Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Age of Wonders offers a rich, turn-based strategy experience set in a vibrant fantasy world. Players can choose between two sides in the main campaign—leading humans who venture into a new land or defending the established magical races whose fragile peace is threatened. Beyond the main story, a collection of stand-alone scenarios lets you jump in with varied objectives, from simple skirmishes to complex diplomatic challenges. The flexibility of game modes ensures that both newcomers and series veterans find a comfortable entry point.

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The strategic map is alive with activity: creatures roam freely, and neutral forces move dynamically, occasionally engaging your cities or wandering warbands. This emergent behavior keeps you on your toes, forcing frequent reassessments of territory control and resource allocation. Adding depth is an extensive diplomatic matrix covering twelve distinct races and their leaders. Alliances can shift overnight, and global spells cast outside of tactical combat can sway the balance of power, making every diplomatic decision feel weighty.

When armies clash, you can opt for manual tactical battles—deploying units on hex grids, exploiting terrain, and timing spells—or choose the automatic mode for a faster resolution. The auto-resolve engine provides a clear breakdown of troop strengths and predicted outcomes, making it perfect for multiplayer sessions or when you simply want to keep the pace brisk. Heroes, much like in Heroes of Might and Magic III or Master of Magic, gain experience, learn new abilities, and wield artifacts, yet they cannot single-handedly crush fortified garrisons, preserving the importance of army composition.

Before diving in, the pre-game customization screen offers granular control over challenge and style. You can set AI skill between five levels, choose personalities ranging from aggressive warmongers to cautious defenders, and toggle between classic turn-based moves or simultaneous turns. One particularly thrilling mode lets you embody your main hero—if they fall in battle, it’s game over for your entire side. You even personalize your hero’s name, face, and bonus attributes to fit your preferred playstyle.

For creative players, the built-in map editor is a standout feature. You can craft landscapes up to three geological levels deep—surface realms, sprawling underground caverns, or darker, tighter tunnel networks. This editor encourages a thriving community of custom scenarios and maps, extending the game’s longevity far beyond the core offerings.

Graphics

Age of Wonders employs a colorful, isometric perspective that emphasizes readability and strategic clarity. Unit sprites are distinct, with each race’s aesthetic—from rugged dwarves to ethereal elves—easily recognizable at a glance. Spell effects are appropriately flamboyant without obscuring the battlefield, ensuring that tactical decisions remain front and center even during flashy magical duels.

While the graphical fidelity may feel dated compared to modern 3D engines, the art direction shines through in detailed city visuals, lush terrain tiles, and atmospheric lighting. Underground maps, in particular, benefit from darker color palettes and ambient glow effects that convey a sense of claustrophobic mystery. Whether you’re charting a sunlit forest or exploring the depths of a magma-lined cavern, each environment feels purposeful and evocative.

The user interface balances functionality and fantasy flair. Menus are logically laid out, with tooltips explaining diplomatic status, unit abilities, and global spell costs. During combat, clear icons denote movement range, attack types, and morale effects, reducing the need for constant rule-book consultations. Even with the occasional pop-up ads for diplomacy or event notifications, the HUD remains uncluttered and intuitive.

Story

The central narrative in Age of Wonders revolves around humanity’s colonization of a new land and the upheaval it brings to the native races. Through branching campaign chapters, you witness how ambition and mistrust ignite conflict among elves, dwarves, goblins, and more obscure creatures. Each side offers unique quests and moral choices, allowing you to shape the world’s history from different vantage points.

Narrative encounters are punctuated by character-driven events—diplomatic summits, espionage missions, and prophetic warnings about ancient evils stirring underground. While the writing occasionally dips into archetypal fantasy tropes, it succeeds in giving each race a distinct voice and motivation. The campaign’s pacing keeps the story moving, alternating between intense military operations and quieter periods of alliance building or artifact hunting.

Stand-alone scenarios further explore the game’s lore, from surviving against overwhelming odds to uniting fractured kingdoms under a benevolent banner. These short stories act as vignettes, highlighting lesser-known facets of the world and encouraging players to experiment with races or strategies they might otherwise overlook. Collectively, the campaign and scenarios offer a satisfying tapestry of high-fantasy drama.

Overall Experience

Age of Wonders successfully blends deep strategic mechanics with enough accessibility to welcome new players. The interplay of diplomacy, exploration, and tactical combat creates a layered experience that invites repeated playthroughs. The ability to fine-tune AI behavior and game rules before each session ensures both solo and multiplayer games remain fresh and challenging.

Community support for custom maps and scenarios bolsters the game’s replay value, while the automatic combat mode caters to those who prefer to keep the action moving. Although the graphics and interface show their age by modern standards, the core gameplay loop remains engaging. Fans of classic turn-based epics will appreciate the deliberate pacing and meaningful choices every turn presents.

Ultimately, Age of Wonders stands as a testament to what makes the genre memorable: intricate decision-making, a living world of competing factions, and a narrative that rewards player agency. Whether you’re conquering rivals with a dragon-riding hero or forging fragile alliances through careful diplomacy, this title offers a compelling strategy adventure that holds its ground among the greats of its era.

Retro Replay Score

7.7/10