Hero of the Kingdom II

[b]"I hope to arrive to my death, late, in love and a little drunk." - Atticus[/b] Well, if you have enjoyed the first in the series, [i]Hero of the Kingdom[/i], you will most definitely love this one! [i]Hero of the Kingdom II[/i] brings back the resource management + hidden object pattern in a new story, in the same setting. This time, the world is way more diverse, with a lot more to explore and accomplish - yet same in means of presenting you casual playtime for an RPG scenario without any rush or action at all. This time, we play the story of a new hero-to-be, who has lost his parents in an earthquake. Our hero and his precious little sister - the only living relative that remains - are taken in by a kindly old fisherman. They live in relative peace for a while, but their grateful solitude comes to an end when a pirate ship attacks the little coastal town and kidnaps the sister! Well, you know the drill this time. We are to take a journey through the known world in hopes of saving that sister. The story takes place sometime after the first game, at the southern part of the same world. There are even some references to our previous hero. Here starts a new zero to hero scenario, full of seafaring, micromanagement and pirates. I must say that the story is a little less generic this time, with a truck load of elaboration. Here is an example of developers learning and improving upon a good structure. The story has some twists, thrill and even some mystery this time, successfully. There will come a point in the game, that you'll actually get worried about what will happen. You can gather some companions from side quests too, and they will serve you in various ways. Well, none of the NPCs are greatly memorable, but the setting still bears the naive beauty of a casual AD&D game session. Well... this is basically the same game, compared to the previous one anyhow. Only with a different scenario and a lot more content. So, what is actually new? Well, there are more skills and collectibles added - more content for the HOG part, to begin with. And quite a many new side quests and ways of building renown too. Some of the side quests are even missable this time. The game makes a little less hand holding and doesn't always declare a point of interest out loud anymore. So, if an NPC mentions something: a place, an item, something to do etc., it would be worthwhile to check that on your own. That is how you will discover treasures. Oh, and considering some point of interests will be active only after you learn about the related skill or knowledge, the game has a truckload of backtracking. You'll find yourself scouring the same 30 or so map pieces again, and again, and again. Is it annoying though? Nah, it is casual and relaxing actually. Because even though everything is limited to same bits of mechanics, the story keeps you interested. You sit before the game to look around for an hour or so, then you find yourself finishing the game 8 hours after. Weird, huh? As I said at the beginning: if you have liked the previous one, you'll love this one anyhow. If you didn't, stay away 'cause it's more of the same. You have no idea? Try the first game, or maybe the free demo version. Then, you can kill an evening or two before this casual RPG story and call it a nice enough experience. Oh, by the way, the third game is already under development, so it might be a good enough time to check the series. Good gaming to you all! Please also check out Lady Storyteller's Curator page [url=http://store.steampowered.com/curator/11672469/]here[/url] - follow for regular updates on reviews for other games!

The Hero of the Kingdom games can best be compared to the point and click hidden object games of Artifex Mundi. While there are no specific hidden object scenes, you do have to look for, and click on tiny objects. Another similarity is the backtracking to pass obstacles. For example, a bridge is out, and you need three pieces of stone, a rope, twelve ocelot furs, an eskimo translator, and a toaster oven in order to repair the bridge. You remember that there was an old woman in a village a couple of screens back that offered to give you her toaster oven in exchange for a potion that will treat her husbands ED. You also know that a rural healer specializing in potions is in need of an attorney for his practicing medicine without a license case. Additionally, you met an out of work attorney, who will take any case as long as you can provide him with five hundred gold coins, and a "personal massage device". Such is the recursive nature of this type of game, and although it can be frustrating at times, the bizarre Goldbergian machinations somehow appeal to my sense of humor. I mean, there is currency in the game, gold coins actually, yet so many transactions have to be completed with some random item the NPC desires instead. Imagine if you took your car in for repair, and instead of money, the mechanic demanded a live elk. Such is the world the Hero of the kingdom inhabits. While I'm at it, I must say, this guy has got to be one of the most inept, clumsy heroes around, because it seems like every other time I use any sort of tool, it breaks. Going fishing? Oops. broke the rod, have to buy a new one. Harvesting flowers? Oops, broke the sickle, have to, wait, hold on, why did you even need a sickle to pick flowers? Anyway, you get the point. Mr. Hero is no Bob Villa, and if he ever asks you to borrow any tools, just remember that this is a guy who can break a piece of steel on a flower stem. In conclusion, to sum it up, to summarize, to wrap it all up, to encapsulate, to distill, um, I forget what I was going to say. I guess if you like pointy clicky roundabout games, this is one and if you don't, it still is.

[h1]AT A GLANCE[/h1] (Full review follows below) [list] [*][b]Game Name:[/b] Hero of the Kingdom II [*] [b]Original Release:[/b] 2015 [*] [b]Genre Tags:[/b] RPG; Point & Click; Casual; Adventure [*] [b]My Overall Grade:[/b] B [*] [b]Estimated Playtime (Campaign):[/b] 5-9 hours [*] [b]Multiplayer Aspect:[/b] None [*] [b]Recommended To:[/b] Established fans of the genre; Casual gamers [/list] [h1]REVIEW[/h1] [b]Hero of the Kingdom II[/b] is an interesting thing. The game style blends elements of point-and-click adventure games, resource management/economy games, and role-playing games. It is extremely casual and relaxing, but also is rewarding. It is by no means an epic, immersive, high-budget AAA title, but it is a great casual experience for those who would appreciate it. This is the sequel to the original game in the franchise, [i]Hero of the Kingdom[/i]. It is essentially the same game as far as mechanics and gameplay go, with only very minor differences. This game has a more elaborate storyline and is longer, but it is still an extremely simplistic and casual experience (like the first). The narrative is not a direct sequel, so you do not have to worry about playing this game without playing the first. The game plays as a point-and-click adventure, essentially— with an inventory and a narrative. In order to progress (i.e.: complete quests) you must pass inventory checks that determine if you have enough of specific items. Thus, playing the game boils down to growing your inventory in two ways. By finding camouflaged objects on the screen and clicking on them. And by bartering with the NPCs; there are numerous profitable NPC-trading loops that can be used to make money and buy inventory items you need. The narrative is extremely light; there are very few total lines of text. While it isn’t [i]bad[/i], it also is easily forgettable. But it does a good enough job creating a feeling of advancement and incentive as you complete quests. There are also a lot of well-spaced achievements (both in game and on Steam) that pop-up often to keep the game feeling rewarding as you progress through the campaign. For those who seek more intense gaming experiences, you may find this game somewhat tedious. However, if you like tranquil, addictive games that are rewarding, there is a good chance you will enjoy [b]Hero of the Kingdom II[/b]; and will probably like the first one as well. [i][url=http://steamcommunity.com/groups/murphyslawyercuration#curation]Follow my curation page to see more of my recommendations![/url][/i]