Creative Assembly's Total War games are one of the most popular turn-based strategy games of all time. They allow players and armchair generals to dictate a realm's fate through war and conquest, with a dash of diplomacy here and there.
However, these games have to start somewhere. The answer to that was in the 90s, which was the decade when we first started pushing the envelope with what we can do with personal computers.
Although Impressions Games is not the only one developing turn-based strategy games in the late 90s, its take on turn-based fantasy is reminiscent of the Total War games we've come to know and love.
That is what Lords of Magic: Special Edition is in a nutshell.
Lords Of Magic: Special Edition Plot And Gameplay
Lords of Magic: Special Edition is a turn-based fantasy strategy game where you, the player, take control of a leader from one of the seven possible faiths of the fictional land of Urak and defeat the evil sorcerer Balkoth, who leads the dark elves for the God of death, Golgoth.
Beating the game with any of these leaders will allow you to play as the dark elves or as Balkoth himself.
Players starting a new game will have to choose which of the three leader type they want to be. The Warrior type focuses on melee combat and encouraging soldiers with their "Rally Troops" special ability, while the Thief type excels in ranged attacks and stealth. They could even steal and spy from other faiths if you so wish and even knock other leaders out cold, instantly defeating or imprisoning them for interrogation or torture.
Mage-type leaders allow you to cast spells that could enhance units or heal them in the heat of battle, debuff enemies, and even transform the land they walk on.
Leaders, unlike units, can be equipped with artifacts that grant special abilities or buffs to their stats, allowing them to be stronger. These artifacts can be picked up in dungeons and the leaders of other faiths when they're defeated.
Players choosing the Death faith as a mage-type leader can play as Balkoth himself once they've beaten the game.
After choosing their leader type, players can choose their Faith. Each of the eight has its own unique advantages and disadvantages. For example, choosing to play as the lord of the Chaos faith allows you to field units with one of the highest attack values in exchange for having the worst defensive values in-game.
On the other hand, choosing to play as the lord of the Life faith gives you access to one of the game's best ranged units, the elven archers. However, the melee units of the Life faith are somewhat weak early on, making them sort of worthless until they level up a few times.
The difference between each Faith even extends to the land they walk on. Units of the Air faith move at their fastest when they are on snowy ground, while those of the Death faith move best in swampy land.
Total War players playing Lord of Magic can find many similarities between the two games. Any of the eight faiths can engage in diplomacy, wherein a friendly or neutral disposition between two Faiths allows for trading, while a negative disposition might need some threats to get what they want. Threatening friendly or neutral players out of some resources can cause a souring of relations.
These relations have a lasting impact on your playthrough so think before you click. Keep this in mind, as we'll get back to this later.
In any Total War game, players get to command units of 160 men strong and form battle formations. In Lords of magic, a unit consists of three separate entities that can be ordered as a group or as individuals.
Auto-resolving and retreating are possible during a battle, like in Heroes of Might and Magic.
Unlike Total War games, resource-generating locations on the map aside from a Faith's capital, gold, ale, and crystals are not automatically taken when interacted with.
Instead, they have to be retaken from a band of marauding bandits of increasing difficulty depending on how high the location's level is. However, successfully taking a high-level location allows you to receive the appropriate resource equal to their level and higher experience points to level up units with.
As such, successfully taking a level eight brewery gives you eight ale per turn. However, you must keep this brewery away from enemy Faiths and marauding bandits by garrisoning it with soldiers to continue production.
Getting your lord killed in battle results in an automatic game over. However, If you've defeated and subjugated an enemy faith or liberated the great temple of a friendly faith, you can continue playing as any of the heroes on your payroll. Just don't expect them to be good as your original lord is right away, though.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack for Lords of Magic: Special Edition consists of many variations. While not in battle, the background music reflects the Faith you chose to fight for, meaning that while you can occasionally hear other Faith's music playing in the background, you'll mostly hear your Faith's background music during your playthrough.
On the other hand, engaging in battle consists of seven themes: one when both sides are balanced, one for when you're slightly winning, and one for when your victory is at hand.
The opposite is true, however. There is one variant when you are slightly losing and another when your defeat is guaranteed.
The remaining two can be heard whether you emerge victorious or defeated.
Special Edition
Lords of Magic: Special Edition is a bundle of the base Lords of Magic game and the "Legends of Urak" expansion pack, which allows you to delve deeper into the game's lore.
Although not every Faith is available in the expansion pack, playing those that are available allows you to know more about the origins of the Faith you chose.
The "Legends of Urak" expansion pack even features an adaptation of the story of King Arthur, his Knights of the Round Table, and the quest for the Holy Grail.
Verdict
Lords of Magic: Special Edition makes for a fun, nostalgic, but sometimes frustrating game, especially if you play as the Lord of Chaos. It can hold itself up in the 2020s despite its dated look and feel, but just be aware that the advancements present in the modern day are absent in this game.
I'll give this game a definite 8/10 with a recommendation for anyone willing to give 90s games a chance or are looking for something new.
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