Gaming Target - Game Boy: Defender of the Crown

Written by Matt Swider on December 04, 2002

Review: ...Still defending its crown from the eighties!

When Cinemaware initially released Defender of the Crown during the late eighties, computer and early console owners developed an addiction to its strategy inspired gameplay. The video game took on the earliest electronic form of turn-based battling that is compared best to the classic board game Risk. Now, Defender of the Crown comes out of retirement and its roots restored with a port of the classic game appearing on Game Boy Advance. The newly released game remains untouched and still retains the classic value of when it was first released. It's still simple, but addictive. Though its lasting appeal will be short lived for some unwilling newcomers out there, it works as an excellent diversion from an untamed Game Boy Advance lineup we've been dealing with.

Like so many years ago, Defender of the Crown focuses on the same medieval warfare and quest for the English crown. It so happens that the King of England has died and the throne has become vacant. As the leader of a small portion of English territory, you must rise up against five other lords and defend your right to the crown. With civil war brewing throughout England, the first step is to amass a considerable amount of soldiers to produce an army. However, it's not so easy since the game only starts players off with about a dozen pieces of treasure and taxes earn an average of two additional pieces of gold per round. It's easily spent, but fear not. The intake will occasionally increase over time and sometimes become doubled when new land is obtained.

A preferred alternative to earning money from taxes would be to simply go and raid another castle. Defender of the Crown switches from its 2D map overhead and throws players into a side scrolling swordplay adventure. After a couple of rooms, the challenge is cleared and the treasure is yours to keep. In some cases, a plea to save someone's damsel in distress is sent, and waiting at the end is your future wife. Ruling the kingdom with her around is always positive for a ruler's status and can even boost your reputation. Along the way, players are also able to seek advice from Robin Hood during each round as part the game's options. This will in turn come in handy, especially during the more intense portions of the game.

Once a suitable army consisting of soldiers, fierce knights, and a barrage of catapults is assembled, players can wage war on their neighbors. If a castle stands in the way, it will take at least one catapult to knock any wall down. After that, the game shifts into a battle menu where it's a simple struggle of tapping the A button until victory is claimed. If your position is held during this time, the land becomes yours and taxes will then increase. Losing means fighting to the death, and going home with nothing.

Like the alternative to earning treasure, Defender of the Crown makes it possible to avoid battles and still acquire additional factions of land. Whether attending a tournament or holding one for a mere five pieces of gold, players can joust for either fame or land. Upon charging at each other with a lance in hand, one opponent will end up dropping to the ground. The battle then ensues with a mace bout that spells the end for one and victory for another. Betting land against an opponent can be risky since there's much more at stake, but is also quite rewarding if players are skilled enough for the challenge.