Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom
By Brett Molina,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Monotonous action-RPG with bloody monsters & gore.
Add rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this game.
Where to Play
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What’s It About?
In KINGDOM UNDER FIRE: CIRCLE OF DOOM, the universe is alternately ruled by Nible, the lord of light, and Encablossa, the lord of darkness. A war erupts between the two lords when Encablossa's turn to rule arrives and Nible refuses to relinquish power. Your goal is to stop Encablossa by using one of six characters. Each boasts different skills based on speed, strength, and expertise in combat. Unlike the first two installments of Kingdom Under Fire, which featured real-time strategy tactics, this edition uses hack-and-slash action and RPG staples like weapon customization and \"leveling up\" (a process where you gain skill through game experience). Besides the solid arsenal of weapons, characters encounter idols that buy and sell items as well as synthesize items for improved power. You can also fall asleep, entering a dream state where you learn special powers to enhance your battlefield prowess.
Is It Any Good?
Unfortunately, sleepiness becomes a common response to Circle of Doom's dull action. Special powers are highly ineffective, forcing you to use only two attacks repeatedly. Instead of showing aggressiveness, enemies walk up as if to invite you to pummel them. Death is a rare occurrence, since the battlefield is littered with reviving potions. This RPG system is far too shallow, and the combat sadly becomes monotonous.
The story's prologue provides a solid foundation, but is then banished to dream sequences, which tell as little as possible about your character or the adventure ahead. You can opt to join a friend online in a co-op adventure, but there's little incentive with such mindless opponents. Ultimately, gamers who partake in this adventure will be doomed with boredom and frustration.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the option to turn off the bloody effects within the game. Is that an option you would ever use? If you turn off the bloody effects, does it make a difference to you when you play? Why do you think the developer put this option in the game?
Game Details
- Platform: Xbox 360
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Blueside
- Release date: January 9, 2008
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating: M for mature
- Last updated: November 4, 2015
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Play
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate