Kult: Heretic Kingdoms

I believe I originally found out about this game through some sort of “forgotten rpgs” video, then bought it for 99p. Essentially a sort of Diablo clone, except married to an extremely interesting world and story, with some very atmospheric art. On the technical side, I found it runs fine. It’s pretty low resolution, but I was able to use lossless scaling to stretch it to 4k. It looked pretty decent, isometric perspective with 3d models on some pretty 2d backgrounds. For a game from 2004 I didn’t have to download any patches or mods to get it going. On the negative side, I found the gameplay pretty dull. The combat is basically just point and click on stuff, though I did enjoy eventually levelling up into a mage just setting everything on fire around me. The inventory system is pretty bad as well. It starts small but uses bags you can pick up to give you more space, except rather than increase the overall inventory side, you end up having to move stuff back and forth, while the game makes you immobile. On the positive side I found the world fascinating, and while the story seemed somewhat rushed towards the end and lacking development, it was interesting. The game, while fantasy, seemed to mostly reject the standard elves and dwarves cliches, and try something new. In particular, you are an inquisitor, but your goal is to stamp out religion, following a series of wars that lead to the death of a god, and various religious dictators. In the background there are various scheming mages and factions vying for power. Most of the game is not voice acted, but there is a narrator, played by Tom Baker, who does a great job, as to be expected. Periodically he narrates stories about the background of the world, which come with some fantastic and atmospheric illustrations. The game didn’t outstay it’s welcome for me, despite it’s flaws. As a quick reader, I pretty much did everything in 17 hours. The game has several areas, but usually gates your progress until parts of the story are completed, and I never felt overwhelmed by sidequests. The bottom line is that it has simplistic gameplay but if you want some great lore and an interesting story, it can definitely hold some interest, especially as it can be bought so cheap. I’m keen to pick up the sequel Shadows: Awakening and spent some more time in the world of the Heretic Kingdoms.

Ролевая игра в духе Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate II и Icewind Dale, только тут играешь одним дефолтным героем, а не группой. Первая часть условной трилогии (есть еще Shadows: Heretic Kingdoms и Shadows: Awakening). Игра запоздала с релизом и вышла в 2004 году, через 6 лет после первого Baldur's Gate, при этом выглядит и играется она почти так же. Мир и лор Королевств Ереси интересный. Здесь любое проявление религии незаконно (мы как раз и играем Инквизитором, рьяно искореняющим религию), а в качестве рабов выступают зомби. Основной упор сделан на сюжет, боевая система и прокачка тут довольно примитивная. Прокачивать можно только Ближний бой, Дальний бой, Магию и Скорость, при этом три навыка из четырех я прокачал по максимуму. Активных умений нет вообще, есть лишь перки (или ауры), получить которые можно, используя определенное оружие, броню или кольцо. Игра напичкана различными квестами, а задания в журнале озвучены голосом рассказчика. Проходится за 20 часов, если играть неспешно. Очень понравилась!

Kult: Heretic Kingdoms is the kind of isometric action RPG that relies more on unusual ideas, player choice, and character development than flashy presentation. Its dark fantasy world immediately separates it from more conventional adventures by establishing a society where God is dead, religion is considered heresy, and an Inquisition actively eliminates those who continue to practice it. Games Farm is listed as both developer and publisher on Steam, and the game serves as an earlier chapter in the setting later explored by Shadows: Heretic Kingdoms. Despite its visibly aging technology, the strength of the premise makes the world surprisingly easy to become invested in. The story places the player in control of a young female inquisitor whose assignment involves destroying a dangerous religious relic. What initially sounds like routine work quickly expands into a larger conflict involving secret organizations with competing ambitions. One faction consists of mages pursuing power, while another seeks the resurrection of the Dead God. This creates an effective foundation for a story where allegiance is rarely straightforward. Instead of presenting one faction as unquestionably righteous, the narrative repeatedly encourages the player to consider what the protagonist believes and how far she is prepared to go in defending those beliefs. Player choice is consequently one of the strongest parts of the experience. The protagonist can become compassionate and altruistic, openly selfish and ruthless, or simply pragmatic enough to concentrate on completing her mission. Decisions eventually contribute toward six possible endings, giving the story meaningful replay value while reinforcing the idea that morality is not divided neatly between heroic and evil behavior. The writing team was led by Chris Bateman, and the emphasis on ideological conflict gives conversations and decisions considerably more importance than might initially be expected from an action-oriented RPG. Combat follows a relatively simple real-time structure designed to maintain a brisk pace. It does not offer the elaborate mechanical complexity of newer action RPGs, but its accessibility works well with the exploration-heavy structure. Character development adds considerably more depth through the attunement system. Using different equipment can unlock abilities, encouraging experimentation with weapons and armor rather than simply replacing everything whenever an item with better statistics appears. Some attunements require particular conditions to be satisfied, making character development feel connected to how the player actually approaches combat. There is also an interesting approach to survivability. Healing is tied to a blood-point mechanic that prevents recovery from becoming completely consequence-free. Although health can be restored repeatedly, doing so reduces blood points and effectively places pressure on the character's long-term ability to withstand damage. Combined with equipment experimentation and permanent attunements, this gives progression an unconventional personality. It is a clever system because players are encouraged to try equipment that might otherwise appear inferior simply to discover what abilities can eventually be learned from it. Exploration is substantial, with the adventure spanning roughly fifty locations populated by numerous creatures and filled with equipment and other loot. The isometric viewpoint gives everything the recognizable appearance of a classic computer RPG, while the combination of exploration, combat, quests, and character progression provides a steady gameplay rhythm. The environments and animations naturally show their age, and movement and interfaces can occasionally feel less polished than modern equivalents. Even so, the darker visual presentation complements the oppressive tone of a world shaped by religious persecution, secret societies, political interests, and supernatural threats. The game's limitations are primarily associated with age and simplicity rather than a shortage of ambition. Combat can eventually become repetitive, particularly for players accustomed to modern action RPGs with extensive ability combinations and highly responsive controls. Presentation is similarly functional rather than spectacular. The narrative and progression mechanics do most of the heavy lifting, so anyone primarily interested in elaborate combat or contemporary visual polish may find the experience difficult to appreciate. Mature themes are also present, including some nudity or sexual material, which fits the generally adult tone of the setting without defining the entire experience. Steam Deck compatibility deserves particular caution. The game does not currently have a reassuring official handheld compatibility status. Available Steam compatibility information categorizes it as Unsupported, with Valve's testing information indicating that support for Steam Deck and SteamOS was still being worked on. Proton 8.0-1 appears as the recommended runtime in the available compatibility data, but this should not be interpreted as an official guarantee of smooth operation. Anyone purchasing specifically for Steam Deck should therefore expect possible troubleshooting or compatibility problems rather than treating it as a straightforward handheld experience. Ultimately, Kult: Heretic Kingdoms remains interesting because its strongest qualities are conceptual rather than technological. The inverted religious setting, morally flexible protagonist, multiple conclusions, equipment-based attunement system, large selection of locations, and willingness to let choices have consequences give it considerably more personality than its modest exterior suggests. Combat is enjoyable without being exceptional, while the presentation requires tolerance for older design conventions. For players who value distinctive worlds and meaningful role-playing decisions over modern polish, however, this remains an appealing and unusually thoughtful cult action RPG. Rating: 7/10

Игра устарела. Даже на момент выхода она смотрелась убого, сейчас в нее невозможно играть. Не рекомендую к покупки.

Zamanına Göre Güzel Oyun

Probably one of the most underrated RPG I've played. While the combat is passable, the story and setting make the entire experience worth it. The premise of the world is interesting enough that I would have read this in novel form, but being interactive fiction allowed for some really interesting decisions required by the player. If you like slow narrative based RPGS and aren't someone who cares for muh graphics, this might be something you'll enjoy. It was truly a surprising and remarkable experience, one that I didn't expect to have since I picked this game up for an obscenely low price and just on a whim one sale day no less, and I really thought this game achieved that much sought-after balance between compelling gameplay and compelling story, and like many great stories it's all about the journey. I think that Kult: Heretic Kingdoms just goes to show that even though a game that's over 20 years of age, which may even be older than you reading this, it and many others shouldn't be neglected and pushed into the dusty forgotten corner of gaming like it's fu.ck!ng Wheezy from Toy Story. I loved every second of this and managed to get completely and totally immersed within the setting. Some games just work, everything in here clicks and sits well with each individual part, I highly recommend you at least consider picking this one up as I personally really enjoyed it and, hey, you might too.

Gra, ogólnie jest BARDZO DOBRA! Ma jednak też swoje bolączki.. * W grze brakuje mapy lokacji w której przebywamy [jest minimapa, oraz mapa wszystkich lokacji do których możemy się "fast travel"]. * Opisy zadań nie są aktualizowane, więc trzeba BARDZO UWAŻNIE ŚLEDZIĆ opcje dialogowe z npc od questa, aby wiedzieć gdzie mamy pójść, i co zrobić [jest zadanie w mieście Kalistar, aby pójść do gangu złodziei, jeśli nie śledziliśmy UWAŻNIE dialogów z NPC, to za nic na świecie go nie wykonamy (trzeba nacisnąć ukrytą dźwignie na wskazanym filarze!)] * Na początku gra jest naprawdę trudna [szczególnie łucznikiem], lepiej nie przesadzać z poziomem trudności [osobiście przechodziłem na normalu], bo potem nie jest łatwiej, a od początku zaczynać grę rpg, to trochę odejmuje zapał do gry... Grę polecam, lepsza niż większość współczesnych produkcji!