In this ongoing look at significant moments in the history of video game design, we have already taken a look at Bungie’s Halo & Halo 2, Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls series, Nintendo’s Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out and several others. The goal of this series is to go beyond simple gaming magazines and iPhone Apps reviews, and take a closer look at what defines memorability and quality in game design. In this eleventh part of the series we will examine some more of those classic moments where video game designers undoubtedly got it right and delivered a memorable, enduring and progressive gaming experience.

King’s Bounty (Sega Genesis) – Although this New World Computing developed title saw a release on many different platforms, for this article we will focus on the Sega Genesis version of the game. Released in February of 1991 to good – but not great – reviews, King’s Bounty is a game that easily falls under the radar of most gamers. Graphically, it did not do much that wasn’t already being done better, and the sound is actually fairly rudimentary. Fortunately, graphics and sound do not encompass the requirements of a memorable gameplay experience. As is the theme of this article series, we must now isolate a gameplay or design element and elaborate on what makes that particular element worthy of praise and a place alongside the other greats we have covered in this series. For King’s Bounty, this element is easily identified. Having played through it well over one hundred times, this author feels safe to call the treasure map system in King’s Bounty one of the best implemented features of any game of its genre and time.

When loading up King’s Bounty, the player must first choose their character. Immediate magic abilities and the power to control large armies are exchanged for shortened time periods in which the game may be completed. You see, with King’s Bounty, you start the game under a very finite deadline. Exploration is key to success, but must be restrained so as not to waste precious time. As the player explores the game’s several continents, they discover random pieces to a treasure map. This map, when fully formed, will show the area where the player must search for the hidden treasure – which must be located in order to complete the game. While this may seem fairly formulaic on the surface, in practice it is an incredibly rewarding experience. Along with exploration, pieces of the map may be earned through conquering castles and capturing wanted criminals who are holding map sections.

Each game of King’s Bounty is its own unique experience. Deciding whether to immediately begin amassing armies and taking over castles in order to secure map pieces, or simply exploring the terrain in the hopes of stumbling upon a lost map fragment are choices that wholly decide the tone of the game. Success can be had by being wholly passive, or entirely militant. The game’s well designed and balanced battle system ensures that even those passive players will have a chance at success if they decide to go adventuring rather than conquering. As the map pieces begin to form a somewhat readable map, players may begin trying to locate the site of their treasure dig. Most games of King’s Bounty end up in a frantic race against the clock as players search for the exact location that their incomplete map represents.

The game is not long, as most adventures can be completed in under an hour or two. It is also not incredibly difficult to defeat the game’s enemies, as large armies can be built in relatively little time. However, the game does a fantastic job of randomly distributing map pieces throughout the game world and mixing up the locations of wanted criminals. Simply put, every single game of King’s Bounty is fun and winnable, yet challenging and singular. Could there be any better reason for including the game in this series?

www.appleiphoneapps.com – Our first look at UNO by Gameloft. Play the classic card game with friends and family on your iPhone and get ready to call “UNO”
Video Rating: 5 / 5

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