King's Bounty: Crossroads of Worlds
Create your own legend
Genre:
Turn-based strategy / Role-playing game

Platforms:
PC

Developer:
Katauri Interactive

Publisher:
1C-SoftClub

Release Date:
Q3 2010

The King’s Bounty series, revived by Katauri Interactive, is perhaps the best Russian game project of recent years. The gameplay, combining turn-based battles with an engaging exploration of a fairy-tale land, has been a great success with both critics and the public. After the release of the large-scale add-on "Armored Princess," there was a long silence, but recently 1C announced another addition to the game – "Crossroads of Worlds."
Orcs turn green in the meadow
As it turns out, this add-on was planned even before the release of "Armored Princess," and most of the work was done by the game's fans, the most active and skilled modders – Katauri Interactive has a large and successful experience working with fans.
The first item on the "Crossroads of Worlds" menu is the new campaign "Orcish Horde," an expansion for the original game. It adds a lot of interesting content, starting with a storyline about orcs and ending with more than fifty new items. According to Ivan Magazinnikov, the lead designer and project coordinator, the new story allows the player to get fresh impressions from the already familiar game and reveal a few more secrets of the world of Teana. The original storyline is not affected, and the new quests are linear.
An internal conflict has broken out among the orcs, and we will be able to participate in it, testing the significantly reworked green-skinned race. "It's no secret that in the original game, they were not the most popular race. Now everything will change. Each orc has a set of combat skills and learns them right during the battle, becoming a real machine of destruction. And the green-skins have also added four new warriors to their ranks," says Ivan.

The new quests are impressive in their variety. For example, the player will have to take a journey through time. The game will feature assemble-and-disassemble artifacts, familiar to players from the official "Bag of Gifts" mod.
In addition to getting to know the orcs, there will be many other reasons to return to the world of Teana. "The player will finally be able to solve the mystery of the White Kraken, visit the mysterious Tower of Mages, which appeared from another world," Ivan continues. "We have also introduced several popular user modifications into the game – for example, a network of Military Academies has appeared in Teana, where you can improve your warriors and get unique skills for your hero, corresponding to his class."
New puzzles will keep us in the world of Teana for a few more hours (if you want to discover and explore all the new features and secrets – much more). A lot of time will also be required to study the updated game balance, new features, and items. For example, it is known that the abilities of the Spirits of Fury from "Legend of the Knight" will return as spells, and the magic of Summoning will play with new colors. Lovers of hot battles will be able to summon an Infernal Dragon, and those who prefer something cooler – an Ice Orb. At the same time, the strength of the summoned creatures will now directly depend on the mage's Intelligence and his Summoning skill.
There will be nine new warriors. For example, humans will finally get a fifth-level warrior – the Rune Wizard, who possesses a unique (but not yet named) feature. Also, the funniest goblin in the world – the chieftain Rakush – will want to join us. According to our interlocutor, the weakest of the newcomers is the Faun, a warrior of the elf race. He can lull enemies to sleep and then send nightmares to them, causing great damage.

In the Military Academies, you can get a quest and, in exchange for trophies, improve your troops. "Crossroads of Worlds" is made on version 1.3 of the game, so technically it is the same "Armored Princess," only more polished.
Some old creatures have mastered new tricks. For example, the Assassin now has the ability "Knowledge of Vulnerabilities" – killing a squad with a critical hit or a backstab, he receives a permanent bonus to damage against these creatures, and the bonus can be increased up to double damage. Alchemists have learned to create new potions right during the battle, and the warrior has received the class ability "Counterattack," which allows his humanoid warriors to more often respond to enemy attacks.
The Gladiator is also his own director
In addition to "Orcish Horde," there will be two more campaigns: "Defender of the Crown" and "Champion of the Arena," focused on battles. "Each won battle will open up new opportunities for the player so that he can prepare for the next battle, which will be even more difficult," says Ivan Magazinnikov.
In "Defender of the Crown," we will have to sequentially liberate islands and castles, gaining access to new buildings with troops and items. When starting a new game or moving to a new island, you do not know who will be your ally or enemy. Here you command the dwarves, helping them clear the island of lizards. And on the next island, you lead the undead in battle against humans…
"Champion of the Arena" is built on the diversity of opportunities and their limitations. "The player starts the game in a foreign world and must fight fierce bosses in the gladiatorial Arena, and you yourself decide who will be your enemy," explains Ivan. "At your service are 9 Gladiator Guilds with their troops and a set of items, the Mercenary Guild rents out more than a dozen Squires, each stronger than the other, the School of Magic is overflowing with spells, and the Bounty Hunters – with contracts. Levels are gained in packs – you just have to learn new skills. Isn't that great? But… the guilds are fighting each other and putting forward such demands to candidates that you want to tear your hair out. Want to be friends with humans? Kill the kraken! Command the orcs? Defeat the spider and forever say goodbye to the possibility of joining the Lizard Guild. Want to join the undead? Bring the head of a paladin as a gift and forget about the Elf Guild…"

Among the new characters will be, for example, the mysterious master of the Tower of Mages and the greatest master blacksmith of Teana – Lothar. Finally, there will be a bug in the game. By the way, according to Ivan, the authors have an inexhaustible supply of humor, and it will last for several more games.
Finally, the game editor will allow players to expand the world and the possibilities of the game. However, this is not an easy task. "Unfortunately, the huge functionality of the editor does not allow it to be simple to learn and understand," says Ivan. "Making ordinary maps, items, quests, and dialogues in principle, any player familiar with game editors can do. But arranging a naval battle, teaching monsters to snatch chests from you, or creating a quest with 20 endings will only be possible for hardcore mapmakers. However, the editor comes with an illustrated 160-page manual with examples and a training location. Compiled, by the way, by one of our forum members."
The difficulties are unlikely to stop the dedicated fans of the game, and after some time after the release of the add-on, we will certainly see many interesting modifications and even new campaigns. When asked if there is a chance to see a full-fledged third part or whether King’s Bounty Online should be considered as such, Ivan Magazinnikov answered evasively, but optimistically: "We'll live and see. The potential of the King’s Bounty universe is enormous, and it will last for many games."
Taken from ProIgry@Mail.Ru.