The MMORPG strategy hybrid “Kingdom under Fire 2” has launched on Steam. The online role-playing game was extremely expensive to develop, yet had nearly no hype leading up to its Western release in November 2019. Initial reviews on Steam are now strong, though they do point out clear weaknesses in the MMORPG aspect.
What is so strange? For years, every new AAA MMORPG that made its way from Asia to the West was accompanied by much fanfare and hype, at least within the niche of MMORPG fans.
The market for new MMORPGs has been so dried up since 2014 and the demand so high that any game from the Far East garners significant attention, provided it looks halfway decent.
The best example of this is “Bless,” which entered Early Access on Steam in May 2018. However, the MMORPG launched in an unfinished, technically flawed state and sparked outrage among many players. Many MMORPG fans quickly regretted buying Bless on Steam.
Kingdom under Fire 2 has now launched on Steam in November 2019: But it received minimal media coverage – there was no beta to try the unusual game: it mixes MMORPG with real-time strategy and action.
Some testers were able to try Kingdom under Fire 2 at an event, but it was only possible for a relatively short period.
Why was there no hype around the game?
How expensive was Kingdom under Fire 2? The game is considered the “most expensive MMORPG” that Korea has ever produced. Kingdom under Fire 2 is said to have cost 78 million dollars, as a producer mentioned in 2017.
Thus, it is clearly an AAA MMORPG.
This is why it was so quiet: However, the MMORPG was in “development hell” for years:
- The original development was extremely difficult – it was supposed to be released in 2009, but the developers ran out of money.
- It was released in the relatively obscure Southeast Asian market.
- It was announced in 2015 for the PS4 and the West, but then did not materialize.
- Then the game performed well in China starting in 2016, but somehow fizzled out again.
Kingdom under Fire 2 never really gained traction in any region. Clearly a warning sign.
Therefore, the expectations for the title were likely quite low when Kingdom under Fire 2 was announced by GameForge for release in Europe and North America.
No hype was created like with Bless (2018), Black Desert (2016), or earlier ArcheAge (2014).
Moreover, Kingdom under Fire 2 does not launch in Europe and North America as a “Free2Play” game, but rather as a purchase title for nearly €30.
Steam Reviews 77% positive for Kingdom under Fire 2
What do the Steam reviews say? Currently, Kingdom under Fire 2 has on Steam:
- 162 reviews in German and English. Of these, 77% are positive. (via steam).
- Across all languages, there are 268 reviews (75% positive).
A player says he originally bought Kingdom under Fire 2 out of nostalgia. He liked the ancient Kingdom under Fire 1 (2001): But then he found out that KuF 2 is a mix of turn-based strategy, Dynasty Warriors, and MMO. The game is said not to be “Pay2Win” – only the running quests were bothersome. But the game gets better from level 10. For a game, it is very cinematic with cut-scenes, bosses, and a story campaign.
Another user says the game has a weak start but comes alive after 5-10 hours. The tactical missions with the troops were fun. In the endgame, the game shines.
This is what a negative Steam review says: One who rated the game negatively criticizes the MMO aspects. They are “incredibly tedious and lifeless” – this part clearly falls short compared to the “strategy” elements of Kingdom under Fire 2.
This impression was also gained by MeinMMO author Alexander Leitsch during his test play.
Metacritic silent
What do the game site’s reviews say? The game is so under the radar that it has no entry on Metacritic yet. The site wccftech has dealt with the game, giving it a rating of 6.5/10 in the end.
It is said to be a divided game. Some parts are fantastic, others terrible. Generally, the reviewer likes Kingdom under Fire 2 but will play it more.
Apparently, an MMORPG that hardly anyone had on their radar is worth a closer look.
