Richard Ames |
Posted on 01/25/05 @ 10:45 PM
This scenario is simply fantastic! A New Emperor is a perfectly balanced fixed force scenario where your troops must conquer the entire land to take control of the throne.
Playability: 5
This scenario took me a long time to finish. I downloaded it ages ago, and played on hardest, but I found it very tough. I kept coming back to it, making a save at the bridge, and finally managed to beat it today, using attack ground a little. I enjoyed every minute of it, and will probably play again one day.
Balance: 5
The scenario is very difficult on hardest. It has many challenges, beginning with taking out the weak Yamata village to the west, and making sure your catapult doesn’t attack your allies in the south by mistake. You must make use of a priest who will not leave your ally’s camp, bringing wounded troops down to him from time to time, especially your hero. Your hero cannot die, but neither can your catapult, which is the hardest part. Enemy stone throwers will have to be taken out using its superior range, and enemy horses will have to be destroyed by hoplites. Finding two new sets of units is the other key to winning. I wouldn’t recommend hardest unless you are pretty skilled, it took me a long time to beat it.
Creativity: 4
Plenty of creativity in the scenario, reflected in the well planned map, and the story based victory and loss conditions. Plenty of original eye candy based on the formula of a great map designer’s work, including some nice waterfalls and such. Lot’s of map tricks and such used as well
Map: 5
The map was really superb, containing all the things you want from a good map, and really going that extra mile. There is great use of desert patches, blending in the different terrains, and adding a new texture to them, great use of waterfalls, a nice river that opens up into a lake, with an enemy dock in the middle of it, swamps as well, and mixed forests and beautiful patches of Gaia trees, cliffs, and a nice bridge. The best aspect is what you don’t see, a very creative burning buildings effect using 3 players. Hittite Catapults last the crocodiles long enough to set everything on fire quite nicely, with a random aspect as well. Walls also get damaged, to complete the effect. The scenario as a whole has been tested thoroughly.
Story: 4
The story is a tiny bit short, and the first sentence has a couple of typos, but it more than meets the requirement, explaining the reason you are fighting, and what happens when you win. The objectives are varied, and you are given very useful hints. A bitmap has been made too, and while it has a few little imperfections, it’s a good effort as well. |