Strategic Simulations Incorporated, often simply referred to as SSI, is probably one of the most well-recognized name in retro programming when it comes to the simulation and role playing game genres. Medieval Lords: Soldier Kings of Europe is a strategy game that was both designed and published by SSI in the nineties and should not be mistaken for O3 Entertainment’s game with the same main title.
Medieval Lords has a lot of great features that make it a fun play for strategy gamers.
The first thing that turns on a lot of gamers is the awesome multiplayer function, allowing up to ten human players to compete against each other at once. If the user does not have any carbon-based opposition, he can play with the computer’s AI, which is competent and can control up to six opposing members. The game play is based on history, although it is not entirely accurate. The user will actually play the part of a military advisor to a great power, depending on the scenario selected at the beginning menu. There are a total of six different countries that will be featured in six different scenarios. Because the settings are very different, the ruling parties
will reflect this, and the gamer may find himself advising a caliph, emir or sultan in the eastern stretches of the continent, or a duke, emperor or king in others.
While the scenarios are mainly based around times of civil unrest that promote a warlike atmosphere, there are some random events that can occur at any time outside of the actual historical context. For example, the bubonic plague can strike at any moment. The country could be invaded by barbarians, such as the Mongols, and the Crusades could deeply impact the nation’s economy or military. As the ruler’s advisor, you will control the political goings on of your respective country and will be able to make decisions that affect diplomatic relations with enemies and allies. You will be in charge of the military, from training to assignments. Your overall goal is to expand your sovereign’s empire, acquire more holdings and become the greatest force in the world. You can use many tactics from honest hard work to gather and trade/sell resources to spreading gossip and propaganda to see your enemies fail.
For the most part, Medieval Lords is a very solid strategy game with a lot of micromanagement details to keep the user busy. With so many things to manage, there are many chances for disaster to strike, either because it was a randomly selected time or because you have neglected an important detail. This is a good one.
