Future Games Network -- Major Gamer's TacOps Reports #9

The delight in playing a well–constructed fantasy RTS can be surpassed but by few games. Although Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns (KIS) from Strategy First does not contain the minutely detailed graphics of, say, a Microsoft Age of Empires, I certainly challenge any RTS fan to not find this title well worth their involvement. With superbly crafted animations, and the need to not only handle resource management with aplomb, but to also build armies capable of overcoming all opposition, KIS is definitely set for hit status, in my humble opinion. Grandest of all regarding KIS is that this game can never pretend to be a clone of any other RTS title — it is unique in its treatment of races, the manner in which resources must be used to strengthen your cause, and combat options. Your financial acumen also does NOT assure success! You must truly think and plan, regardless of the difficulty level you select. With Kohan, Immortals struggle for domination of the world. Although these Immortals cannot be slain, they can be temporarily disabled, and that can prove disastrous. Additionally, KIS has the definite feel of a wargame set within a fantasy world filled with strange creatures.
     Granted, the full game was not played, as the preview version only offered the full basic and advanced tutorial as well as skirmish and multiplayer environments. The main campaign is missing from this preview, but there was certainly enough code within which to get waylaid, massacred and shredded time and time again. The only true way to gain success with KIS is to play various scenarios over and over again. No, this was far from a tedious chore, for by using the random elements within the game setup menus, no game is alike. And with the fog of war concealing the random enemy placements, you are always on your toes and must determine where best to establish defenses and when to initiate full–force attacks.
     The tutorials are well–designed and offer novice and experienced RTS gamers a full taste of what lays before them — the selections you make, as far as building your forces, are as varied as the day is long. There can be a certain amount of frustration as you build a combined force of infantry and cavalry units, only to suddenly realize that your opponent has tossed some powerful magic users into their forces mix, leaving you bereft of a win. Physical force, unless totally overpowering in number, cannot withstand the various magical assaults that can be brought to bear against your armies. Rest assured that after engaging in a number of games, you learn how best to apply the correct forces against the presented opposition.
     You must also take into account terrain as well as Morale and Supply concepts. There’s nothing worse than noting your forces are being decimated. Yet, by retreating to your controlled areas, you can regain your units’ strengths and personnel. Use the terrain to your advantage — enter forests and elevated areas to slow an enemy advance and to give you an advantage as you hack them to pieces. But tread carefully! Should a unit(s) Morale drop significantly, they’ll be routed. Suddenly those archers who were in support of your infantry units might find themselves in a hand–to–hand melee with ground forces they originally feathered with their arrows from a distance. Not a good encounter, believe me.
     Your companies (consisting of front line and support forces) are commanded much as you might order single units in other RTS titles. You can mix and match your troops from 50 various units to suit your ever–changing needs. For example, early in the game, ’tis the wise commander who orders scouts to locate not only resources that can be acquired, but to also determine where enemy companies might be situated. However, once such have been noted, your scouts are of little use in the heat of battle — they simply are not strong enough. Blessed with speed, you can return your scouts to your central area and then incorporate heavier troops within their number to make for a more respectable showing, should battle occur. Troops capable of multiple attack units are especially effective!
     In order to gain magic users within your own forces, you must continually look to improve your towns, which requires the financial wherewithal to do so. Therefore you must also search for resources such as mines and timber to further your finances in order for you to build revenue–producing components. Without such, you’re sunk. You upgrade your towns as you construct various components, such as blacksmiths, libraries, temples and so on. And each building must be upgraded throughout the game to allow you access to better units with which to construct your companies. There is no end to the thought and work involved in your competitions. Your revenue stream must be constant, as well, for in KIS all of your components have per–minute costs applied to them. No longer is a single, lump sum payment enough to ensure you have your component throughout the game. As your revenue decreases, through loss of resources to an enemy, there comes a point in time when your components simply can no longer be supported, and you find yourself without them.
     KIS is a grand example of how well elements can be combined to produce a title that is more than just above the crowd. KIS offers substantial differences in the manner that you must address the totality of the environment. Considering how well this preview version played, the final release will be a title that’s quite extraordinary.

Kohan’s website