I've been trying to get into this game but I'm about ready to give up. The cut scenes are great and it has a story, which is really cool, but the gameplay sucks dead goat's ass. You build up an army, send it towards the enemy, they fight, you win, repeat ad nauseum. There is no strategy or tactics involved at all. The skirmishes get resolved so quickly, there is not much you can do but watch it play out. Bleh! I couldn't find a pause key or any way to adjust the speed of the game, not sure if this would actually help the shitty gameplay, but it couldn't hurt. This is Warcraft II with updated graphics. Don't get me wrong, I loved War II but that was a long time ago and the genre has progressed quite a bit since then. The new stuff:
These guys have special powers, can pick up and use items, go up in levels. Would be a lot cooler if the rest of the game was more fun.
The graphics are very cartoony, with a bright, basic colour scheme. I wasn't sure if I liked it at first, but after playing it for awhile, I'd have to say no, I do not like the graphics. Not my cup of tea, I guess. YMMV. This engine is 3D but you can't actually make any use of it. You can rotate to the left or right about 90 degrees each way, but it springs back as soon as you let go of the key. Useless. You can change from a straight overhead view to a more isometric, down-near-the-ground view, but there's not much use in changing the viewpoint other to see that yes, this is a 3D engine! Useless.
You can buy stuff at shops sprinkled around randomly on maps. So far nothing but potions which I don't need. Yet.
After killing certains creatures, sometimes you will find an item left behind. I think I have a ring that helps me do fire damage and some claws that up my damage rating. Too bad the gameplay goes by so quick I don't really notice any difference. I think I also had a potion that upped my armour rating permanently. Whatever.
The heroes get to level up occasionally and you can pick from upping a spell you already have or perhaps choosing a new one. A good addition.
In addition to Orcs and Humans, there are Night Elves and Undead. I haven't seen these new creatures yet, other than some oblique refences to them in the cutscenes. Oops, actually I've been fighting the undead in the last few scenarios. My bad. Just shows how enthralling this game is.
I really wanted to like this game, but so far its just too damn boring. (Its funny, in this game the graphics look Dineyesque but the characters keep saying damn it! and go around killing humans. Weird juxtaposition.) Anyway, I might give this one another chance later, but for now, I can't take it anymore! I give up. Aurevoir. Ciao. Zug zug.