When I first got Real Warfare 2: Northern Crusades I wasn’t sure what to expect as I did not have the opportunity to play the previous title, but sometimes starting with a fresh canvas is a good thing. As with most games, I jumped into it by running the tutorial. 

Right from the start I realized that this game’s focus was definitely the battlefield and all that goes on there. I was amazed by the awesome detail of the units and the look of the misty hilled and wooded battlefield before me. I stood in awe by the amount of control I had at my fingertips and the depth of detail that each move I made had. Camera controls, troop formations, unit placement, squad groups, terrain benefits, game speed, and the list goes on and on. In fact, such detail seemed daunting and I would be lying if I said I was not overwhelmed at first. However, by the end of the tutorial, I was scouting the field, taking command of my troops, and marching them to victory in my first battle. Though they say that a single battle does not win a war in this case it certainly won me over and made me a fan of Real Warfare 2: Northern Crusades.

Real Warfare 2: Northern Crusades is a strategy game based on 13th century Eastern Europe and the battles that took place around the Baltic Sea. The game strives to remain true to history and bring to life the dynamic combat of that period chocked full of galloping lancers, gritty foot soldiers, and skies darkened by flights of arrows. Beyond the battlefield, the game includes a campaign which introduces the player as a Komtur (Commander) of a Teutonic contingent with a storyline based on conquering the pagan Prussians.

During the campaign the player utilizes an overland map noting key Strongholds, Cities, and Villages to move about and perform various quests or duties given to him by his own commander. The map is real time meaning that other units such as merchants, peasants, and armies (allied, neutral, and hostile) are constantly moving across and patrolling the map as you are. This can lead to numerous encounters and battle opportunities both planned and unplanned. As you engage in battles and complete quests, which can range from arriving at your stronghold to taking an enemy castle, you gain experience which allows you to increase your abilities in a number of skills, most of which directly affect your units. Furthermore, encounters and battles can result in trophies, salable goods, and gold which can be used to purchase additional units in allied castles and towns.

Troops gained through purchases are limited by the leadership you have, as well as the experience of the overall army you control, both of which increase with each battle as your level increases.

The campaign’s purpose is to tell a logical story which gives a reason and purpose to each battle, but really it’s the battles you buy this game for. While there are some economics to the campaign; collecting taxes, selling goods, and purchasing troops, the game’s true purpose and focus is the battlefield.

Outside the campaign, numerous modes are available for players to jump right into battles. The game includes an online system that allows you to create or find other live players, as well as a direct connect multiplayer system that allows several players, both live or AI-controlled, to battle each other. Both modes include a large number of options to set up the games with numerous maps to march across. The options include time limits, army sizes, pause restrictions, alliances, and a host of others which help to keep games both fair, and fun. The ability to limit game lengths and number of pauses really helps prevent someone one from just dodging your forces with his last unit, or those who like to pause every two minutes to ponder their next move for hours on end.