Warlords Review (PS3)

Warlords is a modern remake of the 1980’s ATARI classic of the same name. Most HD rebirths simply recreate a classic’s visuals, tighten controls, and generally spray a thick layer of polish over everything, while retaining the classic formula. Warlords (PSN) goes beyond this trend, by incorporating several new mechanics that complicate, yet enhance the classic gameplay.

The original Warlords plays like a 4 player, competitive version of Breakout, where you’re trying to destroy your opponent’s castles, while protecting your own pixelated kingdom from up to 5 balls dragon discharged, fireballs ricocheting around the battlefield at a given time. You can hold onto and charge up a fireball, to unleash additional damage toward your (preoccupied if you’re smart) opponents. Your castle’s constructional integrity slowly erodes away for the duration of charge time.

So what does the PlayStation Network’s recreation add to this already unique take on brick breaking? A simplistic real time strategy game, right in the heart of the battlefield. I’ll abstain from going too far into depth here (for my own sanity), but essentially, through the manipulation of your henchman (called Snoots), you’re able to fight for different power ups, heal your fortress, or attack your opponents – all while deflecting up to 5 fireballs mind you. Oh, did I mention, there’s a giant black knight that will spawn every once in a while, and start wailing on your walls? Ya, keep an eye out for him.

Do all of these additions actually help the game? Originally, I might of argued against them; when I was first thrown into Warlords‘ color-coded chaos, it was quite off-putting. But after a few rounds, I started to realize that this RTS addition is an innovative, original way to obtain power-ups. I quickly started to appreciate Warlords for granting me control, and indirect influence over what’s happening, while simultaneously directly fending for myself via the core paddle gameplay.

Visually, Warlords is popping with charm. The Snoots are uniquely awkward, and humorously prone to sudden explosive deaths, and the actual Warlords that you’re implied to be filling the role of, are all themed around a specific color and element, everything under their control (Snoots, charged fireballs, etc) are visually coded based on this theme or element. This character-color association makes gameplay a little easier to keep track of. I did, however, notice a few instances where I briefly lost track of my lead Snoot, because the black knight had sword swiped him away from where I had last placed him. The game isn’t particularly cinematic, or story centered; but there’s some nice albeit low budget cutscenes in the form of victory animations, and Warlords’ tutorial mode that bring a surprising amount of character to Warlords, even if some of the up close animation is noticeably low textured.