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Campaigns » The Last Viking Prince - Book I (1030 - 1033) v2.0
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The Last Viking Prince - Book I (1030 - 1033) v2.0
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Author |
File Description |
Gordon Farrell |
Posted on 03/19/00 @ 12:00 AM
File Details |
Version: |
Age of Kings 1.0 |
Number of scenarios: |
3 |
THIS VERSION IS SPECIALLY REVISED TO ACCOMODATE MP3 TRACKS THAT WILL REPLACE THE AOK MUSIC. SEE BELOW TO DOWNLOAD THE SOUND FILES.
The Story:
In 1030 AD, 15-year-old Haraldr Sigurdsson watched as his half-brother, King Olaf of Norway, was cut down on the battlefield by the English pretender, Svein Knutsson. Haraldr had to run for his life --- an odyssey that took him across Russia to Constantinople, into war against the Normans, and on clandestine missions against the Arabs.
This is Book I of Haraldr's story. At the age of 15, he must make his way across Scandinavia to Kiev, and win the respect of the great Viking monarch, Yaroslav the Wise.
All of the incidents are as historically accurate as possible, based on accounts by the great Icelandic poet Snorri Sturlsson, by writers who were contemporary with this amazing Viking, and by the evidence of modern archaeology.
It is the beginning of the last great Viking age.
SPECIAL NOTE:
I have ripped a special soundtrack for this campaign series from the movie THE 13th WARRIOR. The compressed files containing those tracks are labeled #1aHARmp3 and #1bHARmp3. They're easy to install, but at 6.7 megs combined, they may take nearly an hour to download depending on your system.
They're worth it.
Get the full experience. Become lost in the Age of Vikings. This extraordinary music composed by Jerry Goldsmith will make you hear the trumpets of war, and feel the waves under your dragonship...
Future installments in the Last Viking Prince series will contain small additions to this basic soundtrack package, so if you take the trouble to dl these tracks, you can add onto them with very short add'l downloads. Enjoy.
ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT NOTE: If you dl'd an earlier version of Book 1, it won't run the mp3's properly. Dump that cpn file and download this version. Sorry for the confusion --- but I hope it will be worth it in the long run! These sound files are NOT necessary to play the game, but I think you'll be thoroughly pleased by the way they enhance your immersion in the age of Vikings.
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS:
If you choose to use the sound files, follow all of the followng instructions. Otherwise, jump ahead to #5.
1) Click here to download the first sound file and here for the second one.
2) Unzip to C:\\ with no subdirectories. The files will drop into place if you installed to the default install directory. (They must end up in AoE2/Sound/scenario.)
3) THEN and ONLY THEN unzip the The Last Viking Prince.cpn. It should go into AoE2/Campaign.
4) Select "Options" (the anvil) in the start-up window. Turn music off - otherwise the game music will conflict with the mp3 files.
If you DON'T use the mp3 files, your instructions begin here:
5) After unzipping The Last Viking Prince to AoE2/Campaign, start the game.
6) Select "Options" (the anvil) in the start-up window. Turn music off if you're using my mp3 files. Otherwise, leave as is.
7) Make your player's name "Haraldr."
8) Exit options. Start the game from "Custom Campaigns."
Enjoy! And feel free to send me comments!
NOTE:
PLEASE DO NOT COPY THESE MP3 FILES, OR CIRCULATE THEM AMONG YOUR FRIENDS. IF YOU DIG THE MUSIC --- GO OUT AND BUY THE CD!!!
These tracks are from THE 13th WARRIOR, music composed by Jerry Goldsmith. If you're into Vikings, you should own this cd. Period. |
Author | Reviews ( All | Comments Only | Reviews Only ) |
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Ingo Van Thiel
Official Reviewer |
Posted on 09/29/00 @ 12:00 AM
Amazing.
Gordon Farrell takes AoK to a whole new level. Let me say one thing in advance: If you don't download the music, you won't get the whole experience. The Viking Prince is truly interwoven with the music - don't miss it!
The story and instructions are brilliant as usual. Haraldr is a young Viking with the worst mistake a Viking can have: He is honorable, but he is working hard to get rid of that mistake... And people who helped him earlier will either end up as his enemies, or dead, or both. So this campaign is highly immoral, but it's also highly enjoyable.
The battles are perfectly balanced and challenging - saving your game every now and then might be a good idea, because a wrong decision can cost you everything.
The map design is outstanding and, in my opinion, the best that Gordon has done so far. Combine this with the music, and you really feel the north wind sting in your face. The village in the 2nd scenario is one of the most beautiful villages I've seen, and you can almost breathe the frosty sea air.
Again, you don't want to miss the music, or you'll miss the whole idea. There will be tight action scenes, and there will be distances in which you are invited to let yourself fall into the mood of the campaign. Take the beginning of the 2nd scenario - you'll have a long, calm boat ride ahead of you. Without the music, you may be tapping your fingers and wait for something to happen: "Okay then, where's the next tower to shoot at me to spice things up?" But with the music, your voyage suddenly becomes something special, and gets you into an epic mood that I didn't have with any AoK scenario yet. I played this part with headphones on, and I heartily recommend the experience.
The Viking Prince is a feast for the eye and the ear. Download now! |
Arthur of Kings |
Posted on 05/14/02 @ 12:00 AM
The Last Viking Prince Book 1 is the story of the half-brother of King St. Olaf of Norway. At the beginning of the scenario Olaf is killed in his defense of Norway from Sven Knutsson, a Danish-English invader who plans to unite Denmark, Sweeden, and Norway under the British crown! A brilliant piece of work and I hope that there shall be a Conqueror's version soon!
Playability: While some errors can be found in the game the Last Viking Prince (Book 1) is about as perfect as they come. Two thumbs up for playability!
Balance: The game is not necessarily hard but not boring and certainly not easy. Three cheers for balance.
Creativity: Creativity was, unfortunately, not a very strong part. But good luck to the next one!
Map Design: While the ice is a bit thick the rest of the map is near perfection. Such perfect landscapes you barely realize that the map is just a collection of pixels!
Story/Instructions: The story grabs you immediately and you are sucked in forever. A good narration and great perspective! |
HGDL v0.8.2 |
Rating |
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4.7 | Breakdown |
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Playability | 5.0 | Balance | 5.0 | Creativity | 4.0 | Map Design | 4.5 | Story/Instructions | 5.0 |
Statistics |
Downloads: | 27,696 |
Favorites: [] | 6 |
Size: | 558.41 KB |
Added: | 03/19/00 |
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