Bellfortis is a strategy game similar to Crusader Kings, this time developed by Rake in Grass, which they were kind enough to send my way. I always like to express my appreciation at the beginning as a disclosure of sorts.
The game itself takes place on a map of Europe, as you would expect. The map itself looks nice, and it is quite easy to navigate with a mouse. All the information you need is easy to find. Little pictures show you mountains or fields, if you are better off focusing on farming or production in a particular province, for example. A quick glance will let you know how happy your people are, and if you lower or raise taxes, you will see the people’s reactions fast and in real time.
Diplomacy is also done quickly and at the click of a button, with each option quickly laid out for you, and when this fails and war is inevitable, as it often is, battles break down, with you being able to control your troops in real time. Set your archers behind your foot soldiers. Watch as your horsemen slam into your enemy, or if you don’t feel like it, let the computer just do the battle quickly. Wars can be fast and furious or slow and methodical if you want.
The downside, if you can call it that, is that many of the features we have grown accustomed to over the years are missing from Bellfortis. While it is possible to get married, don’t expect deep friendships amongst warlords or to have children. If you happen to remember the old NES game Defender of the Crown, it is quite similar to that in many ways. The ruler you get at the start is just your ruler. When you get married, that will be your wife. The game trades in many advanced this for a streamlined and simplistic approach, even research is broken down into a few tech trees that you research.
I say all this as a positive. The game costs a very reasonable $20 and is worth the money. You can learn it fast, unlike most games in the genre, and it doesn’t require a huge time sink to play, but that doesn’t make it easy either; it can be as hard as any other game. The game is a solid 8/10. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.
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