Warlock 2: The Exiled

I have hundreds of hours playing warlock - master of the arcane... its a nice relaxing game.. so I thought they might have updated the graphics and animations etc (unfortunately I didnt do any 'research')... so to my 'horror'.. I find a beloved game gone bad! its like they just wanted to 'cash in' with minimal effort.. by changing a few things (most of which has ruined the game!! e.g. the enemy able to target lands they CANT see.. if you cant do it.. they shouldnt be able!) and releasing it as #2.. fortunately I picked it up for just a few bucks.. but still.. NOT recommended for you to spend a few bucks... buy #1 and leave it at that

Hidden 4X gem

This game is in many ways a good game and there are many reviews on this game that don't do it justice. Monsters and magics are fun, with many interesting and enjoyable additions since the first game. Many of the game play elements are just as good. Things like the city limit were, at least from my own opinion, a good addition as well. Removing tedious gameplay at the late game.

What this game did wrong is the very thing it sold itself on. Having multiple traversable worlds. It took an open world where movement and strategy were important and locked all movement through multiple distant disjointed gates. Taking movement that would have been at most 5 rounds in the first game and turning it into a 15 or even 25 round slog. Because the maps were built this way the only way to win would be to fight each enemy player/AI 1 by 1 through countless choke points. This made every game far to slow to ever see the end of.

I truly hope that one day by some unlikely miracle this game gets remade without the gimmicks. As it certainly could be a marvel to play.

GOOD OLD GAME

Town limit ruin the game.

Shallow fantasy themed 4x shovelware. Avoid.

It's a good Game, Wizard!

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This game has an inexplicable charm that draws me back to it annually, wearing rose-tinted glasses and thinking, "It wasn't that bad, right? This time, I'll finish a map for real!" Yet, every year, I fail to complete a map and inevitably remember why. Replaying it this year brought the issues back into sharp focus: the AI, the pacing, and the underwhelming spells.

The AI:
The AI in Warlock 2 is frustratingly incompetent, compensated by giving it massive handicaps to level the playing field. This results in the player facing enemies with armies ten times their size and the ability to spam spells and units non-stop on higher difficulties. In practice, this translates into a tedious turn-based tug of war. While slaying hundreds of units can be exhilarating in fast-paced action games or RTS titles, in a turn-based setting, it becomes a monotonous slog.

The Pacing:
The pacing of the game is severely unbalanced. You max out your city's tech tree extremely quickly, which feels like skipping straight to the best units. Mid-tier units are available for what seems like a few turns before being overshadowed by superior units. This rapid progression detracts from the strategic depth and satisfaction of gradually building up your forces.

The Spells:
Similar to unit progression, spell advancement occurs at an unsustainable pace. Spells quickly become obsolete, and your spellbook fills with outdated options. The inability to manually sort or mark favorite spells exacerbates this issue, turning spellcasting into a chore as you sift through your spellbook for the few best-in-slot spells. Even the top-tier spells feel underwhelming. Watching your highest-tier summon get one-shotted by standard enemy units or your "ultimate" Armageddon spell barely scratching the enemy's total health detracts from the sense of power and accomplishment.

In conclusion, while Warlock 2 has an enduring allure that keeps bringing me back, its flawed AI, pacing issues, and lackluster spell mechanics prevent it from being the satisfying experience it promises. The game needs a significant overhaul to balance these elements and provide a more engaging and rewarding strategic experience.