Strategy – this genre is on the bottom rung of popularity in today’s industry, but not in the hearts of old-school players who remember the stuffy halls of computer clubs, heated debate about the best castle in the “hero” or tactics development in Starcraft. Then fans of computer games is preferred strategic genre. But those days are long gone, and led the industry today are shooters. Therefore, any new project created in the strategy genre, the more incremental, a genuine interest.
The first part of Warlock: Master of the Arcane was perceived ambiguously players. Many have said that developers of Ino-Co Plus could make an interesting basis, but made some serious mistakes in the economic model and computer intelligence. But the developers did not give up and polished project, correcting its omissions. As a result, they are “mature enough” to create a full-fledged sequel.
At first glance it seems that the game resembles a fantasy version of Civilization. But so can only assume those who have never seen a series of Age of Wonders, which the authors Warlock took as an example to follow.
History tells us that while the powerful magicians fought race Dremer, one of the great wizards cast a spell and togetherness became reign supreme over all the lands of the kingdom of Ardania.Unfortunately, this story is limited, moreover, she says in the video header. Instead of the standard set of missions we propose to pass single-player campaign filled with various events and tasks. The plot does not go beyond a simple tale about the overthrow of the evil overlord.
In the narrative we play the role of a great magician, who was able to escape and fled from the one on the edge of the world. There he finds a race of strangers and, having conquered all his wisdom, becomes their leader.
The player is given a choice of six races in the general standard set of elves, humans, undead, etc. Except for the race, to choose its leader. Each of the characters available to its good set of skills: one gets to start more gold, someone increased food production, and the third – a natural leader, which affects the strength of his troops. If you do not like local heroes, you can always make some with the necessary skills. A choice, begin to fight.
At first glance, the game is very hard to understand. Incomprehensible set of icons scattered to all corners of the screen, and the card covered hexagons, dotted with various creatures and objects of unknown purpose. Unlike the first part, the developers have prepared detailed tips, so to understand the rules of the game is easy.
Warlock 2 shows at once that the journey back to Ardan will not be easy. Starting city is surrounded by monsters, and a player only a couple of units. Construction of new troops is too expensive, so from the first minute is necessary to take active hostilities. Especially around the monsters have a bad habit to revive.
Stroitelsvo new facilities is limited. Before you create something, you must wait until the population explosion in the city. After not think that more is needed at this moment: to build a library to a new spell studied faster or equip farm to eat enough to keep large military. Have to establish a large number of cities to build the necessary buildings. But the more you do the cities, the faster growing dissatisfaction with their inhabitants. Therefore, it is beneficial conversion feature of settlements in special places, such as a fortress or a free city. They are not included in the list and do not affect the mood of the citizens, but they can not build anything.
One should also consider the area around the cities. On special hexes can build unique buildings, allowing soldiers to hire or accelerating production of gold or mana. Besides, it’s full of spells that alter the ground, so it is easy to turn a desert into a blossoming field or vice versa. You can call the forbidding rocks, so that the enemy could come from only one side.
Battles executed in the spirit of the board game. Groups move through the cells, each military unit has advantages and disadvantages. Archers beat the distance and strong against flying warriors can not attack swordsmen. Each race has its own set of troops. Race not monsters shines strong soldiers, but they are cheap, and their content does not require a lot of resources. Undead rely on good defense.People traditionally observe a balance between cost and power unit.
Besides the usual soldiers knocking at the gates of the capital, local heroes, which is called here the Lords. They cost a lot, but also benefit from them much more than from ordinary soldiers. They, like all the troops in the game to grow in levels, but, in addition, can carry three artifacts. But remember, they always stand in front of the city will not be, if they are not hiring, they go away. We get some of Lords during the execution of tasks and total cleaning the area.
Besides the usual destruction of monsters, the game throws in various tasks. Some of them are simple: build the necessary building or destroy the raging ogre; some are more like a mission of role-playing games, running around with a round-trip, dialogues and little history.
The more we discover new lands, the more complex test gives us an adventure. The game world – are fragments of land, floating in space, interconnected teleports. In what kind of world you will throw another portal unknown. Therefore, each player will have his adventure. The only thing that is repeated so that the sequence of tasks.
Unfortunately, enjoy the game prevents dull intelligence opponents. All they can do is to fill your city with endless squads of soldiers with archers about any tactical spells they have not heard. So fight the “computer” is quickly bored. In general, this is the trouble the entire game. Almost all can be seen in the first passage, and master the subtleties of each race in multiplayer mode hampered by the lack of proper number of players.
Also worth criticize developers for decoration game. All deliberately boring and normal, no original solutions. The only thing that is good, so is the description of various monsters. Lyrically a lot of humor, so you can entertain yourself during an opponent’s turn.
Diagnosis
Turn-based strategy – an infrequent visitor today. However, when it comes right, Warlock 2 – is almost one hundred percent clone Age of Wonders. But here and graphics are poorer and less opportunities, no plot, and the computer opponent does not have a decent resistance. Given that the Warlock 2 came almost simultaneously with the more interesting Age of Wonfers 3, difficult to count on great success of this strategy.
Pro:
- Interesting formula based strategy (borrowed from the Age of Wonders)
- Unusual system of worlds
- Funny descriptions of characters and quests
Contra:
- Weak AI opponents
- Absence of a normal campaign and story
- Boring decoration
Review game Warlock 2: The Exiled - step by step instructions
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