King Arthur: Legion IX review

I love a good turn-based game. Furthermore, I am obsessed with ancient empires. As such, when I was offered King Arthur: Legion IX and its Roman-focused theme, I couldn’t resist. After all, who doesn’t want to release their inner gladiator? I admit, I missed the first instalment from developer and publisher NeoCoreGames. I’m not sure this really matters, but franchise aficionados may scowl at my lack of depth.

Though I was a little unsure to begin with, I soon got into the swing of things. Massive turn-based battles, impressive character customisation, and a whole host of undead warriors to order around. As such, I was enjoying the buildup, ideas, and core mechanics. However, this isn’t a game without its issues. There are numerous bugs and several glitches. The game crashes, and this causes frustration. Yet, if you can look past this and you have saintly patience, you will enjoy a well-delivered and considered adventure.

Can the dead escape Avalon in King Arthur: Legion IX?

You play the role of Gaius Julius Mento, a tribune of the legendary undead Ninth Legion. This hero has lost his humanity and must choose between a demonic state and his previous existence. Moreover, he must lead his Legion of undead soldiers from Avalon. This is no easy task, and it can only be achieved once he rebuilds Nova Roma. As you tackle each of the 15 handcrafted missions, your team evolves. The new skills, equipment, and tactics help to overcome every foe and lead you to your end goal.

The story is fascinating, and the excellent lead character roles support it beautifully. However, the rest of the cast was a little weak, and this was somewhat disappointing. Though this doesn’t taint the game, it is somewhat laughable at times. As you explore the world of Avalon, you are given plenty of moral and diverging party choices. This focus pushes you towards a natural end goal. Though this design may not be your cup of tea, I liked the clear pathways and the interesting decisions.

Turn-based combat.

Unsurprisingly, King Arthur: Legion IX utilises the usual AP, skills, consumables, and tactical ideas of its peers. This may not be original, but it works exceptionally well. Moreover, the well-trodden elements help with the interesting learning curve.

Every encounter comprises the lead hero and 5 of his minions. The sub-characters have a set of unique skills and buffs to assist your tactical decisions. Whether you use the tank as a damage sponge, the ranged warrior for a little breathing room, or the strange but effective auto-firing hero, the choice is yours. On top of this, you must consider the terrain and how each strength and weakness can be exposed and enhanced. Though the enemies are somewhat rinse and repeat, they never became boring.

Focusing on Nova Roma.

Each battle ensures that your team levels up at a hearty rate. However, you must visit Nova Roma to upgrade your warriors and use any equipment you have found. This isn’t a new mechanic, but I wish this element were a little more in-depth. Effectively, Nova Roma is a hub of information and not as captivating as its design and theme allowed it to be.

Though it is somewhat standoffish, Nova Roma is a welcome respite from the hellish battles. Making moral choices, upgrading your men, and improving your stats are par for the course. As your team improves, you see noticeable differences on the battlefield. It could be argued that this makes some of the encounters a little one-sided, but I don’t agree. I think the push between the learning curve and stronger units was interesting and nicely balanced.

King Arthur: Legion IX looks fantastic.

There is some fantastic cinematic, and I love the intense nature of each battlefield. The earthy colours, OTT animation, and larger-than-life moments were great to watch. However, there are some texture issues, and the bugs and glitches are annoying as hell. The audio, on the other hand, is pretty strong. The music has a nice, dark and dated feel, and the sound effects are loud, interesting, and energetic.

The control system has some tough nuances that take a little while to master. Yet, once you overcome the early issues, you get into the swing of things pretty quickly. Alongside this, understanding the best tactical approach can be challenging. As such, you’ll need some patience if you are not used to the genre. If you want an epic game that will last you for hours, King Arthur: Legion IX won’t tick that box. It isn’t the longest turn-based RPG I’ve experienced. This isn’t a complaint, but it could have explored some of the key topics further to make the game longer.

King Arthur: Legion IX is a great, albeit flawed game.

King Arthur: Legion IX was done and dusted far quicker than I anticipated. However, I enjoyed every moment. Yes, some of the battles are time-consuming and unnecessarily challenging, but this kept me interested throughout. If you haven’t played the first instalment, do not let that put you off. This sequel was great, and my lack of experience didn’t undermine my time with this great, albeit flawed game. If this review has piqued your interest, you can pick up a copy from the Xbox store!