King Arthur: Legion IX

While it may not move the needle as much as a sequel should, Legion IX is a well-designed, balanced, and creative stomp through Avalon. Ave Romana!

King Arthur: Legion IX was done and dusted far quicker than I anticipated. However, I enjoyed every moment. Yes, some of the battles are time-consuming and unnecessarily challenging, but this kept me interested throughout. If you haven’t played the first instalment, do not let that put you off. This sequel was great, and my lack of experience didn’t undermine my time with this great, albeit flawed game. If this review has piqued your interest, you can pick up a copy from the Xbox store!

For what it's worth, King Arthur: Legion IX is a great deal. Originally planned as a DLC for Knight's Tale, it evolved into a standalone game, and I could see that being a smart decision. If you enjoy turn-based strategy games like XCOM, Rogue Trader, or Baldur's Gate 3, this title is worth trying.

King Arthur: Legion IX doesn’t represent a true step forward from King Arthur: Knight’s Tale, and in some regards it’s even a simplified version of said game. The value for those who own the first one is debatable, but if they are looking for more of the same, this is a good option although it may disappoint in some aspects; on the other hand, new players may get more enjoyment from this tactical game, assuming they are looking for a challenge and aren’t bothered by the lack of playable characters or the middling writing.

Succeeding with a smaller scope, Legion IX is tighter and more satisfying than the base game, though still pained by odd design holdovers and bad audio.

King Arthur: Legion IX is competent and works as it should, but it lacks any draw for new players and is likely better for fans of the series.

King Arthur: Legion IX basically retains the same formula of its predecessor and still offers plenty of good tactical combat, but overall the reduced complexity of its systems and the lack of meaningful innovation make it a less appealing product than Knight's Tale.

Overall, fans of King Arthur: Knight’s Tale will enjoy this DLC expansion. Newcomers starting with Legion IX will need some onboarding. The game’s core combat remains challenging, interesting, and fun, even if the narrative and writing are disappointing. As a fan of Arthurian legends and history — and more importantly, tactical turn-based RPGs — I had a good time on the battlefields of Avalon.

The undead Roman legion in Avalon knows how to fight well. Although there are not many heroes and the management between missions is more modest, the legionnaires will prove themselves in a several-hours long campaign.

King Arthur: Legion IX is a well-crafted tactical RPG featuring turn-based combat from an isometric perspective that makes excellent use of the universe of the original game, King Arthur: Knight's Tale. The story, which involves the lost Roman Ninth Legion, is well-written, and the game skillfully weaves together Christian, Celtic, and Roman mythology. Compared to the original game, the character skill tree is a bit simpler here, yet each character remains unique thanks to their own ultimate ability. The difficulty has also been significantly increased; the AI does an excellent job of maneuvering its units and presenting you with real challenges. The game features a very pleasant, intuitive interface, and if you enjoyed King Arthur: Knight’s Tale, you’ll be right at home. Unfortunately, compared to its predecessor, it does feel somewhat austere.