King Arthur Review (no fat)
 by Konami Platform: Xbox Genre: Arcade |
ESRB Rating: Teen Release: 2004-11-16 |
King Arthur Features:
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Egamer's Rating: 6 / 10. Reviewed on: 2005-10-27 |
Game Description
King Arthur (the game) is a takeoff of King Arthur (the movie) which tracks -- more or less -- King Arthur (the legend). Both the movie and the game were released in rather quick succession earlier in 2004, the game being placed on the marketplace directly on the heals of the motion picture itself.
One of the nice highlights and interesting features of King Arthur in game version is found in the fact that the cast from the high-dollar movie make appearances throughout the game. These performers provide the voiceover work on the game, lending a true sense of professionalism to the gaming production.
King Arthur does track generally the basic story of the legendary leader who was said to have lived some 1,500 years ago in Britain. The entire cast of characters that populate the Arthurian legend that has been retold and recast for generations is found complete in the game. King Arthur, Lancelot, Merlin the Magician, the lovely Guinevere and the rest of the Knights of the Round Table are all in the GameCube version.
King Arthur Gameplay
The actual trek that King Arthur (and a gamer) takes within this game is a bit different than what has come before in regard to adventures faced by His Majesty and his Knights. In the game, Arthur is a Samaritan commander of the Roman Army -- Rome being essentially in control of the British Isles at this point in history. After fifteen years of service to the Empire of Rome, Arthur and his crew were on the brink of winning their freedom from service to the Roman Empire. In the final days of his service, Arthur is called upon to rescue a Roman priest and the priests family -- and hence the action does begin.
While this take on King Arthur is different from the basic legend, it does track the workings of the most recently released film on the subject. Indeed, the game includes both computer generated action as well as cuttings taken directly from the motion picture. A nice feature of the game is found in the fact that the computer generated sequences and the scenes taken from the film blend and mesh together very well.
Generally speaking, the game is set up in a fashion to raise a person’s expectations. Quite like the movie, a person approaching the game likely anticipates epic battles and dynamic confrontations with enemy forces. In the end, however, the game perhaps does not live up to its legendary potential. Unfortunately, both movie and the game were heralded with great fanfare prior to their releases. But, alas, when they both hit the market, the flick and the game simply did not live up to expectations let alone epic Arthurian standards.
The main drawback to the game is found in the fact that the battle sequences are repetitive -- the gamer ends up facing the same types of threats and challenges throughout the course of the game. The repetition, fighting battles over and over in essentially the same form ends up being tedious. In short, the replay value of King Arthur is not tremendous. Indeed, a gamer with any experience whatsoever is going to find himself tiring.
On the plus side, a player of King Arthur has the ability to assume the role of one of five different main characters associated with legend. Of course, a player can assume the role of the King himself. But, additionally, a gamer sitting down with King Arthur can be Lancelot or another of the Knights associated with the Round Table. Each of these characters performs a bit differently from the others in the game. For example, Sir Lancelot proves to be a better horseman that King Arthur while the King is better at battling his way through sword swinging fighting on the ground than his the Knight. On some level, these variations make up (at least to some degree) for the repetitive nature of the battle, fights and other challenges interspersed throughout the game production.
King Arthur Visuals and Graphics
On balance, the visuals and graphics associated with King Arthur are compelling and well done. As mentioned before, one of the positive features of the game is the manner in which actual film footage is evenly interlaced with computer generated imagery. This alone is a solid achievement making the game admirable.
Technically, the game flows evenly. Although the game certainly looks and feels repetitive from scene to scene, the mechanical aspects of the presentation are solidly presented and not plagued by such problems like lagging graphics.
However, with all of this said, the action sequences are not dripping with originality. As has been mentioned, the repetition within the game itself renders the King and his crew not the Knights of the Round Table of lore and legend, but something more tiring and redundant.
King Arthur Sound Quality
The sound quality, audio effects and soundtrack of the game are stunning. As mentioned earlier in this review, the actors who played in the motion picture are found doing the bulk of the voice work in the game.
The soundtrack itself was crafted and created specifically for the game. The use of music is masterful throughout the game. Additionally, the special sound effects generated for the game are carefully constructed, adding a sense of realism to the game that might otherwise be lacking. Indeed, the developers of game have worked to ensure that everything from the sounds of slinging arrows to the clash of battling swords are completely realistic.
King Arthur Summary
While not perfection in gaming, a person who actually liked the film of the same name might be enamored by this game. Indeed, King Arthur had the potential to be considered a masterful work… but the potential was never converted.
King Arthur Cost
King Arthur, for Xbox, currently retails for $17.95US at the time of writing.
The actual trek that King Arthur (and a gamer) takes within this game is a bit different than what has come before in regard to adventures faced by His Majesty and his Knights. In the game, Arthur is a Samaritan commander of the Roman Army -- Rome being essentially in control of the British Isles at this point in history. After fifteen years of service to the Empire of Rome, Arthur and his crew were on the brink of winning their freedom from service to the Roman Empire. In the final days of his service, Arthur is called upon to rescue a Roman priest and the priests family -- and hence the action does begin.
While this take on King Arthur is different from the basic legend, it does track the workings of the most recently released film on the subject. Indeed, the game includes both computer generated action as well as cuttings taken directly from the motion picture. A nice feature of the game is found in the fact that the computer generated sequences and the scenes taken from the film blend and mesh together very well.
Generally speaking, the game is set up in a fashion to raise a person’s expectations. Quite like the movie, a person approaching the game likely anticipates epic battles and dynamic confrontations with enemy forces. In the end, however, the game perhaps does not live up to its legendary potential. Unfortunately, both movie and the game were heralded with great fanfare prior to their releases. But, alas, when they both hit the market, the flick and the game simply did not live up to expectations let alone epic Arthurian standards.
The main drawback to the game is found in the fact that the battle sequences are repetitive -- the gamer ends up facing the same types of threats and challenges throughout the course of the game. The repetition, fighting battles over and over in essentially the same form ends up being tedious. In short, the replay value of King Arthur is not tremendous. Indeed, a gamer with any experience whatsoever is going to find himself tiring.
On the plus side, a player of King Arthur has the ability to assume the role of one of five different main characters associated with legend. Of course, a player can assume the role of the King himself. But, additionally, a gamer sitting down with King Arthur can be Lancelot or another of the Knights associated with the Round Table. Each of these characters performs a bit differently from the others in the game. For example, Sir Lancelot proves to be a better horseman that King Arthur while the King is better at battling his way through sword swinging fighting on the ground than his the Knight. On some level, these variations make up (at least to some degree) for the repetitive nature of the battle, fights and other challenges interspersed throughout the game production.
King Arthur Visuals and Graphics
On balance, the visuals and graphics associated with King Arthur are compelling and well done. As mentioned before, one of the positive features of the game is the manner in which actual film footage is evenly interlaced with computer generated imagery. This alone is a solid achievement making the game admirable.
Technically, the game flows evenly. Although the game certainly looks and feels repetitive from scene to scene, the mechanical aspects of the presentation are solidly presented and not plagued by such problems like lagging graphics.
However, with all of this said, the action sequences are not dripping with originality. As has been mentioned, the repetition within the game itself renders the King and his crew not the Knights of the Round Table of lore and legend, but something more tiring and redundant.
King Arthur Sound Quality
The sound quality, audio effects and soundtrack of the game are stunning. As mentioned earlier in this review, the actors who played in the motion picture are found doing the bulk of the voice work in the game.
The soundtrack itself was crafted and created specifically for the game. The use of music is masterful throughout the game. Additionally, the special sound effects generated for the game are carefully constructed, adding a sense of realism to the game that might otherwise be lacking. Indeed, the developers of game have worked to ensure that everything from the sounds of slinging arrows to the clash of battling swords are completely realistic.
King Arthur Summary
While not perfection in gaming, a person who actually liked the film of the same name might be enamored by this game. Indeed, King Arthur had the potential to be considered a masterful work… but the potential was never converted.
King Arthur Cost
King Arthur, for Xbox, currently retails for $17.95US at the time of writing.
On balance, the visuals and graphics associated with King Arthur are compelling and well done. As mentioned before, one of the positive features of the game is the manner in which actual film footage is evenly interlaced with computer generated imagery. This alone is a solid achievement making the game admirable.
Technically, the game flows evenly. Although the game certainly looks and feels repetitive from scene to scene, the mechanical aspects of the presentation are solidly presented and not plagued by such problems like lagging graphics.
However, with all of this said, the action sequences are not dripping with originality. As has been mentioned, the repetition within the game itself renders the King and his crew not the Knights of the Round Table of lore and legend, but something more tiring and redundant.
King Arthur Sound Quality
The sound quality, audio effects and soundtrack of the game are stunning. As mentioned earlier in this review, the actors who played in the motion picture are found doing the bulk of the voice work in the game.
The soundtrack itself was crafted and created specifically for the game. The use of music is masterful throughout the game. Additionally, the special sound effects generated for the game are carefully constructed, adding a sense of realism to the game that might otherwise be lacking. Indeed, the developers of game have worked to ensure that everything from the sounds of slinging arrows to the clash of battling swords are completely realistic.
King Arthur Summary
While not perfection in gaming, a person who actually liked the film of the same name might be enamored by this game. Indeed, King Arthur had the potential to be considered a masterful work… but the potential was never converted.
King Arthur Cost
King Arthur, for Xbox, currently retails for $17.95US at the time of writing.
The sound quality, audio effects and soundtrack of the game are stunning. As mentioned earlier in this review, the actors who played in the motion picture are found doing the bulk of the voice work in the game.
The soundtrack itself was crafted and created specifically for the game. The use of music is masterful throughout the game. Additionally, the special sound effects generated for the game are carefully constructed, adding a sense of realism to the game that might otherwise be lacking. Indeed, the developers of game have worked to ensure that everything from the sounds of slinging arrows to the clash of battling swords are completely realistic.
King Arthur Summary
While not perfection in gaming, a person who actually liked the film of the same name might be enamored by this game. Indeed, King Arthur had the potential to be considered a masterful work… but the potential was never converted.
King Arthur Cost
King Arthur, for Xbox, currently retails for $17.95US at the time of writing.
Video game information minus the fat.
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