Now it's already 28 May 1998, and it has been a couple of days since Battle Realms was released. In that short span of time, the game had taken RTS fans and PC gamers by storm. Many players went in expecting another solid entry in ZAGE's already powerful RTS lineup, but what they encountered completely exceeded expectations. Despite sharing the RTS foundation, Battle Realms played very differently compared to other major ZAGE titles such as Warcraft, StarCraft, Command & Conquer, or Age of Empires. In fact, it quickly became clear that Battle Realms wasn't merely competing in the same space — it was operating in a league of its own.
Fans soon began discussing how ZAGE's RTS catalog seemed to follow clear thematic identities. Warcraft leaned heavily into Western fantasy, filled with elves, orcs, and mages. StarCraft focused on large-scale galactic warfare, spaceships, and alien races. Command & Conquer embraced futuristic sci‑fi technology and modern military conflict, while Age of Empires grounded itself in historical realism and traditional warfare. All of these were excellent in their own right. Battle Realms, however, introduced something entirely different — an Eastern fantasy setting inspired by samurai, ninja, shamans, and ancient martial traditions. That distinct cultural identity immediately made the game stand out, offering players a fresh perspective that no other RTS at the time truly delivered.
The gameplay itself is where Battle Realms truly shines. Players are required to manage basic resources such as water and rice, which are gathered by peasants. These peasants are the backbone of the entire economy, as they are responsible not only for resource collection but also for constructing various buildings needed for expansion and long‑term strategy. Without a steady flow of water and rice, growth quickly stalls, forcing players to carefully balance economy and military needs.
Once enough buildings are completed and the player has a healthy number of peasants, those same peasants can be trained into combat units. What makes this system unique is that units are not produced directly from buildings. Instead, peasants physically enter specific structures to transform into soldiers, and the available options depend on the clan being played. For example, when playing the Dragon Clan — a faction rooted in traditional samurai culture — peasants can be trained into three different first‑tier units. If a peasant enters the Dojo, they become a Spearman. If they are sent into the Target Range, they emerge as Archers. Meanwhile, peasants placed into the Alchemist Hut are transformed into Chemists, units that specialize in explosive and unconventional attacks. This system makes every peasant valuable and turns unit production into a strategic decision rather than a simple click.
Once a combat unit has reached its first tier, it can be further upgraded by entering a different building than the one it originally came from. This layered upgrade system adds even more depth to the gameplay, as players must carefully plan unit progression rather than relying on a single production path. For example, if a Spearman enters the Target Range, they are upgraded into a Dragon Warrior — an advanced frontline fighter capable of dealing heavy damage and holding the line against stronger enemies.
If that same Spearman is instead sent into the Alchemist Hut, they will transform into a Kabuki Warrior, a unique unit that specializes in deception and illusion-based techniques. Kabuki Warriors can stun and confuse enemies, disrupting formations and creating openings during battle. Meanwhile, Archers who enter the Alchemist Hut evolve into Powder Keg Cannoneers, units that wield heavy cannons and explosive attacks, excelling at area damage and breaking tightly packed enemy groups.
The progression does not stop there. Advanced units such as Dragon Warriors can be sent into the Alchemist Hut once again to reach the final tier, becoming Samurai. Samurai are elite Tier 3 soldiers who boast exceptional defense, powerful offense, and access to special abilities. One of their most iconic traits is their final act in battle — when a Samurai falls, they commit Seppuku, a dramatic last stand that temporarily increases the defense and offense of nearby allied units, turning even defeat into a strategic advantage. This system makes unit upgrades feel meaningful, thematic, and deeply tied to the game's Eastern philosophy.
But this doesn't mean that every unit needs to reach Tier 3. Tier 3 units require a significant amount of time and resources, making them powerful but costly investments. Because of this, balance becomes absolutely crucial. Skilled players must carefully judge when it is worth committing to elite units and when it is better to rely on a well‑rounded army of lower‑tier soldiers. Proper unit composition often matters more than raw power, especially before launching an attack on an enemy base or setting up a solid defensive formation. Overcommitting to Tier 3 units too early can leave a player vulnerable, while smart timing and efficient composition can turn even modest forces into a decisive advantage.
There are also special units that do not need to go through the full three-stage training process. These units are created through unique buildings that offer entirely different roles compared to standard troop progression. For the Dragon Clan, this building is known as the "Royal Academy." When a Peasant enters the Royal Academy, they are transformed directly into a Guardian — a powerful frontline unit that boasts greater strength, durability, and combat presence than a Spearman or any other Tier 1 warrior. However, this power comes with a trade-off, as Guardians cannot be upgraded further, making them strong but static investments.
Thre also Bathouse building that can summon Geisha, who serve as the primary healer units for the Dragon Clan. Geisha are invaluable in prolonged battles, providing healing and support that can sustain armies far beyond what raw damage dealers could manage alone. Unlike Guardians, Geisha do have an upgrade path. When sent into the Royal Academy, they can be promoted into Battle Maidens — elite support-combat hybrids who excel in close-quarters fighting while also possessing high resistance to magic attacks. This dual role makes Battle Maidens especially effective against spell-heavy enemies, adding another layer of strategic depth to unit composition and battlefield planning.
These special units further reinforce Battle Realms' philosophy: not every powerful unit must follow the same upgrade ladder, and sometimes flexibility and role specialization are more important than pure progression.
In Dragon Clan specifics, units can also make use of Stable-based melee mechanics. Core melee units such as Samurai and Dragon Warriors are capable of riding horses once a Stable building is constructed. Peasants must first tame horses in wilds then put it within the Stable, after which mounted units become available. When mounted, these units receive noticeable increases to both health and attack power, greatly enhancing their battlefield presence.
Samurai benefit the most from this system. While mounted, they gain access to ranged attacks using bows, allowing them to harass enemies before closing in for melee combat. This flexibility makes mounted Samurai a force to be reckoned with, capable of both hit-and-run tactics and sustained frontline pressure. However, this power comes with a risk. If a horse is killed on the battlefield, the rider is violently dismounted and becomes stunned for a short period, leaving them vulnerable to follow-up attacks. This mechanic adds another layer of tactical decision-making, as players must choose carefully when to commit their mounted units to combat.
After that, the game introduces the Hero system, which further separates Battle Realms from traditional RTS design. Heroes in Battle Realms are not recruited using normal resources like water or rice. Instead, they require a special resource known as Yin and Yang. These resources are generated naturally over time, but the process can be significantly accelerated through active play. The farther players explore the map and the more enemies their units engage and defeat, the faster the Yin and Yang gauges fill. This mechanic subtly encourages aggressive scouting, map control, and constant engagement rather than passive turtling.
Yin and Yang are also directly tied to clan identity. Yin is affiliated with the Dragon and Wolf clans, while Yang is associated with the Serpent and Lotus clans. Some heroes require only a small amount of Yin or Yang, while others demand a massive investment, reflecting their immense power and influence on the battlefield. These high-cost heroes are often capable of completely shifting the flow of a match, turning the tide during critical moments and forcing opponents to rethink their strategies.
Despite these unique systems, Battle Realms still respects the fundamental principles of the RTS genre. Map awareness, precise timing, and careful resource management remain essential for success. Players who fail to scout properly, misjudge engagements, or mismanage their economy will quickly be punished, no matter how powerful their heroes are. This balance between innovation and classic RTS fundamentals is what makes Battle Realms both refreshing and deeply rewarding to master.
Another aspect that makes this game truly stand out is its story mode. The campaign in Battle Realms is notably challenging, even for experienced RTS players. Players are introduced to the main character, Kenji Oja, who is portrayed as an extremely powerful warrior. However, despite Kenji's strength, the campaign deliberately limits the player's available resources. This design choice prevents the story mode from becoming trivial and forces players to rely on strategy rather than brute force.
In certain chapters, players must fight under heavy restrictions. For example, in Chapter 2, Kenji's forces are only capable of producing Dragon Warriors at most. The story explains that Kenji and his allies are trapped deep within the forest, desperately fending off relentless Serpent Clan attacks. With limited unit options and constrained resources, players must carefully manage timing, positioning, and unit preservation. Kenji himself must survive at all costs, as losing him often means instant failure.
The challenge is further amplified by the enemy. The Serpent Clan is no joke — they are aggressive, well-equipped, and even deploy Ronin, their Tier 3 units, early in the campaign. Facing such elite enemies with limited tools forces players to think creatively, use terrain to their advantage, and play intelligently. Every mistake is punished, making the story mode feel tense, rewarding, and deeply engaging rather than a simple narrative walkthrough.
The main story is also surprisingly strong, offering meaningful narrative depth alongside its gameplay. It can branch into either the "Dragon" or "Serpent" path, and this branching is tied closely to moral choices made by the player. When choosing the Dragon path, players are encouraged to act with honor and mercy, shaping Kenji into a leader who values restraint, loyalty, and moral responsibility. In contrast, the Serpent path pushes Kenji toward becoming colder, more ruthless, and highly efficient, prioritizing results over compassion.
While these choices significantly affect the tone of the story, character interactions, and narrative outcomes, they do not alter the core gameplay units themselves. Kenji and the player will still primarily command Dragon Clan units, ensuring balance and consistency in gameplay. Instead, the branching paths exist to deepen immersion, giving players a sense that their decisions matter beyond simple victory or defeat.
In addition to Kenji's storyline, there is also a separate campaign focusing on the Wolf Clan. In this story, players take control of Grayback as the main character, experiencing a very different perspective. The Wolf Clan narrative centers on survival, unity, and strength through hardship, detailing how Grayback slowly unifies the fractured Wolf Clan. This storyline feels distinct in tone and pacing compared to Kenji's journey, offering players a broader view of the Battle Realms world and reinforcing its rich, multi-faceted storytelling.
Overall, the battlefield experience offers something truly unique that other RTS games cannot replicate. Players have been genuinely delighted by its systems and depth, and as a result, Battle Realms has firmly established itself as one of the standout titles in ZAGE's game library.
To be continue
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