Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes (Xbox)

This is the prequel to the action/RTS Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders for the Xbox. Six of the sub-characters from The Crusaders are now playable main characters in Heroes, along with one new character Walter. Each has its own story campaign.

The gameplay is similar to the predecessor, featuring action, RTS, and RPG elements. The player controls several troops, ranging from basic types such as infantry, archers, spearmen, and cavalry archers; to more advanced ones like siege units, mortars, aerial bombers, wyverns, giant scorpions, and mammoths. In Heroes, there are also four new elemental troops: ice maidens, earth golems, thunder rhinos, and flame wraiths.

The troops engage in RTS style combat, although commands are issued to entire troops instead of individual soldiers. When the troop led by the main character enters battle, the player fights in 3rd person action mode. Each of the seven playable characters has its unique set of attack moves and combos. Some are quick and agile; others like the ogre Urukubarr are slow but powerful.

After each battle the player enters the World Map and upgrades all of his troops with new skills, weapons, and armor. Hiring different officers to lead troops gives them special magic abilities. The player moves to different locations in the World Map to engage in new battles.

The multiplayer aspect has been significantly improved in Heroes to allow 3 on 3 strategy mode (The Crusaders supported 2 on 2), leader combat between only the playable characters, or co-operative mode against invasion from CPU-controlled troops.