Unity support has really helped some of the larger mobile games come to Windows Phone, even if we still get them later than other platforms. Case in point, Russian-publisher Nival has just published King’s Bounty: Legions on Windows Phone 8. King’s Bounty is a turn-based strategy series that started its life on Sega Genesis/Mega Drive long ago and continues to thrive on Steam.
King’s Bounty: Legions is exciting for a number of reasons. For one, it’s a serious strategy game and it’s free to play. More importantly, it supports cloud saves and cross-platform multiplayer via Facebook! You can start playing on Windows Phone and then pick up where you left off on Steam, Facebook, iOS, and Android. Read on for more impressions.
Form your own legions
King’s Bounty thrusts players right into the thick of things. Instead of a story sequence, you’ll jump into a combat tutorial. Battles take place on a hex grid, much like the Heroes of Might and Magic series that shares lineage with this one. You command several units in battle, each one taking his or her turn before the enemies begin their turns.
To attack your foes, either tap the enemy for a normal attack or select a special ability from the list at the bottom of the screen. After confirming the attack or move, your unit will carry it out. Players get several types of units to command, including swordsmen, mages, and archers. It’s simple and easy to learn, but filled with strategic possibilities.
Take the battle online
You’ll need a Facebook account to get the most out of King’s Bounty, such as being able to save your game online and battle other players. Remember, you can create a Facebook account just for gaming, even if you hate socializing with others and knowing what your family is up to! Think of it as a forum account or whatever.
After logging in and completing the single-player tutorial, gamers can play through hundreds of single-player quests and battles. The real juice for some of us comes from taking on all comers in player-versus-player battles, though. The game also supports clans, so like-minded players can band together. We’re going to need some teamwork if we want to compete against the players from other platforms!
King’s Bounty: Legions is free to play, with In-App Purchases consisting of additional units to command. Hopefully units aren’t too tough to earn on their own – we’ll put some time in and let you know in a future write-up. Your phone must have 1 GB or more of RAM in order to install the game.
- King’s Bounty: Legions – Windows Phone 8 with 1 GB of RAM – 231 MB – Free – Store Link
- King’s Bounty: Legions – Steam – 789 MB – Free – Store Link
Thanks to Gabriel and everyone else who tipped us!
