King's Bounty: The Legend (2008; Russian title «King's Bounty. Легенда о рыцаре») is a fantasy role-playing and tactics game by Katauri Interactive, published by 1C. Announced under a different name, it took the title of the 1990 King's Bounty in 2007, and 1C described it not just as a spiritual successor to the acclaimed series but as its true rejuvenation[1][2].
Development
- Katauri Interactive was founded in 2004 by former Elemental Games staff, the makers of Space Rangers[1][3]. The project was announced in May 2006 as «Легенда о рыцаре», in English Battle Lord[2].
- Dmitry Gusarov, the team leader and lead game designer, said that nobody had offered them the game: the team wrote its own design document and showed it to 1C, who liked the idea of a fantasy adventure in the tradition of King's Bounty[4]. Ivan Magazinnikov was the game designer and Alexander Zeberg the lead programmer[5][1].
- On 28 March 2007 1C announced that Battle Lord had been renamed King's Bounty: The Legend[1][6]; Russian press reported that 1C had acquired the rights to the King's Bounty trademark[7][8].
- The game uses a substantially reworked licensed engine from SkyFallen Entertainment — TheEngine, also used in Blood Magic; Gusarov said the publisher had suggested it[9][10][11].
- The music was written by the Moscow composer Mikhail Kostylev and TriHorn Productions[9][12].
Release
| Region | Released | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | 25 April 2008 | 1C |
| North America | 23 September 2008 | Atari |
| Steam | 1 May 2009 | 1C |
| United Kingdom (retail) | 13 February 2009 | — |
| Mac | 5 April 2012 | 1C |
[13][14][15][16][17][18][19] In Russia it came out in three versions: a jewel case with a 16-page manual, a DVD box with a deck of playing cards, and a collector's box with a T-shirt, the manual and the cards[14].
Gameplay
- The hero is a royal treasure hunter in the service of King Mark the Wise of Darion, in the land of Endoria[20][16] — the knight Bill Gilbert, who defeats the demon Baal[21].
- Three classes: Warrior, Paladin and Mage[16][22]. Skills are learned in three trees — Might, Mind and Magic[23].
- The world is explored in real time; battles are turn-based on a hexagonal grid[16][24].
- Partway through the game the hero obtains the Rage Casket with four powerful Spirits of Rage; he must win each spirit's favour by fulfilling its wishes before he can use its power[25].
- The hero can marry: a wife adds four item slots to the usual eight, and children and divorce are possible[5].
- Bosses are unique enemies that occupy half of the battlefield[5].
- The creatures are listed on The Legend — factions and creatures.
Reception and awards
- Metacritic: 79 from 26 critic reviews[15].
- GameSpy said Katauri did the legend proud with a terrific update of the New World Computing classic, while criticising the story and dialogue and the lack of an auto-resolve for battles[17]. Eurogamer found it a richer and more diverse experience than Fable II's Albion[20].
- At KRI 2008 it won best game, best game design, best role-playing game and the audience award; Dmitry Gusarov received the press award[26].
- Igromania scored it 9.0 and named it Strategy of the Year and Reincarnation of the Year[27][28]; Absolute Games named it the best game and the best RPG of 2008, and Katauri the developer of the year[29][30][31].
Later
The series continued with Armored Princess (2009). For the game's 18th anniversary in June 2026 an update added Steam Workshop support, achievements and compatibility with modern systems[32], and the free add-ons The Music of King's Bounty and The Art of King's Bounty appeared on Steam[33][34]. Store links: where to buy the King's Bounty games.