KnightShift

This is NOT a game that takes itself seriously in the story department, but it is one in terms of gameplay. The amateur voice acting and goofy humor is endearing thankfully rather than try-hard. It's a bit like a combination of Gauntlet Legend's stoic but bombastic approach to generic fantasy with light parody elements more like Shrek. Units have a ton of personality in animation, design, and lots of situational dialogue. Someone cares about a game when even the generic wolf enemies can be seen merrily rolling on the grass while they wait for you to ambush. There's a ton of modes here to play around with: three campaigns alternating RPG and RTS mechanics, a bit like a stripped down version of Spellforce. You either command one unit and go around collecting better armor, fighting monsters, completing tasks or you have something closer to lite Warcraft with buildings and units you send into skirmishes. When you beat the three campaigns there's a sort of open world RPG scenario for several different RPG classes and maps you can play with the RTS mechanics as well. It's a lot of content for your buck and it works smooth and speedy, for your high fantasy fix.

I love my polish neighbours but not everything that comes from Poland is good. Case in point, KnightShift; an unimpressive game even at the time. The graphics were ugly, the story was generic and the gameplay was a bland mix of RTS or RPG. The best thing the game had to offer was the option of playing it purely as RTS or RPG (avoiding the other mechanic altogether); and when your strongest feature is being able to ignore half the gameplay... that's no good. To give you an idea, here is a list of other strategy games released in 2002-2003, about the same time with this game: Age of Mythology. Rise of Nations, Praetorians, C&C Generals, Medieval: Total War, Battle Realms, Warrior Kings, Warcraft 3, Homeworld 2, Impossible Creatures and that is only naming A FEW. But is the game bad? No, i guess not. Just very generic, and for the asking price you can't really fault it for that.

I've just installed the game and the amazing, original music the release version had is GONE. Completely. Replaced by something completely generic and not beautiful at all. What have you done with music??? One of the game's highlights was its soundtrack, and the RPG music it had. And you've removed it like it's never been there. I thought GOG focuses on game preservation, well, this one didn't preserve the game in its initial state where it was beautiful.

I remember first part of "Polanie" from my childhood. Poor imitation of Warcraft but I love it!