Amstrad CPC. Most the graphics were just ASCII characters, but it was actually a
really fun playable game back then. In 1999, I was moving to MS QuickBASIC on the
PC, and one day, feeling nostalgic, thought it would be cool to recreate one of
my first ever games. I got started, but realised that the gameplay hadn’t stood
the test of time as well as I remembered. So it was with great enthusiasm I
embarked on ‘Kingdoms 2: High Magic’ packing in more features, depth and gameplay
than ever before! At the time of writing, Kingdoms 2 is still in development..
Meanwhile, I found the half-finished ‘Kingdoms 1’ game a couple of months ago,
and decided to finish it off as a mini project.. so here it is!
Another thing that really makes Kingdoms enjoyable for me is how it manages to stay interesting even after playing it multiple times. Many games feel repetitive after a while, but here, the experience still feels fresh because of the small details and different ways you can approach the gameplay. As you continue playing, you naturally start improving and understanding the mechanics better, which makes everything feel more rewarding. I also appreciate the balance the game maintains—it’s not too difficult, but it’s not too easy either. You can play it casually for a short break or spend longer sessions without getting bored. That flexibility is one of the biggest reasons why I keep coming back to Kingdoms. Overall, it’s the kind of game that doesn’t just entertain you for a moment, but actually gives you a consistently enjoyable experience every time you play.
