King's Bounty: Dark Side Reviews

Game Good

King’s Bounty: Dark Side, developed by 1C-Softclub and released on Steam in 2014, is a bold and intriguing entry in the long-running tactical RPG series, offering a fresh perspective by letting players take on the role of traditionally villainous races in a fantasy setting. Departing from the series’ usual heroic tone, Dark Side invites players to explore the morally grey—and sometimes outright evil—side of the conflict, aligning with demons, orcs, and vampires rather than humans, elves, or paladins. This narrative shift adds a distinctive flavor to the gameplay and world-building, even if it doesn't completely overhaul the familiar formula. Fans of the franchise will find the same deep tactical combat and RPG progression systems, while newcomers might be drawn in by the game’s offbeat charm and subversive storytelling. At the outset, players choose one of three protagonists: Bagyr, an orc warrior; Neoline, a vampire mage; or Daert, a demon paladin. Each character brings a unique perspective, backstory, and starting army, which significantly influences the gameplay style and difficulty. Bagyr focuses on brute strength and army durability, Neoline excels at magic and crowd control, while Daert blends offensive spellcasting with rage abilities. Unlike previous titles where the player character was a faceless or fixed personality, Dark Side puts more emphasis on protagonist-driven storytelling, with more dialogue, cutscenes, and branching side content tailored to your chosen hero. This adds a welcome layer of personalization and replay value, though the writing occasionally dips into cartoonish edginess rather than the meaningful moral complexity the premise suggests. The story begins with the Dark forces facing annihilation at the hands of the so-called “Forces of Light.” With their homelands under siege and their people scattered, the three protagonists unite under a common cause: survival and retaliation. The plot unfolds across several large, semi-open world maps as you build up your army, complete quests, and uncover the history and motivations of your unlikely allies. While the overarching narrative is fairly straightforward—essentially a revenge quest dressed up in fantasy tropes—it’s the flavor text, side quests, and character interactions that give Dark Side its charm. The world feels alive with quirky characters, dark humor, and twisted interpretations of fantasy norms, providing a subversive counterpoint to the more traditional fantasy narrative found in earlier King’s Bounty titles. Gameplay-wise, Dark Side adheres closely to the classic King’s Bounty structure. Players travel across expansive maps, engage in turn-based tactical battles, gather resources, recruit units, and gradually level up their hero’s skills. Combat remains the central appeal, and it’s as engaging and layered as ever. The hex-based battlefields demand careful unit placement, timing, and spell usage. Each battle is a puzzle, especially on higher difficulties where troop losses can have lasting consequences. The variety of units in the dark faction—vampires that regenerate health, succubi that seduce enemies, orcs with rage boosts—adds new tactical possibilities and forces players to rethink standard strategies. Balancing your army composition becomes critical, especially as some units only become available through specific questlines or locations, reinforcing the importance of exploration and decision-making. One of the more notable additions in Dark Side is the companion system. Rather than being entirely alone, your protagonist is joined by up to three followers over the course of the game. These companions offer passive bonuses, quest assistance, and occasionally even participate in battle with unique abilities. They can be leveled up and outfitted with gear, giving players a greater sense of party-building than in previous titles. This added layer of strategy and customization is one of the game’s best features, helping to offset the sometimes repetitive rhythm of exploration and combat. The game also expands on the rage system, a recurring feature in the series. In Dark Side, rage is generated during battle and used to fuel devastating special abilities. Each protagonist has access to unique rage powers that complement their playstyle—for example, Neoline can summon dark spirits to curse enemies, while Bagyr can unleash area-of-effect attacks that cripple enemy formations. Mastering the timing and application of these abilities is essential in tough battles, particularly against bosses or large enemy stacks. Additionally, Dark Side features an improved interface and more detailed tooltips, making it easier to manage your sprawling inventory, unit stats, and skill trees. Visually, Dark Side retains the series' established aesthetic—bright, detailed environments filled with whimsical and grotesque fantasy creatures. While the engine is showing its age, the game still maintains a distinct charm, with richly illustrated character portraits and imaginative battlefield effects. The environments vary from dark, corrupted forests and burning wastelands to twisted versions of once-noble castles, reinforcing the narrative theme of a world in decay and rebellion. The musical score, while not groundbreaking, supports the mood with a mix of gothic orchestration and energetic battle themes, and the voice acting—limited as it is—is serviceable for a game of this scale. However, King’s Bounty: Dark Side is not without its flaws. The game inherits many of the pacing issues and structural quirks of its predecessors. Backtracking across maps can become tedious, and quest tracking remains clunky at times, occasionally requiring players to comb through areas to find obscure NPCs or objectives. Balance can also be inconsistent, particularly depending on the chosen protagonist—some start out far easier than others, and the difficulty curve can feel uneven. Additionally, while the game introduces a lot of new content, it does reuse many assets and mechanics from previous entries, making it feel more like a robust expansion than a fully new game in some respects. Despite these shortcomings, King’s Bounty: Dark Side succeeds in offering a compelling twist on a well-worn formula. Its decision to let players embrace the role of the villain—paired with meaningful mechanical changes like companions, rage customization, and dark-themed units—makes it stand out within the series. The game maintains the addictive loop of exploration, tactical combat, and incremental character progression that fans love, while injecting enough novelty to make the experience feel fresh. It may not be a perfect entry point for newcomers due to its complexity and steep learning curve, but for veterans of the series or strategy RPG fans looking for a darker, more mischievous adventure, Dark Side is a rewarding and content-rich journey worth taking Rating: 7/10

sense of humor, plot and story, batttles balance - top level