2000 · Bits Studios · Real-time strategy · Strategy

Warlocked

Nintendo exclusive

Play as either Humans or Beasts as you plot battle strategies. Harvest resources and construct buildings, then raise an army and order your troops into battle. Search for secret maps and train Dragons to fight on your behalf. With a powerful army at your command, you'll be ready to besiege castles, conquer enemy hordes and drive your foe from the land.

Released: 24 July 2000
Platforms: Game Boy Color
Genres: Real-time strategy Strategy
Developers: Bits Studios
Publishers: Nintendo
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Fantasy
Country: United Kingdom
Age ratings: ESRB E
Composers: Jeroen Tel

About

Warlocked is a real-time strategy video game developed by Bits Studios and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Color. It was solely released in North America on July 24, 2000. Choosing between human and beast factions, the player plays through twelve scenarios from each faction, gathering resources, building fortresses, and managing troops to defeat the opposing force.

The music for Warlocked was composed by Jeroen Tel. Critical reception towards the game was positive, with some critics noting its status as the only real-time strategy game for the handheld. It received IGN's "Best Game Boy Strategy" award in 2000. Despite the accolades, sales were low. A sequel was planned for the Game Boy Advance titled Wizards but it was cancelled.

Keywords

wizards
magic
war
multiple endings
good vs evil
spider
bow and arrow
goblins
resource gathering
real-time combat
destructible environment
commerce

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Warlocked is a real-time strategy game. Split between two campaigns based on the human and beast factions, the player goes through their campaign to defeat the enemy. There are 24 missions, 12 for both campaigns. Played in an overhead perspective, locations range from forests to tundras.

A fog of war covers the field, which can be revealed after sending out soldiers to their positions. Different soldiers such as archers and wizards can be used for both factions. Wizards unique for each side range from giving opposing soldiers the plague or turning them to chickens. Multiplayer can be played between two people with Game Boy Colors and the Game Link Cable.

Development

Warlocked was developed by British company Bits Studios and published by Nintendo. Beginning development in early 1999, the game was programmed by Steven Clark, with Martin Wheeler being the graphics artist and game designer. The music was composed by Jeroen Tel. The game was showcased by Nintendo at the Kimpton Sir Francis Drake Hotel for games journalists to play. It was released on the Game Boy Color exclusively in the United States on July 24, 2000.

Reception

Warlocked received an aggregate score of 86% on GameRankings. Critics compared the game to the Warcraft and Command & Conquer franchises. Justin Whirledge of the Daily Radar noted that it was the only real-time strategy game for the Game Boy Color, calling it a "treat" and praising the game's depth and multiplayer options. He also called it so simple to pick up that it would even appeal to casual gamers.

Nintendojo's Schuyler Lystad considered it the best game he ever played on the system, giving the game a perfect score. A reviewer for Nintendo Power thought it was a great introduction for people to the real-time strategy genre.

Legacy

In spite of the game's low sales, Bits Studios attempted to make a sequel to the game, titled Wizards. It was in development for the Game Boy Advance and was to feature four-player multiplayer and gaming modes such as capture the flag. Originally slated for release in 2003, it was cancelled due to the lack of a publisher, despite screenshots of the sequel being shown. The studio continued to make unrelated games for other consoles, such as Die Hard: Vendetta and Constantine for the PS2 and Xbox, respectively, as well as Rogue Ops. Nevertheless, the lukewarm reception of these games caused the studio's parent company to sell them off in 2008.