Not so Majestic
I bought this game on GOG to see if I missed something exquisite back then when it first came out and I was busy with other games. Here are some thoughts about it.
1. I strongly disagree that it was anything close to "unique" or "innovative". Majesty works around the ideas of The Settlers/Dungeon Keeper, but does not bring them to a new level.
Score: 35 (nothing new, but it is not just a clone either).
2. City/kingdom builder part of the game lacks deep economy mechanics (production chains, synergies etc) but it still provides a nice variety of buildings to play with. However, one detail nearly destroys the whole experience of city planning - randomly appearing houses which cannot be demolished. Why? I see no logical explanation.
Score: 2/5
3. AI
Well, it is bad. Warriors of considerable level (also packed with gear/healthpots) sometimes run in fear from weak monster, while rangers and mages like to go berserk in melee with badass ones like minotaurs. Pathway's choosing is also a problem (collector, who can get stuck and killed while trying to walk around a guard hurrying to his rescue from a monster - really?).
Score: 2/5
4. Balance
The campaign is fine, keeping you entertained by different challenges and overall high (but not unbeatable) difficulty.
However, any campaign ends sooner or later and then in a proper RTS you turn to random missions. And here they are horrific, totally abysmal. Just an example of an actual "game" I had on expert difficulty:
Day 1: Two dragons come and start wiping those puny few buildings I've just managed to raise.
Day 2: They are joined by a yeti and finish off my palace. RIP.
Did they ever test their own game?
Score: 2/5 (Campaign is good, but free missions are completely screwed up, hence frustration and very low replayability).
Total Score: 2/5
I don't regret getting it and playing through the campaign once, but it has nothing else to offer. Not a bad game, but overrated and receives undeserved accolades.
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