Fate: The Cursed King

Fate: The Cursed King
Developer(s)	WildStudios WildTangent
Publisher(s)	WildTangent Encore Software
Designer(s)	Travis Baldree
Series	Fate
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
Release	NA: March 30, 2011
Genre(s)	Action role-playing
Mode(s)	Single-player

Fate: The Cursed King is an action role-playing computer game that was developed and published by WildTangent ^[1] and has been available to play online since 2011. In 2014, it became available for purchase on Steam. ^[2] The game follows the Fate series (originally started in 2005), and is the final in the series.

Plot

Outside the "Grove" featured in other Fate games, is a land called "Ekbatan". While venturing outside the city seeking adventure, the main character comes across a cave and is drawn inside by a glimmer. Inside, they come across an old chest with writing across it that they cannot read. Opening the chest out of curiosity, they release T'kala, an evil necromantic priest who was executed and sealed in the chest for committing treason against the Cursed King. He proceeds to destroy Ekbatan in an attempt to find and kill the king. Hoping to undo the evil they unleashed, the character sets out to free the king's advisers, find the King, stop T'kala and break the curse. ^[3]

Gameplay and design

The game is played from a isometric perspective. Players use the mouse to control the character's movements and attacks, while the keyboard is used to control spells, potions, and healing items. Players can use different armour, weapons, potions, and pets in tandem

There are two kinds of quests in the game: the main quest, which tells the main story of the game; and side quests provided to the player by non-player characters (NPCs). Some require you to be a specific level before starting them.

Quests include standard activities such as finding an item or killing other NPCs. Rewards for completing quests include gold, experience points, fame points and other various items that help your character. ^[3]

Weapons, spells, and equipment

There are a variety of items that your character can receive, win, and/or buy in the game. These weapons include axes, swords, spears, bows, knives, clubs, staffs, polearms, and spells. The player is also able to dual-wield these weapons.

Spells fall into three categories: Attack Magic, Defense Magic, and Charm Magic.

Armour includes helmets, boots, shields, and body armour.

These items can also be upgraded and enchanted.

The game has a variety of other wearable equipment that can enhance the character, such as gloves, belts, rings, necklaces, and earrings. Both weapons and equipment can be obtained by a variety of means. Some items are rewards for quests. Weapons can also be found in dungeons. Items can be purchased and worked on by some of the NPCs throughout the game. In some cases, items can only be utilized when the character is at a certain level.

Pets

Pets are able to aid the character in the journey by fighting alongside them and providing help. They will also pick up and carry items found along the playthrough. Although pets cannot die, their life bar can run out causing the pet to enter a "fleeing" state where they will become ineffective, not providing any aid. The pet can be healed by dropping a healing potion on the pet's icon on the top-left of the screen. ^[3] Pets can be fed fish to change what race they are, as well as change attributes such as attack power and life. Following a 'Determine Your Pet Sweepstakes' that took place on the game's Facebook page, a new in-game pet, Strider, was added. ^[4]

Levels

Levels and enemies are all procedurally generated, ^[2] The game consists of three dungeons—Caverns of Living Fire, Crypt of T'kala, and The Haunted Palace. In the dungeons, over thirty levels must be completed in order with each dungeon ending with a boss that the player must kill to free the King's advisers. Players can pursue side quests in the dungeon even after the completion of the main quest.

Character progression

During the start of the game, players must choose between five races for their character: human, shadow elf, half-orc, cogger^{[ further explanation needed ]}, or imp. Each race starts with different base stats. Points gained from levelling up are allocated to strength, dexterity, vitality, and magic. Adding points to strength will increase damage and allow the character to use heavier weapons. Dexterity points affect attack and defence statistics. Vitality determines stamina and life. Magic will affect mana which will in turn determine what spells can be cast and how powerful the spells the character can use will be. There are also skill points that can be used to level up specific weapon categories including Sword Skill, Club, and Mace Skill, Axe Skill, Spear Skill, Staff Skill, Polearm Skill, Bow, and Crossbow Skill, Critical Strike Skill, Spell casting Skill, Dual wielding Skill, Shield Battle Skill, Attack Magic Skill, Defense Magic Skill, and Charm Magic Skill. ^[3]

Social aspects

The game allows the player to recruit AI-controlled companions to fight by its side. ^[2] It also allows the player to recruit copies of their friends' characters to become AI companions, and lets players connect with Facebook friends who also have the game, giving opportunities to compare characters and trade loot. ^[1]

References

1. "WildTangent Releases FATE: The Cursed King; The action-RPG features dungeon-crawling adventure, customizable characters, and in-game trading". PR Newswire, March 30, 2011, Wednesday. https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:52H8-YTK1-JDTX-71ND-00000-00&context=1516831. Accessed January 23, 2020.
2. "FATE: The Cursed King on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
3. Let's Play: FATE: The Cursed King , retrieved 2020-02-03
4. Troy Dreier . "WildTangent Releases Fate: The Cursed King". PC Magazine.com, March 31, 2011, Thursday. https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:53C6-80P1-DYWP-Y1MN-00000-00&context=1516831. Accessed January 23, 2020.