Kingdom Under Fire: A War of Heroes
{{Short description|2001 video game}}
{{Distinguish|Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes}}
{{Infobox video game
|title=Kingdom Under Fire: A War of Heroes
|image=Kingdom Under Fire box art.jpg
|developer= Phantagram
|publisher= Gathering of Developers
|series= Kingdom Under Fire
|engine=
|platforms=Microsoft Windows
|released= {{vgrelease|NA|16 January 2001{{cite web | url = http://www.ebworld.com/ebx/categories/newReleases/morenr-PC.asp | title = New Releases | website = EB Games | access-date = 17 December 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20010208145043/http://www.ebworld.com/ebx/categories/newReleases/morenr-PC.asp | archive-date = 8 February 2001 | url-status = dead}}|EU|18 January 2001}}
|genre= Real-time strategy
|modes=Single-player, multiplayer
}}
Kingdom Under Fire: A War of Heroes is a real-time strategy video game developed by Phantagram and published by Gathering of Developers. Released for Windows in 2001, the game is based in a high fantasy setting and is played from an overhead isometric perspective. The game included single-player and multiplayer online modes through Phantagram's Wargate server. The game is the first release in the Kingdom Under Fire series, which later received critical acclaim through the Xbox release Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders, a game which, like others in the series, incorporated both role-playing and real-time strategy elements. A "Gold Patch" was released for Kingdom Under Fire which introduced a map editor, extra missions, and in-game save option; this version was also re-released as Kingdom Under Fire Gold.
Gameplay
Two factions, light and dark, are playable in the game, with each side having units fulfilling the typical roles of warrior, archer, flying unit and wizards – as well as more powerful individual hero characters. The campaigns are split into 13 missions of which 10 are battles and the other three being a dungeon crawl for a hero character. Skirmish and multiplayer modes were also supported, with online games with human opponents organized via the Wargate.Net server.
Plot
Kingdom Under Fire is set in the fantasy land of Bersia and covers the struggle between the forces of light (Humans, Dwarves, and Elves) and the forces of dark (Ogres, Orcs, Undead, and others).{{cite web | author = Beers, Craig | date = 18 January 2001 | url = https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/kingdom-under-fire-review/1900-2675833/ | title = Kingdom Under Fire Review | website = GameSpot | publisher = Fandom | access-date = 17 December 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20010124045800/http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/stories/reviews/0,10867,2675833,00.html | archive-date = 24 January 2001 | url-status = live}} One hundred years before the events of the game, an epic war was waged between the two forces until finally a legendary group known as the Knights of Xok defeated the forces of dark and brought peace to the land of Bersia.
Development
The game was announced in January 2000.{{cite web|url=http://www.godgames.com/main.php?section=news&page=press&pr=KUF_Announced|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010417092952/http://www.godgames.com:80/main.php?section=news&page=press&pr=KUF_Announced|title=Gathering of Developers to Publish Phantagram's Kingdom Under Fire|website=Gathering of Developers|archivedate=April 17, 2001|date=January 27, 2000|accessdate=May 19, 2024}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 59/100{{cite web | url = https://www.metacritic.com/game/kingdom-under-fire-a-war-of-heroes/ | title = Kingdom Under Fire: A War of Heroes | website = Metacritic | publisher = Fandom | access-date = 17 December 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231217170634/https://www.metacritic.com/game/kingdom-under-fire-a-war-of-heroes/ | archive-date = 17 December 2023 | url-status = live}}
| Allgame = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web | author = Tresca, Michael | url = http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=23228&tab=review | title = Kingdom Under Fire: A War of Heroes - Review | website = AllGame | publisher = All Media Network | access-date = 17 December 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141115062843/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=23228&tab=review | archive-date = 15 November 2014 | url-status = dead}}
| CGSP = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web | author = Levine, Jason | date = 2 March 2001 | url = http://www.cdmag.com/articles/032/003/kuf-01.html | title = Kingdom Under Fire | website = Computer Games Strategy Plus | publisher = Strategy Plus, Inc. | access-date = 17 December 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030525165456/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/032/003/kuf-01.html | archive-date = 25 May 2003 | url-status = dead}}
| CGW = {{Rating|1|5}}{{cite magazine | author = Price, Tom | url = https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_201.pdf | title = Kingdom Under Fire | magazine = Computer Gaming World | publisher = Ziff Davis | issue = 201 | date = April 2001 | page = 102 | access-date = 17 December 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230405103335/https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_201.pdf | archive-date = 5 April 2023 | url-status = live}}
| EPD = 4/10{{cite web | author = Reaume, Paula | date = 6 March 2001 | url = http://www.elecplay.com/reviews_article.php?article=5295 | title = Kingdom Under Fire: A War of Heroes | website = The Electric Playground | publisher = Greedy Productions Ltd. | access-date = 17 December 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050430095034/http://www.elecplay.com/reviews_article.php?article=5295 | archive-date = 30 April 2005 | url-status = dead}}
| EuroG = 6/10{{cite web | author = Bye, John "Gestalt" | date = 6 March 2001 | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/r-kuf | title = Kingdom Under Fire | website = Eurogamer | publisher = Gamer Network | access-date = 17 December 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20010308093411/http://www.eurogamer.net/content/r_kuf | archive-date = 8 March 2001 | url-status = live}}
| GI = 6.25/10{{cite magazine | title = Kingdom Under Fire | magazine = Game Informer | publisher = FuncoLand | issue = 95 | date = March 2001}}
| GameRev = C{{cite web | author = Joe | date = February 2001 | url = https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33241-kingdom-under-fire-review | title = Kingdom Under Fire Review | website = GameRevolution | publisher = CraveOnline | access-date = 17 December 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150919085251/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/kingdom-under-fire | archive-date = 19 September 2015 | url-status = live}}
| GSpy = 75%{{cite web | author = Haumersen, Lee | date = 17 February 2001 | url = http://www.gamespy.com/reviews/february01/kuf/ | title = Kingdom Under Fire | website = GameSpy | publisher = GameSpy Industries | access-date = 17 December 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20020611090306/http://www.gamespy.com/reviews/february01/kuf/ | archive-date = 11 June 2002 | url-status = dead}}
| IGN = 7.2/10{{cite web | author = Butts, Steve | date = 19 January 2001 | url = https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/20/kingdom-under-fire | title = Kingdom Under Fire | website = IGN | publisher = Ziff Davis | access-date = 17 December 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190521124832/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/20/kingdom-under-fire | archive-date = 21 May 2019 | url-status = live}}
| NGen = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine | author = Lee, John | url = https://archive.org/details/NextGen77May2001/page/n93/mode/2up | title = Kingdom Under Fire | magazine = NextGen | publisher = Imagine Media | issue = 77 | date = May 2001 | page = 90 | access-date = 17 December 2023}}
| PCGUS = 70%{{cite magazine | title = Kingdom Under Fire | magazine = PC Gamer | publisher = Imagine Media | volume = 8 | issue = 5 | date = May 2001 | page = 39}}
}}
The game received mixed reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. The hero missions were unfavourably compared with Blizzard's Diablo games. The difficulty was claimed to be too high by some reviewers, with hero units unbalanced and the game's AI also found lacking. The game's graphics were considered good or passable, though the animations limited, but the audio and story were praised by critics. John Lee of NextGen said, "A potential treasure cruise for gamers, Kingdom misses the boat by a hair."
The game sold 20,000 units in the U.S. by October 2001.{{cite magazine | url = https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_207.pdf | title = GOD's Games | magazine = Computer Gaming World | publisher = Ziff Davis | issue = 207 | date = October 2001 | page = 31 | access-date = 17 December 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230729174702/https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_207.pdf | archive-date = 29 July 2023 | url-status = live}}
{{clear}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web | url = https://www.phantagram.com/ENG/Products/kuf/gameintro.asp | title = Phantagram : Kingdom Under Fire | website = Phantagram | access-date = 17 December 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231101193544/https://www.phantagram.com/ENG/Products/kuf/gameintro.asp | archive-date = 1 November 2023 | url-status = live}} Official website
- {{cite web | url = http://www.kingdomunderfire.com/ | title = Welcome to Kingdom Under Fire | website = Kingdom Under Fire | access-date = 3 October 2011 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20010202061100/http://www.kingdomunderfire.com/ | archive-date = 2 February 2001 | url-status = dead}} Official game page (archived)
- {{moby game|id=/3156/kingdom-under-fire/}}
{{KUF N3 Korean high fantasy video games}}
Category:Gathering of Developers games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Real-time strategy video games
Category:Video games developed in South Korea