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> Results: Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic
Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us Scroll down for our Kid Factor. Merlin is exiled in the land of Shadow and it's up to you to rescue him in this expansion pack/sequel/stand-alone product version of Age of Wonders 2. Age of Wonders 2 was a revelation for strategy games when it was released last year. It combined turn-based strategy and resource management with real depth and personality. I was thrilled with it for the better part of the year. Shadow Magic now comes along and offers the perfect jump-on point for newbies and offers more than enough new stuff for old school fans (like me). That's quite a balancing act there, isn't it? The game is turn-based and stands by itself, (you don't need Age of Wonders 2: The Wizard's Throne at all, unless you're just interested in the storyline, and I encourage players who missed Throne to skip it and get Shadow Magic instead). Newbies get a 3-step tutorial to ease them into the game one step at a time.  As mentioned before: Merlin is trapped in the land of Shadow. He's sent an ethereal being to help you stop the Phobian Empire from destroying everything magical they can get their hands on. Meanwhile the aforementioned Shadow World is invading. The result is a surprisingly rich plotline for a turn-based strategy series. The sort of game that arguably doesn't really need a strong story so much as it needs strong scenarios. For old schoolers Shadow Magic adds three new races: the Nomads, the Syrons, and the villainous Shadow Demons and new creatures like the Elf Treeman, and a hydra like multi-headed dragon. The Shadow Magic maps change the way magic works, which is a treat for jaded players. There's a new campaign, new scenarios, a random map generator (yay!), and new multiplayer options. You can make quick maps, Battle Scenarios, and Epic Scenarios (big battles on big maps), which will ensure loads of replay value. The graphics have been enhanced, the sound is still a series strong point, and the whole game is as charming as it is challenging. I really couldn't recommend it more! 
Age of Wonders is a clever and deep strategy game that will appeal to any pre-teen or teen into faerie lands, monsters, wizards, Harry Potter, Tolkien, D&D, etc., the presentation is mature but inoffensive, heroic and filled with strife and daring do, and best of all, really sharp AI that will keep your youngster challenged throughout. It's also the sort of game that looks boardgamey enough that you can play it in front of kids without fear if it scaring them and they'll like the soft orchestral score and pretty visuals. The movies are a bit frightening though, but those are easily skipped and viewable another time if you have really little one's around.
Kid Factor by Andrew Bub
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