King's Bounty: Armored Princess

 PC
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
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  1. Absolute Games
    95
    The Armored Princess is only a quarter shorter than the original game. How long ago have you played a stand-alone expansion that takes 30 hours to beat it at a normal difficulty?
  2. RPG Fan
    90
    While the gaming world has become fixed on looking for innovation, AP tosses those expectations aside, and builds on what has worked.
  3. Game Informer
    88
    This is the latest example of the European development community stepping up its game as American PC studios flock to consoles on a seemingly daily basis. With outstanding creative titles like this coming from the most unexpected sources, I wouldn't trade my PC for anything.
  5. GamingXP
    88
    You liked Kings Bounty: The Legend? Then you'll love Kings Bounty: Armored Princess! The title convinces with an awesome story, really cool gameplay and an authentic atmosphere. All in all I can only recommend the title.
  6. Computer Games Online RO
    87
    The tactical game mode also boasts a series of improvements.
  7. PC Gamer
    86
    If you're not a fan, buy the original, become a fan, then buy this. [Jan 2010, p.85]
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  8. Meristation
    85
    Armored Princess is a faithful expansion over the original, with little novelties. It could be argued it doesn't need it, as there are so few games with the personality of this one, but if you are a experienced The Legend player, you should decide if you want more of the same or not. If you are a new player, this is a good opportunity to get the hang on this game, but the original is perhaps more surprising.
  9. GameStar
    83
    Sequels showing up after less than a year while not showing FIFA in their name usually are a reason for concern. And, for sure, there are only a handful of improvements in this sequel. But each of them makes sense. The dragon is funnier and can do more compared to the spirits of fury, successes have real consequences and shorter ways give the game a new kind of flow.
  10. GameShark
    83
    Fact is, I lost a lot of sleep due to Armored Princess, and gleefully played until the wee hours of the morning so despite its familiarity, it's impossible to not recommend it.
  11. ActionTrip
    82
    A genuinely pleasing strategy experience with strong emphasis on role-playing. Armored Princess, basically, offers the same kind of experience as the original, except this time they've added a few cool extra components to make things a more enjoyable for players.
  12. Multiplayer.it
    82
    Like The Legend, just better thanks to loads of new contents and a more refined balance.
  13. PC Games
    82
    Compared to its highly addictive prequel, Armored Princess goes one better and adds a lot of previously missed features making the game an overall better RPG-experience. Although AP is less comprehensive than its 2008's predecessor, you will still have fun for days!
  14. Eurogamer
    80
    If you're going to play a King's Bounty game for the first time, make it The Legend - and I'd say that whether or not it was available so cheaply. If you're all done with that and crave more, then Armored Princess will not do you wrong.
  15. Vandal
    80
    King's Bounty The Armored Princess is a great game. It's a wonderful add-on to the original game, and offers few, but interesting new features.
  16. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    80
    Beautiful and bug-free RPG strategy scores with fairytale graphics, catchy gameplay, gripping quest scenarios, attractive boss fights and a really long life span. [Dec 2009]
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  17. GameSpot
    80
    It may be derivative, but King's Bounty: Armored Princess is still an outstanding strategy role-playing game.
  18. Impulsegamer
    80
    In conclusion, King's Bounty: Armored Princess, especially for its current price is a very good game and will give you hours upon hours of enjoyment.
  19. PC PowerPlay
    80
    One of the better games of its type on the market but too similar to the first games to have existing fans cheering for joy. [Nov 2010, p.63]
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  20. Gamers.at
    80
    Armored Princess is not much different than King's Bounty: The Legend, but it eliminates minor criticisms, and offers fresh content for all genre fans.
  21. SpazioGames
    80
    Not for the casual gamers. Strategy hardcore fans will love the hard gameplay and the lengthy campaign, especially when sold at a bargain price.
  22. Everyeye.it
    80
    Armored Princess is one of the hidden gems that you can sometimes find in the low budget catalogs. The perfect mix between an RPG and an RTS, is a rare example of terrific game design.
  23. PC Zone UK
    77
    Once momentum is established there's lots of enjoyment to be had, in both quality and quantity. [May 2010, p.93]
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  24. Gaming Nexus
    75
    A solid standalone expansion to one of my favorite time-sinks, Armored Princess has enough new goodies and little bits of polish to make for quite an enjoyable time.
  25. Gamer Limit
    70
    King's Bounty: The Armored Princess is a great game if you fall into its target demographic. Those looking for something more than a single-player strategy/RPG hybrid should look elsewhere.
  26. RPGamer
    60
    Armored Princess cleans up and expands considerably on The Legend but manages to stumble over itself with a punishing difficulty curve and a few errors of its own that manage to pull the game down more than the improvements buoy it.

Awards & Rankings

28
#28 Best PC Game of 2009
70
#70 Most Discussed PC Game of 2009
29
#29 Most Shared PC Game of 2009

User Reviews

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User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 272 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 229 out of 272
  2. Mixed: 34 out of 272
  3. Negative: 9 out of 272
  1. Alex
    Dec 12, 2009
    7
    If you are a huge fan of King's Bounty this is worth picking up, but in total it is a much less satisfying offering than the first game. If you are a huge fan of King's Bounty this is worth picking up, but in total it is a much less satisfying offering than the first game. The game features a number of quality of life and balance changes, the biggest of which is a fast travel system (as the content in armored princess is organized into continents, approximately 1 chapter per continent), the ability to fly on the world map (acquired about half way through the game), and a reward for allowing drastically lower level enemies flee. Unfortunately the difficulty curve is just as punishing, if not more so than the first game. If your playing normal or above difficulty expect the game to become unplayable before you get the second of 8 stones. Even if you struggle through certain units and spells can allow the enemies to cripple you financially even if you beat them (spells like armageddon and geyser in particular). Another annoying aspect of the game is the balance, or lack there of between the classes and spell schools. Distortion magic has the vast majority of the most useful spells, including both buffs, movement spells, and damage spells (geyser) that trivializes the other two schools. Similarly of the three classes the mage is vastly underpowered do to the unfortunately poor scaling of spell damage (and a lack of talents that are generally usefull). The items in the game are also problematic, far more items than in the original game are parts of item sets that give additional bonuses by wearing all the items in the set. Unfortunately the random item spawns for sale makes completing sets relatively rare (in beating the game 3 times on Easy I have yet to see all the peices of the princess or virgin set in one play through). Finally a certain item related to the plot line which you basically need to obtain to beat the game unfortunately forces you to use the new Lizardman units. Chosing units is one of my favorite parts of king's bounty and I strongly disliked having my choices basically taken away from me. While I am a big fan of King's Bounty and have put in quite a bit of time with armored princess if I could I would go back and stop myself from buying it for 45$, the lack of balance and the limited new resources (most the art/engine is simply recycled from the first game) makes this game a solid buy for fans at a 20-25$ price point.… Full Review »
  2. BountyFan
    Nov 25, 2009
    10
    This game is brilliant; as was the first one. The gameplay, balancing and story are all top notch. As a translation from Russian, the humour This game is brilliant; as was the first one. The gameplay, balancing and story are all top notch. As a translation from Russian, the humour and interesting plot transfer perfectly into English. (Contrast that with a translation from a typical Japanese title and you realise the contempt those publishers have for the western market!). One of the best games I… Full Review »
  3. DantheMan
    Apr 23, 2011
    7
    This takes the King's Bounty: The Legend and builds upon it in creative ways. Nevertheless, strip off the fluff and you are left with gameThis takes the King's Bounty: The Legend and builds upon it in creative ways. Nevertheless, strip off the fluff and you are left with game play that is in essence the same as before. The question then becomes "how much of that can you handle before you get bored". In many ways this is a better game than KB: TL from both a technical and a game play perspective. The talent trees make more sense. No glitching on Windows 7 64 bit. But the story of this game is also more serious in tone and much of the fun of the original game came from it's irreverent attitude. Armored Princess has more spit and polish but fundamentally doesn't try to reinvigorate the franchise. If you loved KB:TL and wanted more the same, that's the good news. But if you were hoping to see where the developers would go next, it's a bit of a disappointment. I can't help but agree with the one Critic Review that says that this is great game if you are fan of the genre but that everyone else can pass it up. That makes rating the game difficult. If you love the stuff it's worth a 10. But if it's not your cup of tea it's worth nothing. As someone who enjoys it, but only for a change of pace, I'm giving it a seven.… Full Review »
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