"King’s Bounty: Warrior of the North" is a computer game that combines the genres RTS and TBS. The project is an internal development by the company "1C-SoftClub"; the Katauri Interactive studio had little involvement in creating the fourth game of the updated King’s Bounty series. "1C-SoftClub" is also the publisher of "King’s Bounty: Warrior of the North" in Russia and the CIS. The publication of "Warrior of the North" abroad is handled by 1C Publishing EU, and in the translated variant, the game is referred to as King’s Bounty: Warrior of the North.
As the antagonist in "King’s Bounty: Warrior of the North," we have the valiant Viking named Olaf, who is the son of Tormund the Fierce, the king of all Northlings. The red-haired warrior is honest, valorous, and straightforward; he loves his father and brother (who, by the way, does not reciprocate his feelings), hates the undead in all their forms, dreams of heroic deeds, and other worthy exploits befitting a king's offspring. Soon, he gets a chance to prove himself, albeit in a rather tragic situation. Olaf's brother, Erik, allies himself with the dead and evil creatures, leading to a conflict between the blood relatives, in which Erik almost perishes. This shocking incident drives Tormund to a state close to madness (Vikings, they are such Vikings), and he announces a real hunt for his younger son. Olaf is forced to flee from his homeland, gaining the support of a local shaman.
To begin with, the newly minted outcast explores the islands north of Darion, where the harsh warriors reside: Vikings, berserkers, skalds, and other representatives of this brave people. Then fate oddly transports him to Greynworth, and from this moment, a new cycle of adventures begins for Olaf. To drive out the undead, skeletons, and vampires (the main antagonists of "King’s Bounty: Warrior of the North") from Endoria and, at the same time, restore his honorable name in the eyes of his father, he must embark on a long journey – visiting the Verlon Wasteland, eradicating infernal creatures in the Morshan swamps with fire and sword, sparking a light among the dwarves, and even descending into actual hell.
What’s new in "King’s Bounty: Warrior of the North"? Firstly, runes. But don’t confuse the runes that were already in the game (runes of magic, spirit, and strength) with those brought in by the King’s Bounty developers. The new types of runes do not need to be collected or hoarded; they can be used immediately – during battles. Each Viking unit receives three runes: defense, attack, and luck. Activating a rune grants respective bonuses and stat increases for an entire round. Runes also introduced rune magic – a new school of magic, many spells of which are connected in one way or another to cold.
Secondly, in "King’s Bounty: Warrior of the North," you can find new companions, to be precise, female companions – five beautiful light-faced Valkyries. They join Olaf's team gradually, as he progresses through the storyline. The heavenly warriors are beneficial in every respect – they enhance various parameters and help him in combat with their abilities. The girls' skills can be utilized using the Valkyrie’s Wrath amulet – an ancient artifact given to Olaf by his father at the very start of the game.