Customer Reviews

Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is my first Age of Wonders game, so I can't really compare it to any of the others. I am a long time fan of the Heroes of Might and Magic games and when I saw this in the store I thought it looked very much like the same type of game play, turn based strategy, and I wasn't disappointed. This game is highly addicting and I couldn't be more pleased. There isn't a single bad thing I could say about its game play. There is a three scenario tutorial that gets you into the gameplay right off, many single player options, including a random map generator...and several mutli player options in the bargain. I am a stay at home mom of four young children and turn based strategy with no time limit is pretty much the only way I can get in any game time anymore. Real time is just too hard when you have kids needing your attention. So I am always on the look out for a good game in this genre....and I couldn't be happier with this as my latest find!

To make it short and simple, this is an awesome game worth more then the price it cost to buy.

All I have to say is that this game is incredibly well put-together and incredibly enjoyable, especially in multiplayer. The interface is remarkably easy to understand, the game itself is refreshingly stable, the graphics are delightful and crisp, and, most importantly, it's fun, addicting, and entertaining. It definitely has that "one more turn" feel to it. I would highly recommend this game--and the original Age of Wonders II-- to anyone who enjoys turn-based strategy games and fantasy settings. Actually, I'd recommend this game to anyone!

For those gamers tired of real time army shoot'em-ups and micromanaging civilization building, this is the game for you. Age of Wonders 3 is turn based chess meets individual champion fighting. In short, it combines the best of both worlds. Unlike the original, the wizard-king stays at home in his tower, safe behind walls while heroes lead combat unit customized armies into battle. The gameplay is easy to master, the graphics smooth, and the experience enjoyable, yet challenging.

Options include standard and custom scenarios as well as the provided campaign. Races are generally evenly matched, and the player is rewarded for building bigger and better units.

There is disappointly little fanfare upon actually winning the scenarios, however, the game itself is very enjoyable and the different races and units available encourage you to play again and again.

I'm so glad my brother first showed me this excellent game.

As soon as I saw this game in the store, I grabbed it, thinking it was an expansion pack for Age of Wonders II. Imagine my surprise to find it's an entire new game, despite its low price!

It's just as wonderful as AOW II, but with some changes to hold the interest of fans of the series, including new spells and new races. The graphics are just as beautiful, and the storyline is better. Like Age of Wonders II, it's very stable, no crashes. This series is spectacular. If you like strategy games, don't miss this bargain.

I've been a gamer for a long time, and enjoyed the incredible game Master of Magic way back in the day. I've long since looked for a game that used the same formula: civilization building/economy/armies/and most importantly....SPELLS.

If you like strategy and blasting opponents with mystical creatures and spells, BUY THIS GAME.

Basically it's Civilization for the fantasy minded.

If you like fantasy games and Civ 3, this game is for you. Its like a combination of Civ and D&D! What could be better? There are not very many good turn-based games out there to begin with. Fantasy turn-based is even more rare, but this is probably the best I've seen.

You get to choose from a variety of races to start. Each race has certain advantages over others and unique units each with special abilities. Building and developing cities is important as is exploring and making alliances (very Civ-like). But when a fight begins you can zoom into a battle screen and play it out blow by blow, or go the quick route and just see units dissapear. That flexibility in battles is a great feature. You can also develop individual hero units that gain levels and can use magic items.

There is a long campaign that you can play as well as various single-shot scenarios. No random maps per se, but you can downloads lots of scenarios off the web. I'm really hoping for a sequel. This is easily one of the best games I've ever played.

AoW-SM is great. Everyone remarks about its balance, beauty, and game-play AI. What I think kicks it far ahead of all the contenders with similar turn-based play is the RANDOM MAP GENERATOR.
Yes, unlike other games you play for a month (if they last a week), is that AoW-SM has the depth of units, terrain, AI, and fresh maps thanks to a wonderful choice of options in single player mode along with a RMG.
AoW-SM Rocks, - AND - it lasts !

PS: there are also fan site mods that further the play. When you see a game whose fan sites are still going years after release, like AoW-II & AoW-SM, you Know its a solid game.
thanks Amazon for the review space,
luv ya, cfx :)

All the Age of Wonders games are cheaper over at GOG.com the origional is like $2.98 and the others are from $3.99 to $5.99 and when onsale you can get all 3 for around $5.99

The origional game is still the best as the AI is much better and you have a much better selection of how you want EACH ai to play or you can pick RANDOM for each AI and they will pick from a selection from OFFENSIVE to DEFENSIVE to SCORCHED earth (they will raze nearly every resource including citie) to inbetween settings. The other two games only have LOW to EXPERT settings and the ai plays the same on each one of them which becomes pretty boring as the ai is a pushover in the latter two games. The unoffical patches ruined Shadow Magics SINGLE player game for them balancing everything for MULTIPLAYER. Plus it's very DARK to look at and not much in the way of eye candy.

Really though if you are looking for the BEST in fantasy strategy/wargaming then you should look for "MASTER OF MAGIC" also over at GOG.com It's still the best and been the best since it was created back in the early 90's. Another better game than the Age of Wonders series is "WARLORDS IV with the 1.04a or 1.05 patches. Both of these games are very challenging and have a much better AI than the AGE of Wonders series.

I've had this game for over 5 years now, and it's still very much one of my favorites. With the available mods, it stays fresh. One of the very best turn based strategy games out there, without a doubt.

After playing Age of Wonders II, I decided to try this first one. It is a well made strategy game, the graphics are nice, the structure is okay. There are some clnuky things about controls but that's something fixed in the second game. The only thing that is kind of problematic is that the screen is too small and tiring for the eye after some time. I think I like the second one better but this is good for what it is.