Lords of the Realm
| Industry | Video games |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Lords of the Realm |
Lords of the Realm is a turn-based strategy title created and distributed by Impressions Games, debuting on June 15, 1994. It marks the first installment in the Lords of the Realm franchise.
Summary
The game is set during medieval times, where players vie for control over England or Germany by overseeing armies, territory, and inhabitants. Gameplay merges strategic territorial management with tactical battles conducted in real-time, allowing control over individual units or grouped formations. Additionally, players engage in castle construction aspects.
Release
Initially launched by Impressions Games in 1994 for Amiga (UK) and DOS (US) platforms, Lords of the Realm was subsequently reissued by Sierra On-Line Ltd. for Windows (UK, 1997), DMV Daten- und Medienverlag GmbH & Co. KG. for DOS (Germany, 1997), and Axel Springer Polska Sp. z o.o. for DOS (Poland, 2001).
A special Crucial Entertainment CD release included the game alongside a 34-page PDF titled England Under Edward I, offering historical insights spanning from the Norman Conquest to King Edward I’s era.
Critical reception
The title garnered favorable evaluations from gaming media. Next Generation highlighted its randomized scenarios, demanding gameplay, rendered cinematic sequences, and player-directed combat as essential features for strategy aficionados.
Michael House of Allgame remarked that despite some minor imperfections, the game earned a notable status within wargaming circles. Stew Shearer from The Escapist emphasized its engaging gameplay and overall value, notwithstanding occasional pacing drawbacks.
Nominated for Computer Gaming World's 1994 "Strategy Game of the Year," it was commended for innovative gameplay elements such as animal husbandry but ultimately lost to X-COM: UFO Defense. In 1994, PC Gamer US honored it with "Best Historical Simulation" for its effective integration of detailed micro- and macro-management.
The Amiga edition received an 84% rating from The One magazine, which praised its user-friendly interface, clear visuals, and appealing audio effects. The publication compared its combat system favorably to Fields of Glory, noting superior strategic complexity, while likening its agricultural mechanics to those found in Genesia.
Sequels
The success of Lords of the Realm led to three follow-up titles: Lords of the Realm II (1996, including an expansion), Lords of Magic (1997), and Lords of the Realm III (2004), broadening the series' footprint in the market.
External links
- Articles with short description
- 1994 video games
- Activision Blizzard franchises
- Amiga games
- DOS games
- Games commercially released with DOSBox
- Impressions Games games
- Multiplayer and single-player video games
- Real-time tactics video games
- Turn-based strategy video games
- Video games developed in the United Kingdom
- Video games set in Germany
- Video games set in medieval England
- Windows games