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Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom

EMAIL PRINT xbox360

6.5 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 44 critic reviews
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Based on 30 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Microsoft

Developer: Blueside

Genre(s): Action, Role-Playing Game

Players: 4

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: January 8, 2008

Summary

Departing from Action RTS formula of the previous Kingdom Under Fire series, Circle of Doom makes full use of the Xbox 360's power to present adrenaline-pumping action with stylish combat maneuvers and eye-popping effects. Players explore randomly generated vast dungeons and battle monsters swarming the screen in thousands and attacking from all directions along the floors, walls, and ceilings of the dungeons. As the game progresses, the heroes will find increasingly devastating and spectacular ways to defeat massive enemy forces in the forms of new abilities and weapons, or even create their own arsenal by combining the existing ones. Taking maximum advantage of the Xbox 360 online features, single-player and multiplayer modes are merged seamlessly. Players may choose to play alone, or better yet, recruit 4-player parties on the way and continue their quest as a team via Xbox Live. Each player can take their single-player characters to the co-op mode or create a new character with useful skills to compliment each other. They can even trade their own custom-crafted items with other party members. [Blueside]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Play Magazine

There's a zoom/lock-on for ranged attacks; combos are strictly a one-button affair and you've never had this much fun tinkering with weapons, spells, and items--I guarantee it. [Jan 2008, p.52]

Official Xbox Magazine

Though the combat grows repetitive, the game manages to look lovely while you slap around your foes. If you’re a fan of large-scale battle games à la Dynasty Warriors but prefer to play solely as one character, Circle of Doom makes for a great after-holiday snack.

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Pelit (Finland)

Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom is a simple, straight-forward fantasy themed action-RPG. That can be a both good and a bad thing, depending what you're looking for. It's nonetheless very pretty. [Mar 2008]

Cheat Code Central

If you're a fan of the tried-and-true action-RPG formula, then this one won't disappoint. However, if you've never understood the satisfaction of slogging through demon-filled dungeons or, more importantly, never stayed up until the sun creeps through the cracks of your drawn blinds in hopes of seeing "Level Up" pop-up on the screen just one more time, then this may not be your cup of mead.

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Planet Xbox 360

Unfortunately the single player campaign is pretty boring/repetitive once and other than leveling up your character there is no major reason to play the game again.

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GamingExcellence

Simple controls, linear gameplay, a basic (yet confusing storyline) equates to an experience that may please the casual hack and slash gamer.

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Gamer 2.0

Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom is still a great game in the classic series, but die-hard fans might find the lack of strategy in favor of all-out slashing too much of a change to enjoy.

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Xbox360Achievements

The story is vapid and devoid of any substance and what little there is is not explained well or fleshed out.

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NZGamer

It’s a mediocre Action/RPG hack n’ slash that looks nice on the surface but doesn’t stand up to too much scrutiny.

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PALGN

If you can get some friends together, there's some bashtastic fun to be had with Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom. That is, more than you would have on your own.

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Maxi Consolas (Portugal)

It follows the same action/ beat’em up mechanics that we can find on all of the Dynasty Warriors series. It’s basic and can become easily repetitive. Going through levels waiting to find groups of enemies without intelligence stops being appealing after a short while. [Jan 2008]

GameZone

Circle of Doom represents a different path from the rest of the series, but without the strategy elements that made the original games so fun, this entry feels like a repetitive button-masher more than a standout entry to the KUF franchise.

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Games Master UK

Playable, but deflatingly tedious. [Mar 2008, p.76]

Totally360

The 360 already has a couple of real killer RPGs available for it, and I’d urge you to take a look elsewhere before jumping on board with this.

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Extreme Gamer

Being a fan of the first two games, followers of the franchise are going to want to discard Circle of Doom from their memories. If you’re new to the Kingdom then you might find some joy in the hack n’ slash action, if you accept the game for what it is.

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VideoGamer

Played with friends Circle of Doom is mildly entertaining for a short time, but it's unquestionably one of the most disappointing games Microsoft has released for the Xbox 360.

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GameSpot

It's a new direction for the well-regarded series, but Circle of Doom isn't nearly as good as you may have hoped.

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TeamXbox

Too similar to its Xbox predecessors, Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom never steps out of its regimented formula long enough to show us anything new.

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Worth Playing

Although it does a few things well, Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom seems to punish you at every turn for trying to progress.

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GameTrailers

As generic as a hack-and-slash can be. If you’re looking for responsive action, you’ll be disappointed. If you’re looking for story and dialogue, you’ll be disappointed. If you’re the masochistic type that likes spending dozens of hours slaughtering repetitive foes in order to create the ultimate character then step on up and start grinding.

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IGN

Not a terrible game, in fact there is a small sect of dungeon crawling gamers that will find it enjoyable, but the nausea that was induced by slamming the same buttons repeatedly, fighting the same dim-witted enemies was just too much for me to stand.

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Game Almighty

All in all, Circle of Doom’s hack and slash formula feels out of place alongside the other games of the series, and more appropriate next to Gauntlet. Frilly-collared warrior needs food badly!

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GamerNode

This is one of the most disappointing games I've played in a while. With a few small tweaks and additions here and there, CoD would have been a much better game. Offline co-op alone would make it awesome.

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MS Xbox World

Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom is an average game that will appeal to die hards only, and that's people who just love to level up characters and collect items for personal benefit.

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MEGamers

An action/RPG with JRPG elements; which has totally lost its way. Not recommended.

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Game Informer

Circle of Doom’s problems all seem so frustratingly obvious the first time you see them that it makes you wonder why they were never changed.

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GameDaily

The game is repetitive and the combat unrewarding. You simply move through each trouble-filled section, slashing away at enemies with little reason – or energy. The game's presentation is mostly acceptable, but fails to captivate.

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GameSpy

While the experience isn't particularly compelling, you can conceivably play Circle of Doom for hundreds and hundreds of hours.

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360 Gamer Magazine UK

If only Blueside had maintained the game's strategy element, rather than trying to make this too action-heavy. It's definitely a missed opportunity, but at least the developer is trying to do something different for a change, we suppose.

X360 Magazine UK

It may draw in a few non-RPG fans, but for the most part this is for those who can put up with mash, bash, mash, and the, err, bash! Disappointing would be a good word to sum it up. [Issue#29, p.92]

Eurogamer

The problem really is that, even online, the only incentive to carry on braving Circle of Doom's tedious environments and simplistic action is to obtain a high-powered character, or a monstrous weapon. Except once you've done that, it renders the game even more tedious and simplistic as you one-hit-kill your way around the same stultifying environments that you've been grinding through.

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RPG Fan

So in the final analysis, Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom takes a bunch of decently designed aspects and mangles them into an unfun experience.

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Gameplanet

This could have been a good game if it wasn't for the hard to follow story and repetitive gameplay, as it takes away the incentive to play the game through again with the other heroes.

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PTGamers

Online or offline, the conclusion is only one – this adventure is dull, tremendously repetitive and not very absorbing.

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Xbox World 360 Magazine UK

Aside from a few nice options, sadly this is second-rate sword-slashery. Try Ninety-Nine Nights instead.

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Official Xbox Magazine UK

There comes a time when you start to hope that the Circle of Doom in the title is actually the red ring of death so you won't have to play it anymore.

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Gamer.nl

This game is a boring affair where the logic in the design is nowhere to be found. Instead of the Circle of Doom, we rather prefer a Red Ring of Death.

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Edge Magazine

For most players there's just not enough here to hold any prolonged interest. [Mar 2008, p.100]

G4 TV

Multiplayer action adds as a bit more life to this bare bones game. Coming from a series that understands character progression and massive battles so well, Circle of Doom seems more like a quick way to put out a title instead of a fully developed idea.

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GamePro

But boring combat is just one half of the misery pie that this game serves up, with half-baked role-playing elements comprising the rest.

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Electronic Gaming Monthly

Circle of doom indeed. [Feb 2008, p.81]

1UP

It's never a good sign when I nearly fall asleep while playing a game...multiple times.

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games(TM)

Repetitive tasks have a history as a means of punishment that goes back to ancient myth. Kingdom Under Fire: Circle Of Doom seems keen to emulate this for reasons known only to its sadistic creators. [Mar 2008, p.128]

Game Revolution

Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom follows a straight-forward formula, but somehow, it can’t even get that right. Most of the time, it just makes the gameplay too easy, too basic, or too difficult by design.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 6.5 (out of 10) based on 30 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Raunchy R. gave it a2:
This game is horrible. I can't believe Xbox 360 has the nerve to put something out like this. The graphics and the game as a whole remind me of some game that should have been available only on PS2...years ago. The story is something that I couldn't even follow because I dont think there was much of a story. Any kind of words displayed on the screen were absolutely unreadable. I couldn't figure out what was used for which button thats how unreadable the words were. The graphics are such that the only way you can tell where you enemies are is if they are moving i.e. the Final Fantasy mmorpg for the same console. I just bought this game and will be returning it in the same day. I bought this game to get away from FPS's that are all too present in Xbox 360 and now I'm screaming for my Rainbow Six. I gave it a 2 only because it is playable, technically. Point is...DON'T BUY THIS GAME!!!!!!!

Duke Doom72 gave it a10:
A fantastic rpg, with a nice weapon creating system and deeply addictive gameplay. It got longivety other titles only dream about. Like Dark alliance mixed with 99 nights. Buy it you must.

David K. gave it an8:
Somewhat underrated, but not the best. downsides, Repetitive, crap voice acting, bad story. Good sides, addictive clean fun, challenging, gr8 online, just so fun, great RPG whic had tonnes of potential but fell short.

Andrew V. gave it a7:
Lack of directions lead for some interesting play. Took me days to figure out how to level up when I did I had of 10,000 points loved it. Same problem with buying stuff took days to figure it out. But that was real fun. I kept dying and wondering where the wepons were, again found out by mistake and am now wipping booty. Good game.

Mehar G. gave it a9:
One of the greatest games I have ever played, nice combat system and story. Graphics are ok, but hey you can't have everything.

Alex V. gave it a7:
Even though the game is somewhat repetitive, it's easily addictive. Do not play alone though, not only is the game not really fun alone, but it is also made to be played via Xbox live with friends! For example, one of the bosses, Curian, absolutely needs Kendal to be accessible, and you need to have Celine with you in order to turn the boss into a new character! The synthesis system is well made, though rather complicated. However once you understood it, it's really rewarding! It can turn a weak character like Celine into a bloodlust killer!

Regnor V. gave it a1:
I can't believe anyone would have the stomach to play this for more than 20 minutes. The most repetitive, boring, whackamolefest I've seen in ages. What a disappointment.

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Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom

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