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> Results: Land of Legends
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Land of Legends might best be described as a turn-based strategy game like those found on handheld gaming consoles but played on a PC. It isn't an epic game, but it has a lot of flavor, and individual games can be finished in a single sitting. A wide variety of racial options, a lightly themed campaign mode, and internet matchmaking combine to make a game worthy of notice for any turn-based strategy fan.
The rules of the game are simple and familiar. The game plays out on a square grid fifteen boxes on a side containing cities and various terrain. You maneuver your units to take control of the cities. This control grants increased income on subsequent turns allowing new units to be purchased within that city. Each city is associated with a race allowing four different units unique to that race to be produced. Eliminate your opponent or capture their capitol city to win the game. You're introduced to the game through a short series of tutorials and then progress through a series of progressively more difficult battles in the campaign. The campaign consists of a series of eight sets of four battles. Each set of battles focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of one of the nine races available in the game. The first battle for each race is typically easy and allows you to get acquainted with those units, while the fourth battle is designed to be quite challenging. You may continue on to the next race's battles after completing three of the four battles using the current race.  There is a loose back story that links all the campaign scenarios together and manages to introduce each new race so you're always playing as the "good guy". Scenarios are not all straight-up combat, some require raising large cash reserves, while still others require defending the capitol for a set number of turns. The variety of challenges keeps the game fresh throughout the campaign. You can also set up a one on one battle with the computer or a live opponent at any time. Unfortunately, the AI in skirmish mode is a bit weak. Multiplayer is supported in an online mode which also tracks your online statistics. The eight races provided are the best feature of the game. Each race has its own feel, interacting differently with the various terrain types, casting particular spells, or even having units with slightly more or less expensive costs. Your strategy needs to always take into account the advantages and disadvantages of your race. Of course, if you don't care for your particular race, just try to take over a different racial city in the game and build all your troops there instead. While the game works well as a short diversion, there are a few minor quibbles that could have made it even better. The game lacks the polish of games from larger developers (that result in more expensive games.) There are no options to adjust sound or music levels, although they can be turned off. With a simple 15 by 15 grid, one would expect to have a simple map editor, but it is not included. The game has the lightweight feel of a console strategy game, so while you normally don't expect a PC strategy title to have unlockable content based on performance, it seems like it's missing here. It would also be great to have it track offline combat statistics and provide some reward for persistent or exceptional achievement, such as additional scenarios. There is an advanced campaign available after completing the initial campaign, but it isn't quite enough.  Land of Legends is a solid turn-based strategy game. The eight fantasy races give the game a good deal of variety and opportunity for strategic play. It's not that difficult, but that fits well with its short playing time and makes it more accessible to younger players. Gamers interested in an occasional short strategy game fix should check it out, while those looking for a grand, tactical war game should look elsewhere. 
This is a very kid-friendly strategy game. There is plenty of thinking involved, and some of the campaign scenarios are quite difficult, but the interface and basic gameplay are easy to master. All the graphics are friendly, tending towards conservative Anime styles, and even the campaign is very upbeat. You always take on the role of the best and most helpful people of a given race, and are not placed into the position of the (supposedly evil) antagonist. Units that are defeated disappear under the sign of a skull and crossbones with no more offensive sound than a sort of "pop". The short length of many of the scenarios combined with the tutorial and increasing difficulty of the campaign mode make this a good candidate for any budding strategist. As always, online play should be supervised or at least carefully monitored.
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