In most instances, civilization games combine elements of resource management with tactical warfare – the minutia of guiding a civilization forward with the strategic conquer devices that keep the game interesting.

But Kohan Immortal Sovereign goes beyond that. It dispenses with micro-managing resources – while still retaining a simplistic flirtation with that element – while putting the onus on liberation, and or conquering lands held by dark forces.

A little background into the TimeGate Studios/Strategy First title is probably necessary:

Kohan is set in a fictional/fantasy land known as Khaldun. The Kohan are a race of immortals, once the rulers of the world. But through a series of cataclysms, the Kohan were knocked from power and seemed to disappear from the land. Death was unable to touch them, and now they have started to re-appear. The tale begins with one of the immortals, who must rediscover his heritage, reclaim the Kohan birthright and drive the dark forces from the land.

There are several ways to participate in the adventure. You can play the campaign or multiplayer options. The campaign will allow you to walk through the tutorial (which will give you the basics of the program, though the player interface is quite explanatory, and you will be able to pick it up in 15 minutes or so), and then you can undertake the campaign. This is mostly a march-and-conquer exercise, employing the rapid building and deployment of military units. Therein lies the key to the game. As cities develop, you are able to add a variety of military units to a detachment – including engineers, cavalry, bowmen, rangers, and magically inclined folk. That’s where the resource management comes into play. In order for cities to develop, you must have a set amount of gold, wood, stone, et cetera. Only by carefully developing a city, then upgrading it, are you empowered to use some of the more exotic military units available in the game.

The graphical effects in Kohan are quite nice, and the game – which incorporates the fog of war for lands unexplored, yet does not hide them if units haven’t visited them in a while – is quite colorful and bright. The combat sequences are intuitive; each unit will attack and press the attack until either destroyed or routed. If a unit is routed (they flee with only one or two or their number alive), the unit can regenerate inside the Zone of Supply, or the area your forces control in the game.

The sound is typical of the genre: a lot of clashing, clanging metal weapons, and the gruff vocal characterizations which ask to be pointed at the enemy.

Each campaign within the overall structure of the game in played on a finite map. Though you are marching northward and retaking the lands overrun by Shadow forces, the game is segmented so that you accomplish each mission before advancing to the next map area. Game play within each mission moves along in real time.

Kohan Immortal Sovereigns is wonderfully playable, offering a nice range of options and even campaign generation tools to allow gamers to create their own scenarios. This game has managed to forge a nice mixture between the civilization and strategic combat genres, with a dash of magic thrown in for eye candy. The script for the game may be old hat, but the developers have delivered a fresh look and enjoyable adventure to spice it up.

This game is rated for Everyone. Though there is animated blood and animated violence, both are rather tame. Kohan also supports multiplayer gaming.

Install: Medium.
Kohan asks for 400 megs for the minimum install, and 610 megabytes for a full install.

Gameplay: 8.5
The campaign is segmented into finite map boards and missions, but the overall scope is grand and immensely playable.

Graphics: 9
Take well-rendered terrain elements, add solid animation, and throw in a dash of magic effects and you have a game that is visually appealing.

Sound: 6.
There is nothing new here, and what is here is average.

Difficulty: 7
There are several difficulty levels to choose from, so that the game can be customized to each player’s ability. Though the opposition is stronger at the upper difficulty levels, the game is still configured to give genre novices numerous opportunities to emerge victorious. The only difference being that time runs out faster.

Concept: 8
The storyline here is certainly not new, but what the game does do is effectively combine myriad genres for an effective gaming experience.

Multiplayer: 7
This game is supported through Internet and LAN games, as well as the GameSpy Arcade system. At times checked, there were not a lot of players offering games that could be joined. Most of the games offered where customized maps with a multination “winner take all” style of play.

Overall: 8.5
Kohan is fun, bright and colorful, utilizing wonderful effects and a nice player interface. It is also sneaky. The more you play the game, the more you want to play it. It may not be the best game on the market in either the civilization or strategic warfare genre, but it is a terrific combination of both.