Battle Realms: Zen Edition

The Winter of the Wolf expansion takes us seven years into the past. Thanks to it, we can trace the path of the Wolf Clan to liberate themselves from the yoke of their wicked masters from the Lotus Clan.

Gameplay

In Battle Realms: Zen Edition we watch the events from a bird's eye view.

Clans

Each of the clans shaking the world of the game has its own history and culture, individual characteristics, a set of strengths and weaknesses, as well as unique units. The Dragon Clan places honor first, which forbids its members from using firearms. The priority for the Wolf clan is freedom, although the units representing it do not use horses. The Lotus Clan practices magic, while the Snake Clan does not hold back on the battlefield, using gunpowder and not shying away from theft.

Unit recruitment

Similar to most other games of this type, we gather resources and produce food in the game, erect new buildings, as well as raise an army and engage in real-time battles. The game stands out against classic RTS titles thanks to a few of its unique mechanics.

Firstly, soldiers here are not separate units, but specially trained peasants. Thanks to education, they can become samurai, berserkers, bandits or shooters. Additionally, each of the soldiers can mount a horse. They are complemented on the battlefield by heroes (Zen Masters) who are important and strong enough characters that they can change the fate of many battles. We improve individual subcommands using Yin and Yang points gained in battle.

Tactical possibilities

The outcome of the battle is determined by the tactics we choose. We should take into account the terrain (elevations give an advantage to shooters, while a forest allows our army to hide), weather conditions (rain slows down units), the type of troops and finally their fatigue (soldiers deprived of stamina become slower and cannot perform certain maneuvers).

Original systems

Additionally, other mechanics influencing the outcome of battles have been implemented in the game. The fire spreads here in a realistic way (hence fires should be extinguished as soon as possible), while birds scared off by the troops can reveal their position. This can be avoided by ordering our subordinates to march instead of run. On the other hand, it is also worth using the latter, as it allows for charging and attacking enemies by surprise. A special mention should be given to the boulders, which can be rolled down sloping surfaces, turning them into a deadly weapon.

Coop and other game modes

Battle Realms: Zen Edition allows for single-player gameplay or multiplayer mode over the Internet for up to 8 players. We can cooperate or compete with other people, while alone we can play story campaigns or in skirmish mode.

Better graphics and other improvements

Battle Realms: Zen Edition stands out from the original due to its refreshed graphic design, which supports widescreen resolutions and allows to play on two monitors. Moreover, the author of this remaster addressed a series of errors plaguing the original.