I like this game

[MashtahYee]

I put 50 hours into this game when I first purchased it a while back and beat the campaign. A few days ago I decided to reinstall and play skirmish. I have since put in another 50.

What's to like?

Play as RTS or RPG mode from the start. RTS mode seems a bit easy if you have any experience with RTS build orders. RPG mode is where I have the most fun. It's you versus entire armies. I love the pain of deciding to keep an artifact or sell it so I can afford to hire the next neutral camp sooner. Once you have enough allies going in for the kill, truely epic battles ensue!

No unit cap. Few games can bring the satisfaction of striking down several hundred units with a single swing of your hero. Everytime you launch an Ice Arrow through a column of enemies it feels like a recreation of Gandalf parting the sea of Orcs.

Realtime game with turn-based sensibilities. MOM, HOMM, Warrior Kings, King's Bounty...this game has spells and armor you can swap around, shops on the map and random treasures. The whole progression of gameplay harkens back to classic fantasy strategy...but in realtime.

It's from 2006 but still looks good enough to maintain immersion. I love old games that have their engine fully scalable past the game's lifespan (even when the UI isn't, ahem Dungeon SIege 2).

What do people not to like?

Unfinished idea. Unfortunately this game's development is over. I do so wish we had more campaigns and maps, but I am happy with skirmishing once in a while. I don't focus as much on story, but I do want to know what that crashed fighter jet was doing outside of the Elves' base...

Multiplayer is a pain. I can't comment, this is a solo game for me.

AI is dumb. I can't argue there, but you can ramp up the number of opponents and their difficulty enough to be challenging enough for RPG play.

Anyway...

I hope someone revives this style of game. Multiplayer games are great and all, but I love most those that reward you for experimenting with your own imagination.

[LivingIsFatal]

I don't know how the game is playable. The first level is completely unbeatable. they give me maybe 15 guys through the level. Gotta keep 20 people alive. The main character tells them to flee and he has to hold off about 200 enemies who are standing next to enough citizens to kill to end the level. Seriously? It's not even remotely doable. I played the first level 3 times, sometimes they give you even less units.

[Chipz]

the 1st lv was esay i dont know what you are talking about but anyways i dont like the camp. i feel the game shines in skermish and multi tho you have to find the people to play with but its not hard becuse a lot of people still love this game just no one waits in the multi lobby you have to msg people that have it to play with them but its fun as hell when you get 7 players in a game :)