At first glance, "Battlehorn" seems like a very promising game. There are castles, archers and cavalry as well as an invading army of the undead. Then you play the game and see otherwise.
The premise is great. You are a hero defending the castle against enemy invasions. You have been chosen because you have already proven yourself in battle (as you are told in the opening). The invading enemies are hordes of the undead including zombies and vampires. This idea is great with the month of October just days away.
The game is strategy based. You have a certain amount of gold to build your army as your enemies approach. You will need to use certain soldiers for certain enemies. Strategically placing your men where they can do the most damage is very crucial.
The gameplay is stiff. Controlling your army seems somewhat difficult and at first it is just confusing. Even once you get the hang of the controls the gameplay will be one note and stagnant.
It is difficult from the beginning to keep your army alive. It seems easier than anything for you to be overrun quickly, even with your upgrades in weapons and armor.
The game was scored by Kevin MacLeod. The music is one of the most enjoyable parts. It fits well with the idea and adds a level that would be otherwise lacking.
The graphics are decent, though much too small to be fully enjoyed on an aesthetic level. The most interesting part are the backgrounds. They are very much like the old 2-D games.
There are single and multiplayer modes. Sticking with the multiplayer is the way to go. Conquering and destroying a friend's castle is much more fun.
