King's Bounty: Warriors of the North

Lore & Background

The game takes place in the same setting as King's Bounty: The Legend, one generation after its events. The protagonist is Olaf, the youngest son of Tormund the Fierce, who must protect and liberate the lands of Endoria from an undead army and free the land of Nordig. He is aided by his army and five Valkyries, each with unique abilities that provide bonuses to Olaf's stats. The player chooses one Valkyrie as the main companion, whose bonus is fully active, while the other four contribute only 25% of their powers. Valkyries gain experience and can be upgraded by sacrificing unneeded equipment, though a special quest for each is required to reach their level cap.

Gameplay retains many conventions from previous installments, including an overworld map for exploration and turn-based battles on a hex-tiled board. New to Warriors of the North is the ability for troops to expend runes to temporarily boost offensive power, defensive strength, or gain a chance to attack again. The game features a skill tree, magical abilities, and rage abilities that accumulate when hitting or being hit by enemies but dissipate between battles. A new Viking race, Rune Magic school, and units such as Berserker and Skald are introduced.

Reader's Guide

King's Bounty: Warriors of the North extends the established formula of the King's Bounty series with a Viking theme and new mechanics. Its release on October 26, 2012, was preceded by a pre-alpha showing in February 2012 and developer diaries published by 1C Company and GamesBeat in March. A special Valhalla Edition included the Valhalla armor set, and a DLC titled Ice and Fire was released on January 30, 2014, adding a snow-covered island, Necrolizards, a creature skill system, and new items. Reception was moderate, with aggregate scores of 73.92% on GameRankings and 74/100 on Metacritic. Critics praised the Viking setting and gameplay, though some noted it offered little new over previous installments. The game remains a notable entry in the series for its thematic shift and expanded unit roster.

Did You Know?

• The protagonist Olaf is the youngest son of Tormund the Fierce.
• The game introduces a new school of magic called Rune Magic.
• A DLC titled Ice and Fire added Necrolizards as a new type of undead.
• The Valhalla Edition included a special Valhalla armor set.