Field of Glory II: Medieval Review (PC)

My line of, most of them trained, has absorbed shock aftershock of enemy assaults. At the same time, my heavy horse has run down a lot of infantry on the flanks of the engagement. Everything seemed to move towards a close but solid victory. Then around half of my cavalry goes chasing down some light archers, moving steadily away from where they are needed. And chance makes one spearmen unit break on a relatively weak attack, with a third of the other units on the line also routing when they see their brethren run. It takes a few more turns until I lose the battle. I already have tweaks in mind to make sure that I win decisively next time around.

Field of Glory II: Medieval is developed by Byzantine Games and published by Slitherine. The game takes the core strategic concepts of the original and moves the timeline to the Middle Ages. Players get a lot of tactical, turn-based battles involving everything from lowly peasants to powerful and fully armored knights.

One of the most important parts of the game does not involve any combat. Before engagement players get to decide what kind of force they want to bring with them (with restrictions linked to the involved armies and what the commanders could realistically expect). It is important to carefully consider which units can be the most effective and then how they are best placed on the battlefield.

+4more

Once that’s done Field of Glory II: Medieval moves to the actual combat. A square terrain grid is used and each side activates all its units before ending a turn and handing over control to the opponent. Archers, in a variety of flavors, and (limited) artillery can engage from a distance but most of the action happens up close, with swordsmen, spearmen, knights, and more moving towards each other. Gamers need to pay close attention to terrain and its effects, especially the way it can disorganize heavy troops.

Maneuvering for a good position is important early on but once battle lines clash quality of troops and morale become crucial. Archers can only engage troops that are not in melee and are a great way to soften a unit before taking it down. Cavalry is most a way to take out enemy light troops but the heavier versions can also break infantry or threaten enemy leaders. The tactical element, which relies on careful movement and positioning, is balanced by the use of randomness. When troops clash the results are not predetermined. Melee usually gives the advantage to well trained and armored troops but there are moments when inferior troops manage to punch above their weight and create surprising moments.

Success in the new Field of Glory requires both good preparation and the ability to react to an ever fragmenting battle. There were plenty of moments when I had to work hard for victory even after scoring some early tactical wins. And I found myself almost cheering when I snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

The computer powered opponents out up solid opposition even on lower difficulty levels. The AI knows how to pile on vulnerable points in the line and how to use terrain. This combines well with the randomness and the focus on careful planning to create satisfying engagements regardless of the final result.

Play Video

The appeal of the core battle system is backed by the impressive variety of content featured. The four pre-made campaigns include some of the biggest conflicts of the era. Gamers can also choose from an extensive army list and create a bespoke campaign featuring their imagined conflicts. Epic battles from the historical period are available, as are custom battles and quick, randomly generated ones. Multiplayer is handled using the proprietary Slitherine system.

Field of Glory II: Medieval is not the coolest looking title that tackles this historical period but the presentation is very functional and easy to understand. Information on units and terrain can be quickly obtained by hovering the mouse over. The unit models look good up close and are easy to identify most of the time. It’s easy to clutter the screen with info and zoom out to better tactically understand the situation. It is also easy to zoom in and eliminate almost all the interface. The soundtrack is period-appropriate but a little bit repetitive, as are the sounds associated with combat.

+4more

The Good

The Bad

Conclusion