Grand Kingdom

Grand Kingdom puts the player in the role of a mercenary company commander at a time when four powers are fighting over the remnants of a collapsed empire. The game has no single hero, but rather an assembled squad: the player hires soldiers of various classes, assigns them equipment, skills, and roles, and sends them on contracts that may be for any of the warring factions. The narrative is therefore more of a framework than a driving axis. The real engine is unit management, the economics of expeditions, and the sense that success depends on how well the company is assembled and equipped. Soldiers also wear down over time, and the fallen must be replaced with new recruits, so personnel planning carries its own weight.

The combat system is the most striking part of the whole package. Battles take place on a two-dimensional battlefield divided into four lanes, between which characters move, and it matters who stands in which lane and what their range is. Archers can hit across the entire field, but allies standing in the line of fire block the shot, mages create area-of-effect spells, and infantry try to close the distance. Movement between turns takes place on a board-game-style field with traps, bonuses, and obstacles that can also be placed against the enemy. Alongside single-player contracts, the game also offered asynchronous warfare, in which the results of players' companies fed into battles between nations.

On the Vita the game stands out visually, since the hand-drawn characters and backgrounds resemble illustrations from an old book and look excellent on the small screen. The sound is accompanied by orchestral compositions that lend the battles appropriate gravitas. Reviewers praised the tactical depth and unusual combat system, with criticism aimed at the repetitive structure of contracts and the way the game overwhelms the player with numbers and offers. Today, Grand Kingdom is considered one of the last seriously intentioned tactical titles for the Vita, and a game best appreciated by those who enjoy building and fine-tuning their own unit.