how is this compared to Shadow Magic?

[Hylox, Bane of Titans]

game play wise, idc about graphics... SM is the Best of the series imho, just wondering how AoW4 matches up?

[ShawnieTwoZero]

idk

[triadasoul]

It's complete buff management and sector painting ♥♥♥♥ - don't even bother buying it.

[SpacePoon]

Shadow Magic still the goat

[UmbralAngel]

AoW 4 is very different from AoW 2. It has refined many things from AoW 3 and is a much better game as a result.

The main advantages that AoW 4 has is that the strategic map has lots more things going on. Lots of reasons to explore, interesting dungeons to fight which unlock bonuses for your cities. The diplomacy has more interesting things going on. The random events make for a fun way to interact with the world and get nice perks like items, free units, or Economic bonuses. There is a nice new siege system which balances the cost of conquering cities with founding new ones or convincing neutral cities to join you.

Overall AoW 4 has lots of modern innovations that make it so interesting things happen every turn.

AoW 2/SM has much more clearly defined races & factions, and the battles had a different feel. For example flying units need to be stunned or else melee units cant hit them, in AoW 3&4 that is no longer the case.

If you only played Shadow Magic its hard to say how you will appreciate the new one, its very different but very well designed.

[Blanch Warren]

I actually prefer the game design of AoW4. But that's me.

[Pale Wolf]

Shadow Magic is a better game, BUT AoW4 is far better than AoW3 for my personal taste I played AoW3 for 30 mins and was done, but I wasn't too bothered because I bought it and all it's expansions on sale.

I can see myself sinking many hours into AoW4. Now if only I could get it to stop crashing on me =/

[Malaficus Shaikan]

It removed everything that made age of wonders great.
So dont buy this.

[Hylox, Bane of Titans]

thanks for all the feed back, i've played all of the AoW games except for the space one they made a couple years back and AoW4, I think I'll w8 for more content releases and a sale b4 i pick this one up