(Google Translated)
Sometimes the games have the difficult task to match the success of their previous chapter, other times have groped to say a whole series, sometimes even created to remedy a past failure. Yes, it is not easy climbing the rankings of appreciation of the players and this time in the viewfinder seems to be Stardock, a small company that is found under the severe judgment of the court videogame, guilty of having churned out a pretty miserable title that bears the name of Elemental: War of Magic. Exactly two years ago has actually proposed this strategic chock full of bugs, so numerous as to make bad gameplay.
After games like Sins of a Solar Empire or Galactic Civilizations, certainly we would have expected such a low blow. However, developers have reacted and threw themselves down despite criticism from the public and reviewers, bringing the audience fearless
The dangers of a fantasy world
The ability to apply patches to a past failure, as we said before, is one of the most difficult tasks for a developer, especially in this Elemental: Fallen Enchantress was meant to avenge his predecessor. It was obvious that the development house would be put to work to correct the various negative, while keeping the field in which it has become known: strategy. For this reason, the basis for this new title remained anchored to the tactics, directing and to all those who love the strategic shift that lovers of fantasy. Yes, because Stardock plunges us into a fantasy world where we will have the opportunity to choose from eight different factions, each with specific strengths and weaknesses so we opt for a more diplomatic faction in the case did not want to come easily to arms, or for a more combative if we were not made for mincing words.
Here you get just one of the steps that the development house wanted to make a big deal, or customization. Besides being able to choose one of the eight sides standard, we will be able to create ourselves a party, complete with a leader, being able to customize both the appearance and characteristics. This mix ruolistico not clash at all, indeed, gives a greater thickness to a selection already more than sufficient. Once you have created our own little kingdom, the main task is obviously to create more colonies in order to be able to conduct research and exploration, find resources, earn money, gain the respect and popularity. In fact, nothing new, in perfect strategic. However, the way in which it was characterized the game environment ennobles partially the production, having regard to the vitality of the world of Fallen Enchantress. During our stay, there will be rare unpleasant encounters with herds of hungry wolves, or with dangerous dragons committed to fly over our heads. Will not be easy and will survive an urgent need to develop our own army that can defend ourselves from the dangers constant. It will also be a good idea to recruit heroes, who may also be encountered around the world, these leaders will be able to gain experience, provide unique items and level up to become more powerful, just like the character in a role-playing game. As for the gameplay, if you've played titles such as Master of Orion, Civilization, Alpha Centauri or Galactic Civilizations, there is nothing to add. One difference is, as we said, the liveliness of the game world that, especially in the early stages, we will confront dangers are not easy to deal with, such as monsters and bandits. Managing to defeat certain enemies or solve some quests you can obtain important loot, including special items that you can use in battle or sell which, if equipped, will change the character's appearance. The combat system is simple enough but all in all satisfactory, and you can choose to automatically resolve battles or have limited control over the characters. It will be especially rewarding to create unique units in appearance, abilities and fighting style, as opposed to the usual strategy in which you can unlock new units as the technology progresses and resources accumulate.
Revenge of the developers
The amazing variety of which the title of Stardock has can astound. The AI will in fact be able to "get used" to the style of play and the players fighting, reacting actively to the choices and customizations from a previous session. In this and in the deep customization, add random maps that will make the game world ever again. Attention, we are not in front of a perfect title from this point of view. The I. A. can be easily put in difficulty using small units of troops Elite, which are often not tackled properly and are quite unbalanced than normal. Nothing that can not be corrected with a patch, but given the care taken in other aspects could better assess the situation.
Graphically speaking, we called it a miracle, but all in all the work done by the developers is more than adequate, and gives characters really well characterized and treated various environments, animations and especially the successful elimination of the annoying lag in the predecessor, which also covered the movements of the different bots. The interface is easy to understand, at your fingertips like any self-respecting strategy. Improving by far the previous chapter, the system of magic is announced with a thicker, avoiding those puzzling questions that sprouted when a spell acquired appeared out of nowhere. Only sin striking is the lack of a real plot, it's too trivial to give rise to a world that is evolving inhabited by forces competing for the upper hand, and the work done in the narrative plot shows as a mere pretext to kick off the events. All in all, the new game created by Stardock has nothing to complain about the major strategic, acting as a perfect scapegoat for the faults of his prequel.
Who gave the development company another chance did really well: Elemental: Fallen Enchantress has all it takes to make you forget the negative gaming experiences that made us live War of Magic. Thanks to a system of customizations ad hoc, the title is an impressive variety, being able to create game sessions gradually different. Both the characterization of the character of the faction are really detailed and give you a wide range of choices, plus the world is really great, alive and moving. The artificial intelligence is finally well-developed, and its only flaw is the difficulty with which he responds to attack by specific drives. If you are looking for a game with which to "play five minutes and then suddenly are four in the morning," then the title of Stardock is for you!
