifiers come to play in any map, adjusting the strategic situation. Abilities come into play, but much more than that is how players approach certain combat encounters. For example, we played a brief mission where we needed to capture a specific target, with that target being surrounded by a huge enemy encampment with guards, outlying camps, and more. There were at least 2-3 possibilities to approach the situation with that we noticed; we chose to take out a nearby, smaller camp, taking their resources in the process, and headed into the main combat. It was tough and pushed everything we had learned about the game, as we ultimately lost two or three of our party members (having five at the beginning).

In Band of Crusaders, since it’s a game where battles are inevitable, players will inevitably lose units. However, this aspect also allows them to enhance their preferred units. It was crucial for us to consider the dynamics of our characters during combat and their strategic placement (though players can effortlessly move entire troops simultaneously). Essentially, we were given significant control over the combat, and as the grandmaster, our decisions had to reflect real-life critical situations.

Tactical Slow-Motion

Enhancing its fight sequences is a feature called Tactical Slowmo, similar to the tactical pause in games like Dragon Age: Origins. However, unlike the pause, this slow motion mode amplifies the gravity of each decision during combat, making every choice critical. Despite time still moving forward and the battle continuing, it provides a momentary respite for reevaluating strategies, retreating, or taking other tactical actions. It’s a valuable strategic tool that significantly improves the overall combat experience.

In summary, the grand narrative and intricate strategic aspects of the game ‘Band of Crusaders’ look quite captivating. We’re curious to see what else Virtual Alchemy has in store or how they plan to develop this concept and genre further. It’s definitely a game worth keeping an eye on.

Band of Crusaders is in development.

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2024-08-31 00:13