Battle Realms

 PC
  • Publisher: Crave
  • Release Date: Nov 7, 2001
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 82 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 72 out of 82
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 82
  3. Negative: 5 out of 82
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  1. JapJappert
    Jul 8, 2012
    10
    Briefly; This game is awesome. For a game in 2001 this was quite a revolutionary RTS. An underground game 11 years later, but as a young boy I really enjoyed this game. So much, that this was the start of a boy going to bed, waited until my parents were sleeping, and then crawl out of bed back behind my PC and play it for hours late in the night. Looking back now, the graphics where soBriefly; This game is awesome. For a game in 2001 this was quite a revolutionary RTS. An underground game 11 years later, but as a young boy I really enjoyed this game. So much, that this was the start of a boy going to bed, waited until my parents were sleeping, and then crawl out of bed back behind my PC and play it for hours late in the night. Looking back now, the graphics where so imaginative yet realistic, which they still are (even better than some of the games nowadays). The story (although I couldn't understand it fully back then) is fantastic, and the sounds where great. It simply is a game in which I could, and can fully get dragged into.… Expand
  2. ZulH.
    Aug 20, 2004
    10
    The best game ever!!. My favorite game in the world !!.
  3. TylerW.
    Jan 25, 2006
    10
    Great game!
  4. Boogsbay
    Feb 16, 2013
    10
    This game was one of my favorites when I was little. It has a nice storyline and great gameplay. The graphics are kinda old now but that doesn't stop this game from being an amazing one.
  5. Kusaha
    Mar 14, 2014
    10
    This is the best strategy game what I played so far. It's just a must have if you like strategy games, because it's gives you something what you never experienced.
  6. ChewkianO.
    May 14, 2002
    10
    It's very extra spice up by it hardcore tempo & it has a type of spooky felling when you play alone.
  7. bonehead11
    Jun 23, 2015
    0
    This is prime example of revolutionary ideas and mechanics get literally butchered up by execution. For start I loved this game, heck I remember when I was alot younger and playing demo over and over again, everything was great, couldnt wait to buy it when I was older and had money...then I did and its one of the WORST RTS I have EVER played, I left the anger pass and after many years IThis is prime example of revolutionary ideas and mechanics get literally butchered up by execution. For start I loved this game, heck I remember when I was alot younger and playing demo over and over again, everything was great, couldnt wait to buy it when I was older and had money...then I did and its one of the WORST RTS I have EVER played, I left the anger pass and after many years I tried it again and its even worse than I remember. I love RTS, heck I am die hard RTS fan I played from AOE 2, all Total war series including shogun I, Starcraft, Dune, Sacrifice, Command and Conquer, Warcraft, Cossacks, Sudden strike, UFO, Blitzkrieg... the list could go on forever, but this game trully is the WORST RTS of them all, its not even Real time strategy, its Real time micromanagement without pause button!
    Now let me elaborate my meaning. The game is interesting, its got good mechanics never seen, on paper. Live resource system, cross training units, battle gears, units countering units, good animations, graphics for its time, its hectic, it was fun....until you realise how butchered it is and how those revolutionary mechanics are in the long run one of the worst ideas I have ever seen. For instance watering rice, for start its nice but after you find out that you cannot PAUSE, let me repeat this you cannot PAUSE IN HECTIC RTS, its just another annoying element you must watch. Cross training units is fun from start, but it gets tiresome and again another chore in wich you cannot calmly pause and just send units to train in this hectic RTS where every milisecond is where AI trains 3 new units. Maiming horses looks nice on paper, but when you play, its literally waste of time. Battle gears are finnally good idea, but some are usefull and some absolutely not. The clans are nicely done, but UNBALANCED beyond redemption, you have goodie Dragon clan, weakest of all. You have serpent clan, strong but boring. Wolf clan, never played them and never will, but they are easiest to defeat. Lotus clan wich is literally UNDEFEATABLE, seriously they are overpowered too much, army of warlocks will annihilate anything, any "tactic" against them can be countered by having different troops, choose lotus clan and you will win.
    Than there is premise that every unit is special and has its meaning....WRONG there are no tactics whatsovere, its just train level 3 unit with ranged units and thats the only tactic you need or find tactics that misuse bugs in the game. On paper you have thousands of options but in reality, only two that are actually effective. Now unto two WORSE THINGS in this game I have ever seen. Some early RTS dont have pause button, but for 2001 game not having functional pause where you issue commands, wich is hectic and about micromanagin units, this is the game breaker number one...all those great ideas just flushed down the toilet because you cannot even use them, because you dont even have time to do so or the fight will be over in matter of seconds. The second game breaking thing is that A.I is the worst and lamest A.I. you can imagine, its the nightmare of A.I. and its generally known that A.I in this game cheats, cheats mercilessly. Even before you are able to build first structure and train your first unit, he already has level 3 units and is already attacking you, thats how much he cheats. Even on lowest difficulty, its merciless. Its not "hard" its just unplayable. It has no challenge, its just unplayable. The challenge is artificial in terms of A.I. cheating, its like you would play multiplayer game against hacker, just unplayable. For those two facts, not having pause button in micromanagement heavy hectic game and A.I. cheats beyond tolerance, this game is unplayable. Playing this game is waste of time, the game that looks great on paper and few minutes in, but in reality its unplayable, broken beyond repair. If they would fix A.I. making it smart instead of being lazy and make it cheat and mainly adding proper PAUSE where you can issue commands, it would be interesting game that does things differently, now its just broken mess. Please dont play it, there are far more interesting titles to be played.
    To sum it up, we have an RTS that does things differently and is interesting to play on paper, but in reality you have broken, unplayable game that is destroyed by design flaws and lazyness of programmers.
    Unplayable broken game 0/10.    … Expand
  8. TanR.
    Mar 30, 2002
    9
    It's great.
  9. MartinaR.
    Jun 12, 2002
    10
    Simply AMAZING!
  10. JudgeDredd
    Oct 6, 2002
    9
    It looks ooowsssaaamm.
  11. DarkO.
    Apr 19, 2002
    9
    It has great grfx, the gameplay is the bes i've seen since Starcraft, and the sounds and music are just...superb. The replay value is immense... lots of diffrent strategies u can employ, theres a great MP... and A MAP EDITOR!!! I haven't seen one of those for a while... but the down side is that the diffculty is extreme, even in easy mode!! score: 9.
  12. KevinA.
    Mar 15, 2004
    9
    Very tactical and trick like this game!!
  13. PaulG.
    Dec 30, 2001
    9
    Great gameplay, superb graphics, except for those close-up storythingies..
  14. TylerW.
    Jul 19, 2002
    10
    Great game!
  15. RebotCyberlink
    Sep 10, 2002
    10
    This game is awsome with exelent fighting characters, a cool game. I want to get the map editor for this game.
  16. BllG.
    Nov 27, 2003
    10
    The game is great graphics challenge and reallistic. The only problem is that there is a code that defeats the purpose but that code helps out at times.
  17. Chris
    Feb 14, 2002
    10
    This game reminds me of Warcraft in the way of a simple battle system. Great graphics, story, and a great variety of units to play around with.
  18. SethD.
    Jun 18, 2002
    10
    This game was marvalous. Since you could mix units up, tame horses and scroll downward to the fights, I loved this game! Its playibility and action hooked me to it ever since I played it for the first time. GET THIS GAME!
  19. iddqd4
    Feb 12, 2018
    8
    이 텍스트는 내 프로필에 점수가 표시되도록하기위한 것입니다.
  20. MordbranD
    Apr 13, 2022
    10
    Battle Realms is one of those games I accidentally got from a shelf back in the day and boy was I surprised. Everything about this game is very dear to me, the artwork, the combat system, the troop training system, the campaign story, the choices they give you, everything was so amazing and refreshing. I really hope the game will one day get a decent sequel, or a remaster at least.
    One of    Battle Realms is one of those games I accidentally got from a shelf back in the day and boy was I surprised. Everything about this game is very dear to me, the artwork, the combat system, the troop training system, the campaign story, the choices they give you, everything was so amazing and refreshing. I really hope the game will one day get a decent sequel, or a remaster at least.
    One of the greats! 10/10    … Expand
  21. Yelov
    Jul 22, 2018
    9
    Not worth playing today, game doesn't run well on today's systems and resolutions, but I spent a LOT of time playing the game, not even multiplayer, just against AI. Maybe a simpler Starcraft?
  22. gamble_ling
    Apr 12, 2022
    10
    Battle Realms is a thrilling, strategic game and fun to play with friends. I rate it 10/10 because even if I feel lonely after finishing it's awe-inspiring story related and they are Kenji and Grayback's Journey, I feel the intensity whenever an enemy is going after my base and I could not forget it even after 10 years. I'm just a kid back then, I could do a lot of different combinationsBattle Realms is a thrilling, strategic game and fun to play with friends. I rate it 10/10 because even if I feel lonely after finishing it's awe-inspiring story related and they are Kenji and Grayback's Journey, I feel the intensity whenever an enemy is going after my base and I could not forget it even after 10 years. I'm just a kid back then, I could do a lot of different combinations to make up my battle units, building positioning, defense tightening up, ambushing enemies, helping allies, decisions and timing are implemented on this game, that's why I can understand the feeling and joy I had while playing it. It is one of those masterpiece RTS out there… Expand

Awards & Rankings

37
#37 Best PC Game of 2001
32
#32 Most Discussed PC Game of 2001
3
#3 Most Shared PC Game of 2001

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. GameSpot
    87
    It has refreshingly little in common with other games of its kind. Besides which, its great presentation, genuinely likable units, replayable campaign, and flexible skirmish and multiplayer modes are easily enough to recommend it.
    Read full review
  2. Computer Gaming World
    70
    It balances an equal number of frustrating and appealing elements to create a love-it or hate-it experience. [Mar 2002, p.72]
  3. ActionTrip
    90
    Simply one great game!
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »