Etherlords II review

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Verdict:

What do you get if you mix a strategy game with pretty graphics? You guessed it... the successor to the hugely successful Etherlords!

Review Date: 22 Mar 2004

Price when reviewed: £30

Reviewed By: Martin Korda

Our Rating 3 stars out of 5

Review
Specs

With shoot-'em-up games looking more gorgeous than Hollywood blockbusters, it's easy to see why people used to write off strategy games as boring.

For years, they were less fashionable than a pair of bicycle clips and an orange cagoule, sporting pug-ugly visuals and uninspiring reams of statistics. Things changed two years ago, though, with the arrival of Etherlords. Good-looking and hugely engrossing, it enabled you to build up an army and conquer your enemies in a mythical world of goblins and ghouls. Now it's spawned a sequel.

Visually, Etherlords II is even more impressive than its predecessor. The strategic map on which your military units move is incredibly detailed - as is the combat screen, in which you and your opponent take turns to attack. Versatile camera controls allow you to zoom right in on the action.

However, Etherlords II has lost most of the subtlety of its predecessor. Whereas Etherlords provided plenty of opportunities for you to explore and gather important resources for your troops, the sequel is almost entirely focused on combat. And while this may appeal to more casual gamers, you'll soon find the whole experience becomes flatter than a steam-ironed pancake. Matters are made worse by a hackneyed plot and some of the worst acting this side of Neighbours.

In its favour, the game's combat offers some variation. More than 300 spells, ranging from flesh-searing fireballs to magic shields, are at your disposal, adding some much-needed spice to the mix. There's also an all-new multiplayer mode, which will add at least another week to your enjoyment.

Had the game's developers improved on their previous success, rather than trying to scale it down, this could have been the best turn-based strategy game of all time. As it is, it's entertaining - but far from essential.

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