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Medieval Dynasty

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Medieval Dynasty
Developer(s)Render Cube
Publisher(s)Toplitz Productions
SeriesDynasty games
EngineUnreal Engine 4[1]
Platform(s)Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S
ReleaseEarly Access (Windows): 17 September 2020

Windows: 23 September 2021

PS 5, Xbox X|S: 6 October 2022
Genre(s)Action, Adventure, Indie, RPG, Simulation, Survival

Medieval Dynasty is a survival-strategy role-playing game developed by Render Cube and published by Toplitz Productions in 2021.[2] The game is part of the publisher's Dynasty series, where players, from the perspective of a character, establish a new dynasty within a thematic setting—in this case, from the viewpoint of common people in the Middle Ages.[2]

The game was first released in Early Access on Steam in September 2020, with the full version following a year later. In the subsequent year, the game was released for PlayStation and Xbox.[3] A major update, which added a new map and a co-op mode for up to four players, was made available for PC players on December 7, 2023.[4] Console players received the same update on June 27, 2024.[5]

Plot

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The Valley

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In a fictional medieval region surrounded by high mountain ranges, the player takes on the role of young Racimir, who starts near the village of Gostovia after fleeing from war in search of his uncle. However, upon arrival, the local castellan, Uniegost, informs him that his uncle has already passed away.[6] Because his uncle was held in high regard in the area, Uniegost grants Racimir permission to settle outside the village and establish his own settlement. The player's task is to build this village, recruit residents, and ensure the supply of resources and production.

The Oxbow

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As a prisoner and outlaw in a convoy, the player character, initially not named, narrowly survives a bandit attack on the camp at night.[7] Apparently unconscious for some time, they awaken in the fictional village of Piastovia, in the house of the local healer. The doctor helps the player recover and asks about their background, though it quickly becomes clear that he already knows who they are. Since the area is in desperate need of housing, jobs, and skilled builders, the village lord gives the player a chance to rehabilitate by complying with his orders: founding a new village and paying taxes.[8]

Gameplay

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The player character is controlled from a first-person perspective, although since December 2021, switching to a third-person view is also possible.[9] Basic resources must be gathered or obtained using tools that can be crafted, found, or purchased.[10] For food, animals must be hunted, and/or plants gathered. As the player progresses, better materials become available, leading to more efficient and durable tools and weapons. Recruited villagers need basic provisions like housing and food. Through a detailed menu, the player assigns jobs to villagers and decides which materials they should produce. Each villager has their own personality and varying skills, so careful planning is required to manage resources efficiently.[11]

The game simulates seasons, each of which affects the environment and the player, such as temperature changes and the availability of seasonal plants.[12]

Several questlines and regular side quests introduce the player to basic game mechanics. Successfully completing quests increases "Dynasty Reputation," allowing more buildings to be constructed and more villagers to be recruited.[13] However, many game elements must be discovered independently, following a "learning by doing" principle, where players gain experience in various tasks and can unlock skill bonuses through ability points.[14]

A key aspect of the Dynasty series is ensuring not just the survival of the player's lifetime but also the continuation of the family line through an heir.[15] Players can interact with female villagers (or male villagers if playing as a female character on the Oxbow map) and gain, or lose affection points, depending on the character's personality, through flirting options and gifts.[16] Once enough affection is earned, marriage and spending a night together become options. If a child is conceived, and the heir grows old enough, the player has the option to continue the game from the heir's perspective.

Development

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The developers began by looking at other games with similar content or techniques for inspiration in creating Medieval Dynasty. Producer Marcin Warszawski specifically cites Kingdom Come: Deliverance as an influence for the game's graphical design and historical setting, and games like Stronghold and The Forest for their city-building and survival elements.[17]

Before the game entered Early Access, a comprehensive tutorial guided by quests was already in place to gradually unlock and explain game mechanics. However, after the release of a gameplay video,[18] player feedback and internal discussions about available resources led to a complete overhaul of the game's start. The goal was to avoid limiting the open-world aspect and focus more on crafting the game world.[17] Early Access was an important phase in the development process, with a strong emphasis on community feedback and its implementation.[19]

On April 21, 2022, the developers announced the addition of a co-op mode,[20] which was released on December 7, 2023 (for PC)[21] and June 27, 2024 (for consoles).[5] This fulfilled one of the most requested features. The co-op mode is only available on a newly added map, which also introduced the option to customize the appearance of the player character, including the choice to play as a female character.[21]

Reception

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Metacritic calculated an aggregate score of 73 out of 100 for the PC version of Medieval Dynasty.

The game was praised for its appealing graphical design, successful immersion, the freedom it offers in gameplay and building, and the overall content depth. However, reviewers frequently criticized[22][23] the storyline for being somewhat shallow, the quests for lacking depth and variety, and the fact that many of the game's mechanics and options are poorly explained,[24][25] making it especially difficult for newcomers to the genre to get started.[26][27]

Testers of the console versions specifically criticized the UI design and menu navigation. Gareth Brierley mentioned that, although it is a game for the Xbox Series X, interactions with NPCs gave off "old-school Skyrim vibes."[26][28]

References

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  1. ^ "Making it in Unreal: build a village from scratch in Medieval Dynasty". PCGamesN. 7 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Medieval Dynasty on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  3. ^ "Medieval Dynasty: Now available on consoles". Toplitz Productions GmbH. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  4. ^ "Medieval Dynasty New Co-Op Mode and Map Arrives December 7th on STEAM". Games Press. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  5. ^ a b Zerbinatto, Murillo (2024-06-13). "Medieval Dynasty Update Adding Major New Features on June 27". gamerant.com. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  6. ^ Zalace, Jacqueline (2021-11-02). "A Guide To Chapter Quests In Medieval Dynasty". TheGamer. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  7. ^ Render Cube (2024-06-27). Discover Your Origin - Game Intro. Retrieved 2024-11-21 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ "Steam Community :: Guide :: OXBOW: EASY GUIDE + MAPS". steamcommunity.com. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  9. ^ "Medieval Dynasty - Third Person View – The first big Roadmap update! - Steam News". store.steampowered.com. 2021-12-16. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  10. ^ "Medieval Dynasty". Gaming Nexus. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  11. ^ "Medieval Dynasty review: More of a life simulator than an adventure". Dexerto. 2022-10-11. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  12. ^ gurugameguides (2024-06-14). "The Ultimate Guide to Planting Crops in Medieval Dynasty: Timing is Everything". Guru Game Guides. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  13. ^ "Medieval Dynasty: Reputation and approval". Gamepressure.com. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  14. ^ Hospodar, Mark (2021-10-22). "13 Best Skills And Talents In Medieval Dynasty". Game Rant. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  15. ^ "Family, Reputation and Romance in Medieval Dynasty: How to Marry and Have an Heir". VGTimes (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  16. ^ Zalace, Jacqueline (2021-10-11). "How To Get Married In Medieval Dynasty". TheGamer. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  17. ^ a b Brown, Joey (2024-03-31). "Interview: Medieval Dynasty Devs Talk Survival Gameplay, Major Updates, and Co-Op". Game Rant. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  18. ^ Medieval Dynasty: 8 Minutes of Alpha Gameplay - IGN. 2020-03-21. Retrieved 2024-09-18 – via www.ign.com.
  19. ^ Toplitz Productions (2020-03-24). Medieval Dynasty -- First Looks. Retrieved 2024-09-18 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ "Medieval Dynasty - The mysterious message gets revealed! - Steam News". store.steampowered.com. 2022-04-21. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  21. ^ a b "Medieval Dynasty - Medieval Dynasty co-op available now! - Steam News". store.steampowered.com. 2023-12-07. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  22. ^ Cano, Luis (2022-10-26). "Medieval Dynasty Review: Survival in the Flesh (PS5)". KeenGamer. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  23. ^ "Medieval Dynasty im Test: Frustrierender Marathonlauf im Mittelalter". PC Games (in German). 2021-10-15. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  24. ^ Coles, Jason (2021-09-27). "Medieval Dynasty review". pcgamer. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  25. ^ Linken, André (2021-12-01). "Medieval Dynasty (Simulation) - Das große Mittelalter-Allerlei". 4P.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  26. ^ a b "Review: Medieval Dynasty". Movies Games and Tech. 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  27. ^ Darling, Edward (2021-09-26). "Medieval Dynasty Review". WellPlayed. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  28. ^ Brierley, Gareth (2022-10-19). "Medieval Dynasty Review". TheXboxHub. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
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