Software:The Cursed Crusade

From HandWiki
Short description: 2011 video game

The Cursed Crusade
Developer(s)Kylotonn
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 3
Xbox 360
Release
  • EU: October 7, 2011
  • NA: October 25, 2011
Genre(s)Action, hack and slash
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

The Cursed Crusade is a 2011 action hack and slash game[1][2] developed by Kylotonn and published by DTP Entertainment for Europe and Atlus USA for North America.

Gameplay

The game is set during the Fourth Crusade and stars two crusaders. The player controls Denz de Bayle. He is joined by a partner, the Spanish mercenary Esteban Noviembre, who can either be controlled by AI or by a second player via online or local co-op. The game allows for various cooperative moves, such as grapple executions, team healing, and level progression.

The player controls their character in a third-person perspective, and can rotate the camera 360 degrees, for a full view of their surroundings. The game takes place in a linear adventure across Europe, including locations such as France, Croatia, Constantinople, and Syria.

The game is focused on fighting against waves of enemies, while the combat system is somewhat similar to both Assassin's Creed and Batman Arkham games[3][4] having some emphasis on blocking and countering. During the game, the player can pick up and wield up to four weapons, including swords, maces, axes, shields, and spears. All of the weapons will break, forcing the player to either conserve their weapons, or find more.

The characters have an ability to use the "Curse", an ability that lets them walk between the divide of Earth and Hell, giving them supernatural powers. The curse will grant the player stronger moves, faster movement speed, and an ability to see collectibles previously hidden. The curse will drain their meter as long as it is in use, and eventually, will kill the player.

Plot

In Syria, 1198, Jean de Bayle, a Crusader and member of the Knights Templar, fights in the Third Crusade to seek redemption for the hereditary "Templar's Curse" which afflicts his bloodline, as well as many other bloodlines with histories of grave sin. While defending the Krak de Chevaliers, fellow Templar Martin d'Algaïs tasks him with escaping the fortress with a prized relic. He does not return home to France, so his treacherous brother lays false claim to his castle, land, title, property, and murdering Jean's wife.

Jean's son Denz is a talented swordsman who has never let fear best him in a fight. He has become a skilled mercenary but also suffers from the curse. Helpless to reclaim his family's land from his uncle, he is pursued by the Angel of Death whose job is to claim the souls of those who bear the curse. While laying siege to Biron Castle under Boniface de Montferrat and his commander Baudouin de Flandre, Denz befriends the older and roguish Spaniard Estaban Noviembre, who is also pursued by Death. Martin is mortally wounded defending the castle. Denz later competes in a tournament to gain passage with the Fourth Crusade, taking Estaban as his squire. They defeat Flandre and his men, getting to join Geoffrey de Villehardouin's army en route to the Holy Land where Denz hopes to find Jean in hopes of taking back their castle together.

In 1202, the army falls under the command of Montferrat and Flandre but is unable to pay for Venician ships for transport to the Holy Land, so the Doge Enrico Donaldo makes a deal with the Crusaders to conquer Zara, a Croatian harbor city. Denz and Estaban disable a massive chain blocking the fleet from attacking the city and breach its walls, allowing the city to be sacked and they defeat Ladislaus, Zara's governor gone mad trying to control his curse. Montferrat then finds what he was looking for: a piece of the True Cross; Drenz and Estaban then realize that Montferrat does not seek redemption for his soul via this crusade, but rather is using it as a cover to hunt for relics towards an unknown goal.

In 1204 the Crusaders agree to help Alexius IV retake Constantinople from his uncle Alexius III and rescue his father, the Emperor Issac II, in exchange for paying the Venetians. During the siege, Denz and Estaban encounter Tatikios Lente, the powerful Byzantine captain of the guard. Alexius III flees and the city is retaken, but months later a coup led by Murzuphle, murdering Alexius and Issac, leads the Crusaders to storm the city again and sack it. Murzuphle is defeated but Denz spares him for revealing that two holy artifacts remained in the city: the Crown of Thorns (or rather its petrified thorns set in a crucifix) and the Spear of Longinus. The two turn against Montferrat and ally with Lentes and Princess Theodora, but Montferrat manages to take both relics and uses them to summon several massive demons from Hell. His plan is revealed to use the relics to leverage the forces of Hell in a brutal conquest of the world. Lentes and the princess are killed and Montferrat leaves for the Holy Land to hunt down Jean.

Denz and Estaban pursue Montferrat to Syria and the antiquated Krak de Chevalier, which is full of undead soldiers summoned via portals to Hell, which they are forced to purify and close. There they find the Shroud of Turin, the last relic which had been entrusted to Jean, with a message from Jean. Rather than use the relic to redeem their souls, Denz and Estaban depart for Cairo, Egypt, following Jean's instructions, but not before seeing "hell draws near" written on the Krak's walls with fire.

Weeks later in Cairo, Jean is cornered by Montferrat, who can now maintain his enhanced cursed form permanently, and Jean readies himself for a fight.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PCPS3Xbox 360
4Players47%[8]47%[8]47%[8]
DestructoidN/AN/A3.5/10[3]
EurogamerN/A4/10[2]N/A
FamitsuN/A26/40[10]N/A
Game InformerN/AN/A3/10[11]
GameProN/AStarStar[12]StarStar[12]
GameSpotN/A3/10[1]3/10[1]
GameStar58%[13]N/AN/A
IGNN/A4/10[14]4/10[14]
OXM (US)N/AN/A5.5/10[15]
PSMN/A3/10[16]N/A
The Digital FixN/AN/A3/10[17]
MetroN/AN/A2/10[18]
Aggregate score
Metacritic55/100[5]45/100[6]39/100[7]

The PC version received "mixed" reviews, while the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions received "unfavorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[5][6][7] Game Informer criticized the Xbox 360 version's slower combat and its "simple boss fights, brain-dead puzzles, and infrequent set pieces."[11] GameSpot defined the game as a "repetitive hack-and-slash that is marred by clumsy combat, poor dialogue, and some serious technical issues."[1] In Japan, where the PlayStation version was ported and published by Ubisoft on February 9, 2012, Famitsu gave it a score of one six, one seven, one six, and one seven for a total of 26 out of 40.[10]

The Digital Fix gave the Xbox 360 version a score of three out of ten, saying that the game was "being released at a slightly budget price, but the truth is that even at a price approaching zero it would not be a particularly attractive purchase. In a world where the arcade game is no longer in limbo but positively exploding with true bastions of the indie cause, at much cheaper prices, a full price game being a few notes cheaper than a AAA title is no longer a selling point."[17] Metro gave the same Xbox 360 version a score of two out of ten, calling it an "Embarrassingly poor medieval brawler that seems completely oblivious to its own absurdity and incompetence."[18] The A.V. Club gave the same console version a D−, calling it "A game with few redeeming qualities, a dull, pretentious hack-and-slash that fails in almost every way."[9]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Raze, Ashton (October 13, 2011). "The Cursed Crusade Review (PS3, X360)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-cursed-crusade/1900-6339615/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Whitehead, Dan (October 7, 2011). "The Cursed Crusade (PlayStation 3)". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/the-cursed-crusade-review. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sterling, James Stephanie (October 25, 2011). "Review: The Cursed Crusade (X360)". Gamurs. https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-the-cursed-crusade/. 
  4. ↑ Hargreaves, Jim (October 19, 2011). "Review: The Cursed Crusade". MCA. https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2011/10/19/review-the-cursed-crusade/. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "The Cursed Crusade for PC Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-cursed-crusade/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "The Cursed Crusade for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-cursed-crusade/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "The Cursed Crusade for Xbox 360 Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-cursed-crusade/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Schmädig, Benjamin (September 29, 2011). "Test: The Cursed Crusade" (in de). 4Players GmbH. https://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/Allgemein/Test/25258/73097/0/The_Cursed_Crusade.html. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Nelson, Samantha (October 31, 2011). "The Cursed Crusade (X360)". G/O Media. https://www.avclub.com/the-cursed-crusade-1798228197. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Romano, Sal (January 31, 2012). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1209". https://www.gematsu.com/2012/01/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1209. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Kollar, Phil (October 26, 2011). "The Crused Crusade Review (X360)". Game Informer (GameStop). https://www.gameinformer.com/games/the_cursed_crusade/b/xbox360/archive/2011/10/26/cursed-crusade-review-what-a-horrible-night-to-have-a-crusade.aspx. Retrieved August 7, 2021. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Haske, Steve (October 25, 2011). "Review: The Cursed Crusade (360/PS3)". GamePro (GamePro Media). http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/224129/review-the-cursed-crusade-360-ps3/. Retrieved February 14, 2022. 
  13. ↑ Stich, Kevin (September 26, 2011). "The Cursed Crusade im Test - Geschlaucht durch Levels (PC)" (in de). Webedia. https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/the_cursed_crusade,2561015.html. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 MacDonald, Keza (October 12, 2011). "The Cursed Crusade Review (PS3, Xbox 360)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/10/12/the-cursed-crusade-review. 
  15. ↑ Reyes, Francesca (October 26, 2011). "The Cursed Crusade review". Official Xbox Magazine (Future US). http://www.oxmonline.com/cursed-crusade-review. Retrieved February 14, 2022. 
  16. ↑ "Review: The Cursed Crusade". PlayStation: The Official Magazine (Future plc) (53): 83. Christmas 2011. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Harwood, Edd (October 17, 2011). "The Cursed Crusade Review (X360)". NetworkN. https://www.thedigitalfix.com/gaming/content/389/the-cursed-crusade/. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Hargreaves, Roger (October 7, 2011). "The Cursed Crusade review – bad luck charm (X360)". Metro (DMG Media). https://metro.co.uk/2011/10/07/the-cursed-crusade-review-bad-luck-charm-177664/. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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