Age Of Wonders 2 review:4 stars (Good game, but campaign mode is difficult) - I would recommend getting Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic over this game. It is basically Age of Wonders 2.5 and adds its own campaign with an easier starting gradient as well as new units, races, spells and balance tweaks. All of the single-player downloadable maps for AOW2 are still available and useable for Shadow Magic as well as new maps just for it.
Oh, and this is a turn-based strategy game if you didn't know already, kind of like a complex boardgame (think Fantasy version of Risk times 5) where the computer takes care of all of the complicated stuff.3 stars (Good, but lacking) - After playing the original Age of Wonders (and becoming hopelessly addicted to it), I was ecstatic when AOW2 was released. I rushed right out and picked up a copy, hoping for great improvements to one of my now favorite games. Unfortunately that was not the case. While the graphics and audio are mildly improved, I felt gameplay took several steps back, at least in the single player campaign. The new units were nice and had a good variety between the different races. Unfortunately, the wizard/hero system that this game revolves around is terribly one dimensional - spell reasearch is your only real option, unlike the original where you had many different skills to choose from, so you could basicly make your leader/heros into whatever you envisioned them as being.
The single player campaign is fun to play through, the first time. After that it's gets pretty boring. Scenarios are fun, but I liked the campaigns of the first AOW, where you really had a choice in the direction the game went. You could start as good guy and end up on the side of evil, or vice versa. You be righteously good (as the Highmen), plain old good (as the Elves), run-of-the-mill bad (as the Dark Elves), or evil incarnate (as the Undead). This made for massive replayablity, which is lacking in AOW2 - You're Merlin and no matter what you do the game ends the same. The multi-player options are fine and might give more play options, if you like multi-player gaming (I don't, as I prefer to start a game and play at any time - not worrying about others schedules).
Overall, not a horrible game and fun for a while, just not up to the standards of the original.5 stars (Great game.) - Great strategy games. One of the greastest strategy games ever made. You can choose between classic game play style where 1 person takes a turn at a time or RTS style where its all at once.Other similar games: Populous, The Settlers Games, The Empire Earth Games, Civilization, Warzone2100, The Nations, and about every other strategy-empire building game out there that there is. I would definitely recommend it to everyone who owns a computer.
Age Of Wonders 2 Features:
Computer Games
Strategy (Strategic)
Fantasy
CD

Age Of Wonders 2 is the CD-ROM version. The full version can be purchased by clicking on the "CLICK HERE TO ORDER" button below for around 24.99USD.