Tanneur99
Official Reviewer |
Posted on 04/11/04 @ 12:00 AM
The campaign consists of seven scenarios; it is none of the common game styles.
PLAYABILITY: I enjoyed the campaign and like new ideas, attempts to do a different game style than the original approach. The scenarios are interesting; there is a turf, javelin, fencing, shooting, a boat race, archery and a heat. However, the missing effort was omnipresent; it was not a great game play experience. For the fourth scenario, 'Shooters', I used the 'I r winner' cheat, because the trade boat was out of range. 3+
BALANCE: This category relates to the skill of the player and is somehow subjective, as the reviewer rates, if the scenario was too hard/easy to complete for him or if the scenario is well balanced. The scenarios goal is to entertain you with 'Medieval Olympic Games' and it is in the intention of the author that there will be no fighting to survive. The three race variations give you cheat options, your archer is the only elite one, and you cannot loose the shooting or fencing. The javelin is the one competition, which demands some tactic, but other than fighting. From the review tutorial: “One important item to note about scoring the balance category for scenarios where no fighting takes place, such as cut-scene scenarios, some puzzle scenarios and some rpg style scenarios, is that just because the player cannot die in such scenarios, that doesn't mean the scenario isn't balanced. You also need to take the author's original intent into account, giving the author some benefit of the doubt. If the author never intended the player to face a struggle to survive, then there's no reason to knock down the balance score if there isn't any fighting. So keep in mind that you do need to take the intent and goals of the scenario into account when scoring the balance category, especially for those scenarios where fighting is not included.” 5
CREATIVITY: The idea to show ‘Olympic Games’ in the medieval world of AoK is very creative and so are the various competitions, but the ideas should have developed further. 4-
MAP DESIGN: The map design was either below or about average quality, but some technical aspects served well the game play. 3
STORY/INSTRUCTIONS: Every scenario has a clear objective, hints and the game provides a bmp, which unfortunately distorted. A story, connecting the scenarios was missing; the in game text announces the games program. 3
OVERALL: The campaign, the Olympic Games, is a welcome diversion.
OBSERVATIONS: Trade boats and trade carts do not patrol.
SUGGESTIONS: Edit the campaign, scenario Horse Racing, syncronize the in game text 'ready', 'go' with the start of the opponents. Scenario Shooters, replace the trade boat or have it trading between harbours of player six and seven and remove the harbour of player seven when the trade boat gets destroyed. In addition, you have to define a victory condition for player 1, best to declare victory with a fewer object condition of player 7. Scenario Athletics, the runner on the inside lane does not leave, the patrol points are too near to each other, best to advance units and huts.
IN CLOSING: I do recommend The Olympic Games to download. |