Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic

**screwtype** · 05-20-2005, 18:25

No, it's not. It's quite different. It's a turn based strategy game, you move army stacks of up to 8 units around on a campaign map and when you do battle with an enemy army you are taken to a battle screen where you move and attack each unit individually, again on a turn by turn basis.

It isn't 3D but the graphics are pretty and there's quite a bit of character to the game structure and the individual units. I must say that after a couple of quite tough scenarios the one I'm playing right now has been much too easy, or maybe I'm just getting better at it. So I'm not sure how the game will eventually play out.

However I did play the previous game, Age of Wonders II, right through to the end which is a rarity for me in games. And I did that even though the challenge wasn't that great. Somehow the game manages to keep me interested turn after turn, not sure why really, I think it's partly because it's pretty and well done and partly because there is always some short term goal you always think you're just a few moves from completing, LOL.

You can probably download a demo of either it or the previous game AoWII somewhere, have a look at one of those and see if it appeals.

Oh and in answer to your other question, Shadow Magic is not an expansion, it's a standalone game.

**Duke Malcolm** · 05-20-2005, 18:26

This is a damned addictive game. Me and my friend (he has the game, not me) play this for hours at night.

**screwtype** · 05-20-2005, 18:32

Yeah, it can really keep you up at night. I've had plenty of late, late sessions that started out with me thinking I'm only half a dozen turns from wrapping up the scenario, LOL.

**Dorkus** · 05-21-2005, 16:27

Really really great game. Suggest it for anyone who has even a mild interest in turn based strategy (or just strategy) games.

**econ21** · 05-21-2005, 20:38

Thanks for reminding me of this title. I've always been interested in it and my son loves the original Age of Wonders (although I am too much of a graphics whore to play it). You people prompted me to track it down on the internet and order a copy.

Of course, if it sucks, I'll have to sue you all.

**Leet Eriksson** · 05-21-2005, 23:48

Single player is rather fun btw, i finished it.

Big games last a long while btw, some of them go for a slong as 3700 turns per game, but it has a ton of variety and races so its pretty fun.

**screwtype** · 05-22-2005, 16:57

I take it by "big games" you mean multiplayer? I haven't tried MP but yes, I imagine it must be pretty hard to finish off human opponents in this game!

I bet heroes don't last too long in human v human encounters either :)

In single player mode I can usually finish off a scenario in well under 200 turns, but the last scenario was far too easy, only took me 30 turns to beat, I hope the rest of them prove to be a bit tougher than that!