Fantasy General#Sequel

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{{Infobox video game

| title = Fantasy General

| image = Fantasy General Coverart.png

| developer = Strategic Simulations

| publisher = Mindscape

| producer = Jan Lindner

| designer = SSI Special Projects Group

| programmer = Paul Murray

| artist = David Jensen

| composer = Danny Pelfrey
Rick Rhodes

| engine =

| released = March 11, 1996{{Cite web |date=1996-11-19 |title=SSI: Press Releases: FIVE STAR FANTASY! |url=http://www.ssionline.com/cgi-bin/omixlink?709815180+insider/press_releases/pr_fantasy.html |access-date=2023-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961119123433/http://www.ssionline.com/cgi-bin/omixlink?709815180+insider/press_releases/pr_fantasy.html |archive-date=1996-11-19 }}

| genre = Computer wargame

| modes = Single player, multiplayer

| platforms = MS-DOS

}}

Fantasy General is a fantasy computer wargame published by Strategic Simulations in 1996. Its structure was taken from the game Panzer General with some modifications to the base system. It was the third in the Five Star General series. It allows gaming against other human players by email. It was published on GOG.com in May 2015 with support for Windows, macOS, and Linux after GOG Ltd acquired the copyright to the title.{{Cite web|url = http://www.gog.com/news/release_pacific_general_fantasy_general|title = Release: Pacific General + Fantasy General|date = 5 May 2015|access-date = 2015-05-05|website = GOG.com|archive-date = 2015-05-07|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150507173437/http://www.gog.com/news/release_pacific_general_fantasy_general|url-status = dead}}

A successor called Fantasy General II: Invasion was released by publisher Slitherine Software and developer Owned by Gravity in 2019.

Gameplay

Fantasy General is a turn-based game situated in a high fantasy world. The player can play either a single scenario against a computer or human opponent or a campaign. There are two sides, Good and Evil, each with unique units, though they share unit equivalents.

In campaign mode, the player selects one of four heroes and sets out to defeat the Shadowlord and his four generals, evil counterparts to the heroes. It concludes with the liberation of four continents and final defeat of the Shadowlord at the Fire Isle.

Gameplay is based on a traditional hex map, with a wide variety of units available. Fantasy General is an operational-level game. Unlike Panzer General, where units represent battalion-size groups, Fantasy General units approximate squads, with most units consisting of fifteen soldiers, though some (e.g. heroes, mechanical forces) represent single entities.

= Units =

There are four unit categories: Mortal, Magical, Beast and Mechanical. Non-mortal units are usually stronger, but cannot be upgraded and will eventually become obsolete as the player researches new units.

In Campaign mode, the player allocates gold toward researching new grades of units. Units range in grade from 0 to 5, though not all categories of units have a unit available for every grade. Mechanical units, for example, are only available in grades 0, 1, 3, and 5.

Units are further divided into classes. The classes are Heavy Infantry, Light Infantry, Skirmishers, Cavalry, Light Cavalry, Archers, Bombardiers, Sky Hunters, Siege Engines, and Spell Casters. There are Mortal units available from grades 0 to 5 for every class. Other unit categories vary, though every category has Heavy Infantry, Cavalry, and Sky Hunter units available.

Music

The soundtrack to Fantasy General was arranged by Rick Rhodes and Danny Pelfrey and featured soprano Marisa Lenhardt. The game's music featured original settings of Strife is O'er, the Dies Irae, the Easter sequence Victimae Paschali Laudes, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, Dona Nobis Pacem and two works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Komm, süßer Tod, komm selge Ruh and Wir essen und leben.

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| CGW = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine| author=Chin, Elliott |title=PanzerArmee Fantasy |date=June 1996 |issue=143| magazine=Computer Gaming World | pages=178, 180}}

| PCGUS = 78%{{cite journal | author=Trotter, William R. | journal=PC Gamer US | url=http://www.pcgamer.com:80/reviews/423.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000312202924/http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/423.html | archive-date=March 12, 2000 | title=Fantasy General | date=June 1996 | url-status=dead | access-date=August 16, 2019}}

| rev1 = Arcane

| rev1Score = 7/10

| rev2 = PC Magazine

| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|4}}{{cite journal | author=Ryan, Michael E.| journal=PC Magazine |date=July 1996 |title=Same Thing We Do Every Night: Try to Take Over the World; Fantasy General | number=15 | volume=13 | page=472}}

| rev3 = Computer Games Strategy Plus

| rev3Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050209075459/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/003/147/fantasy_general_review.html |url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/003/147/fantasy_general_review.html |title=Fantasy General |author=Udell, Scott |work=Computer Games Strategy Plus |archive-date=February 9, 2005 |date=1996 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 16, 2019}}

| NGen = {{rating|3|5}}

| rev4 = Computer Game Review

| rev4Score = 89/100{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961221184806/http://www.nuke.com/cgr/reviews/9605/fantasyg/fantasyg.htm | url=http://www.nuke.com/cgr/reviews/9605/fantasyg/fantasyg.htm | title=Fantasy General | author=Gehrs, Scott | date=May 1996 | work=Computer Game Review | archive-date=December 21, 1996 | url-status=dead}}

| rev5 = PC Games

| rev5Score = B{{cite magazine | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961018135438/http://www.pcgamesmag.com/games/Jun96/fant696.html | url=http://www.pcgamesmag.com:80/games/Jun96/fant696.html | title=Fantasy General | magazine=PC Games | author=Withers, John P. | date=June 1996 | archive-date=October 18, 1996 | url-status=dead | access-date=August 16, 2019}}

}}

Fantasy General sold at least 50,000 units by September 1997.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010418003719/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/previews/0,10869,2560272,00.html |url=http://gamespot.com:80/gamespot/stories/previews/0,10869,2560272,00.html |title=Panzer General II Preview |last=MacDonald |first=T. Liam |date=September 23, 1997 |archive-date=April 18, 2001 |work=GameSpot |url-status=dead}}

Fraser Brown from PC Gamer wrote of Fantasy General that it was a "wargame for people who rightly felt that the otherwise excellent Panzer General didn't have enough dragons".{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/fantasy-general-2-is-a-modern-sequel-to-the-classic-wargame/|title=Fantasy General 2 is a modern sequel to the classic wargame|website=PC Gamer|date=8 April 2019|author1=Fraser Brown}} Computer Gaming World praised the game's pacing and AI, stating it challenged the player to think intelligently unlike other strategy games. They also praised the game's performance given how smoothly it ran. They did, however, also criticize the instability on Windows 95, simplified magic system, and lack of scenario descriptions but overall rated the game as equal or more to its predecessor.{{cite magazine

|last=Chin

|first=Elliot

|title=PanzerArmee Fantasy: The General's Back, Waving a Magic Wand

|magazine=Computer Gaming World

|publisher=Ziff-Davis

|date=June 1996

|url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1996&pub=2&id=143

|access-date=June 22, 2017

|pages=178, 180}} A reviewer for Next Generation commented that typical war simulation fans would likely be turned off by the game's unhistorical setting, lighthearted atmosphere, and lack of challenge, but that its solid sense of fun would make it entertaining for those willing to try something different.{{cite magazine|title=Fantasy General|magazine=Next Generation|issue=20 |publisher=Imagine Media |date=August 1996 |page=96}}

Andy Butcher reviewed Fantasy General for Arcane magazine, rating it a 7 out of 10 overall.{{cite journal|last=Butcher|first=Andy|date=May 1996|title=Games Reviews|journal=Arcane|publisher=Future Publishing|issue=6|pages=70}} Butcher comments that "Fantasy General is good but not great - you can happily while away a few hours with it but it's unlikely to keep you up 'till three in the morning for 'one more go'".

Fantasy General was a finalist for the Computer Game Developers Conference's 1996 "Best Strategy/War Game" Spotlight Award,{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970605172050/http://www.next-generation.com/news/041597e.chtml | url=http://www.next-generation.com:80/news/041597e.chtml | title=And the Nominees Are... | date=April 15, 1997 | author=Staff | work=Next Generation | archive-date=June 5, 1997 | url-status=dead | access-date=August 16, 2019}} but lost the prize to Command & Conquer: Red Alert.{{cite press release | url=http://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/spotlight_1997.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703083042/http://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/spotlight_1997.html | archive-date=July 3, 2011 | title=Spotlight Awards Winners Announced for Best Computer Games of 1996 | publisher=Game Developers Conference | url-status=live | location=Santa Clara, California | date=April 28, 1997}} It was a runner-up for Computer Gaming World{{'}}s 1995 "Strategy Game of the Year" award, which ultimately went to Command & Conquer and Heroes of Might and Magic (tie). The editors called Fantasy General "addictive and deep enough to be the true heir to Panzer General{{'}}s throne", and noted that it "could have won had the competition not been so strong".{{cite magazine | author=Staff |title=The Computer Gaming World 1996 Premier Awards |magazine=Computer Gaming World |issue=143 |date=June 1996 |pages=55, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 67}}

Reviews

Envoyer (German) (#1 - Nov 1996){{Cite web|url=https://www.rpggeek.com/rpgissuearticle/106366/fantasy-general-feldherr-der-grottenschrate|title=Fantasy General - Feldherr der Grottenschrate | Article | RPGGeek}}
Australian Realms #28{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/australian-realms-magazine/Australian%20Realms%20%2328%20MayJune%201996/page/8/mode/2up | title=Australian Realms Magazine - Complete Collection | date=June 1988 }}

Sequel

Strategy publisher Slitherine Software and developer Owned by Gravity announced a sequel Fantasy General II: Invasion for Microsoft Windows in April 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.slitherine.com/news/fantasy-general-ii-is-announced-05-04-19|title=Slitherine - Fantasy General II is announced!|website=www.slitherine.com|access-date=2019-04-09}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/fantasy-general-2-is-a-modern-sequel-to-the-classic-wargame/|title=Fantasy General 2 is a modern sequel to the classic wargame|magazine=PC Gamer|access-date=July 4, 2020}} The Steam port was released on 5 September.{{cite web | url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1025440/Fantasy_General_II/ | title=Fantasy General II on Steam}}

The intention of Owned by Gravity was to resurrect the Fantasy General franchise.{{Cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/12/04/fantasy-general-ii-reviving-a-strategy-game-for-a-modern-audience/|title = Fantasy General II: Reviving a strategy game for a modern audience|date = 4 December 2019}} It was released in September that year.{{Cite web|title=Fantasy General II Review|url=https://www.strategygamer.com/reviews/fantasy-general-2/|access-date=2020-08-20|website=Strategy Gamer}} PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions were released in 2020.{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/12/04/fantasy-general-ii-reviving-a-strategy-game-for-a-modern-audience/|title=Fantasy General II: Reviving a strategy game for a modern audience|website=Venturebeat|date=4 December 2019|access-date=July 4, 2020}} A Nintendo Switch port was released on October 21, 2021.{{cite web |last1=Whitehead |first1=Thomas |title=Nintendo Download: 28th October (North America) |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/10/nintendo-download-28th-october-north-america |website=Nintendo Life |publisher=Hookshot Media |access-date=18 February 2023 |date=28 October 2021}}

The New Zealand magazine NAG called the game a "worthy, lovingly crafted successor".{{Cite web|url=https://www.nag.co.za/2019/09/25/fantasy-general-2-review/|title = Fantasy General 2 review > NAG|date = 25 September 2019}} Strategy Gamer called it a "great success".{{Cite web|url=https://www.strategygamer.com/reviews/fantasy-general-2/|title = Guides}} Metacritic gave the game a weighted average score of 80 out of 100 based on 9 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/fantasy-general-ii-invasion/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=Fantasy General II: Invasion|website=Metacritic|access-date=October 30, 2020}} Digitally Downloaded and 4Players gave positive reviews to the PS4 version.{{cite web |title=Fantasy General II for PlayStation 4 Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/fantasy-general-ii-invasion/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |access-date=18 February 2023}} Onslaught, the first DLC, adds a new procedurally-generated campaign. It was released in March 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://news.softpedia.com/news/fantasy-general-ii-gets-its-first-dlc-on-march-12-529395.shtml|title = Fantasy General II Gets Its First DLC on March 12| newspaper=Softpedia |date = 9 March 2020| last1=Vasile | first1=Cosmin }} The second DLC, Empire Aflame, was added in October that year.{{Cite web|url= https://www.wargamer.com/fantasy-general-2/empire-aflame-review |title = Fantasy General 2: Empire Aflame review – solid fun, but nothing new |date = 22 October 2020 |access-date= 8 April 2024 |website= Wargamer |last= Georgiou |first= Leon}} The third DLC, Evolution, was released in February 2021.{{cite web |title=Fantasy General II: Evolution has been released |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1025440/view/3044967655735434679 |website=Steam |publisher=Valve Corporation |access-date=18 February 2023 |date=25 February 2021}}