Tzar: The Burden of the Crown ("By Fire and Sword"; "Tzar: The Burden of the Crown") is a computer game in the real-time strategy (RTS) genre developed by Haemimont Games (Bulgaria). Worldwide publisher: PAN Interactive. Publisher in Russia: "1C". The release of Tzar: The Burden of the Crown took place in 1999, and in Russia in 2000. The game is entirely two-dimensional and represents a typical strategy of the early 2000s.
The game's action unfolds in a distant past, or perhaps both in the past and in an alternate reality, as the world of Tzar: The Burden of the Crown features various fantasy creatures, whether golems or skeletons, and there is magic as well. In general, it is a deep, lush medieval era. Everywhere there is brutality, destruction, hunger, dirt - all as it should be. In this harsh world lives Horatio - an ordinary commoner leading a rather miserable existence. But Horatio does not despair, although, like any peasant, he wants to break free and live in luxury. For example, to become a king.
The funniest part is that this is indeed what happens. At one moment, Horatio learns that he is an adopted son, and his blood relatives are all kings and people of "blue blood." However, Horatio's father fell in an unequal battle against Arab Saracens, and the kingdom has plunged into the abyss of anarchy, but no worries - for Horatio is the direct heir to the throne. The protagonist of the game casts aside his hoe and plow, takes up a sword, and begins to carve his way to glory, greatness, and the throne rightly belonging to him by inheritance.
The gameplay of Tzar: The Burden of the Crown cannot boast of any unique solutions - it is simply a very good, fast-paced, and dynamic strategy where players can build buildings, gather resources, hire soldiers, and send them into battle against enemy settlements. In Tzar: The Burden of the Crown one can find three distinctly different races: Europeans, Asians, and Arabs. They differ almost completely (except for development technologies and standard units) - right down to their buildings and soldiers. Arab Saracens, for example, can hire Jihad warriors and satraps, Asians can recruit samurai, and Europeans can hire familiar knights and archers. As units participate in battles, they gain experience and level up, becoming stronger.
Although the single-player campaign is very interesting and engaging (the Bulgarians from Haemimont Games know how to make strategies), Tzar: The Burden of the Crown features a no less engaging online mode, similar to what could be seen in Warcraft 2.