Introductions

My introduction to Majesty came primarily due to the game's subtitle: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim. My wife had recently been monopolising the computer whilst playing Roller Coaster Tycoon and The Sims. Touting itself as a sim, rather than as a wargame, Majesty caught her eye. We were both craving new diversions, and found them at the same time: Majesty for her and Dark Reign 2 (DR2) for me.

Dark Reign was a game I was pushed into unwillingly. A friend had tried it, and recommended it to me, having recently been playing it over a direct phone connection with a local mate. I downloaded the demo, which failed to work in any way, shape or form besides badly. In one scenario, the game told me I'd lost, 2 seconds into a mission where I'd yet to move a unit. Still, my friend raved, and when I found the game for only $20 online, I scooped it up. The attraction was immediate: large numbers of cleverly-designed science fiction-novel style units roared about custom-designed maps, blasting all before them. 6-player multi-person games over the internet became the norm, with commanders in the US, Europe, Asia and Australia all in the mix. And there was always that special treat: using a Super Weapon on an online opponent, and moments later the game pauses, springing back to life to deliver the savoured message: CIMPO. "Change In MultiPlayer Opponents." They'd been Hiroshima'd into quitting.

It was a terrible disappointment, then, that DR2 proved to be the gamer's Nemesis: all gloss, and nothing new. DR2 is a jazzed-up, three-dimensional, louder, muckier version of its original, only without the sense of humour or the wonder of first-time experience. Then, my wife asked me to look at her new game, to help her figure out how to play it.

Enter Majesty. The best parts of Majesty turn out to be those where it differs from most of my previous favourite games. You don't have complete, unerring control over the actions of your minions. You don't battle opponents for precious, shared resources, but rely on yourself for a system of provision. You have choices of forces (Good, Evil and barbarian) which have real differences. And there's always morale. At least at the beginning of a game, the low level of your heroes plays a great role in what happens. Never has cowardice played such a major part in a game: "I'm done for!" "Call in the reinforcements!" "You won't get my gold!" "Run! Run! Run! Run! Run! Run!"

Even at their best, your heroes are more like children than the deadly, powerful warriors they may seem to have become; you never order them so much as you coax, urge and funnel your forces into the actions you want. Oh, sure, Rogues may chase any old reward flag, no matter how cheap, but they must also be kept from robbing you blind. Paladins may fight for you against all but the sternest opposition, but you also have to restrain them when their Holy vigour threatens to take them into too great a danger.

The game's personality is one of warmth and relaxation. Other than strictly controlled multi-player tournament settings, it's very difficult to win a game with a rushing strategy, so common to other RTS (Real Time Strategy) games. The swiftest moving enemy will likely be waylaid by ambient perils before besieging your town. And the constant reminders of the game's sense of humour make for a pleasant atmosphere. Be it the names of heroes, the quotes they put forth from time to time, or their differing 'personalities', your men and women will keep you interested in the game.

And those personalities are important. The Wizards come across as your stereotypical doddering old fools. Brilliant enough to master the arcane skills, they're absent-minded enough to continue fire blasting a vampire, even though it has a Magic Mirror up. Traipsing across town for a potion, how often do they turn and run from a rat, far away and engaged already by a henchman? "I'm done for!"

Warriors, the straight-laced defenders of the realm, are just boys with toys. A pack of them may hold off a goblin horde, and when the last invader falls, they turn as one and stroll off together to the blacksmith for a new sword. Got to get the latest in Arms and Armour.

There's a breadth to the game that is appealing to just about anyone. My wife and I enjoy the fact that great numbers of the online community are our age, thirtysomething. And even the teens we meet have a maturity to them you don't often see in the RTS scene. Our adolescent daughter bases her preference for characters on the things that they say. It's as good a reason as any other for choosing sides in Ardania.

So, there may be no eye-busting 3D effects, and no fabulously crafted cut-scenes between scenarios. There are no excessive requirements for your machine, either. There may be a smaller community than the latest First-Person Shooter, but the community we've found ourselves in with Majesty is one we relish, and expect to stay in throughout MajX and Majesty 2. Majesty has proven its quality, in the microcosm of our family. The youngster, the Wargamer and the game player all enjoy it, and the computer's time is precious. Perhaps we should call it Majesty: The Family's Sim

[About the author: My name is Steven, and I'm a thirtysomething, college graduate working in biomedical research. I'm a lifelong wargamer, beginning with classics like Panzerblitz and Diplomacy back in the 70s. In the early 90s I moved to PC gaming, and the list of my favourites is long: Panzer General, Civilization, Dune II, Dark Reign, Fallout and Steel Panthers just begin the parade. I am married (to Majesty-famous Twylah Skye) with one beautiful child. I welcome any and all commentary about whatever I write here.]