Depending on the scenario or map you are playing, you'll face up to seven
other wizards drawn from a pool of 14. Each wizard in the game subscribes
to one of the game's seven spheres of magic and is closely associated with one
of the 12 races. They also each have a bit of their own personality, so
the game tends to take on a different character depending on who your opponents
are. The game provides a diplomatic screen with which you can make contact
with the other wizards to offer alliances and exchange items, but it is not
utilized much during the campaign game. In the campaign game, your enemies
and allies are pretty much determined for you, unless you decide to take on the
world and start attacking your allies.
In addition to the other wizards, the world is inhabited by four god-like
spirits: war, order, nature, and magic. Certain actions such as building
shrines or looting cities will bring favor from the corresponding spirit in the
form of quests. Quests require the player to perform actions which ranged
from building structures to looting cities or hunting infidels. Completing
a quest will reward the player with gold, mana, or special items, while failing
to complete a quest will result in disfavor with the offering spirit.
While pleasing these spirits does have its definite benefits, there does not
seem to be that much of a downside to incurring their wrath. Complete the
quests that you can for the rewards, and the others that are harder to pursue
can pretty much be ignored without penalty.
Age of Wonders II is a challenging game for several reasons. The sheer
variety of units and maps alone make for a wide variety of strategic
approaches - unlike some games you can not rely on the same basic strategy while
mowing your way through the scenarios. Also, the AI is quite competent and
makes for a challenging opponent. Even strategy veterans will find
themselves replaying some scenarios several times before being able to emerge
victorious. Finally, the games are long, and so there is plenty of
opportunity to pay dearly for a wrong move somewhere along the line. The
game's campaign scenarios routinely run for well over 100 turns assuming that
you survive to the end. While all of this is great for veteran gamers,
beginners should be aware that the game may prove frustrating at times, so only
those with patience should try tackling it. On the positive side for new
players, the game's interface is well designed and easy to use for a game of
this depth.
The graphics in Age of Wonders II are really good for a 2D isometric game.
The maps are colorful, animated, and interesting, and there is a large variety
of unique spell animations. Each unit has its own unique look to it, as
well as its own animations as it moves and fights. For example, the
halfling sheriff unit trails smoke from its torches as it moves across the map.
This attention to detail goes a long way to bringing the game's world to life
and making it a more immersive experience.
In The End, This Game Hath Been Rated:
89%.
The tough AI might limit its appeal, but it is an excellent addition to any
strategy gaming veteran's library.
System Requirements: 300 MHz Pentium III CPU;
64 MB RAM; 4 MB
Video RAM; 8x CD-ROM; 560 MB Hard Drive Space; Mouse.
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