Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Disciples II: Servants of the Dark builds on the solid turn-based framework of its predecessor, offering two brand-new factions—the plague-wielding Legions of the Damned and Mortis’s Undead Hordes—each with unique units, spells, and strategic quirks. On the strategic layer, you’ll manage provinces, harvest Soulstones, and recruit powerful heroes to lead your armies. Every choice matters: do you spread Brethrezen’s plague to weaken enemy morale, or focus on raising skeletons to bolster your ranks?

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

Combat takes place on a beautifully rendered hex grid where positioning, unit synergies, and spellcasting play decisive roles. The Legions of the Damned excel at area-of-effect curses that can cripple an entire front, while Mortis’s commanders specialize in necromantic abilities that regenerate health and raise fallen foes as temporary allies. Hero progression feels meaningful—new talents and artifacts unlock as your champion grows, letting you customize builds toward ranged devastation or close-quarters resilience.

Beyond the new campaigns, Servants of the Dark seamlessly integrates the original Disciples II missions, allowing you to switch between storylines or tackle any map in custom skirmish and multiplayer modes. Whether you prefer a painstaking fortress defense against waves of invaders or a swift, aggressive push to smother your foes in darkness, the expansion provides varied objectives and branching encounter paths that keep each playthrough fresh.

Graphics

Though released in 2002, Servants of the Dark’s isometric artwork remains strikingly atmospheric. Unit sprites for skeletal warriors, plague-bearers, and demon knights are rendered with meticulous detail, and every animation—from a plague mummy’s death throe to a necromancer’s dark invocation—conveys a strong sense of dread and power.

New environmental tilesets underscore each faction’s identity: the Legions campaign unfolds across blighted marshes and corrupted farmlands, where rotting vegetation and plague pits dot the landscape. Mortis’s Undead Hordes roam desolate graveyards and shattered crypts, bathed in cold moonlight that accentuates crumbling tombstones and spectral fog.

Spell and ability effects receive a noticeable polish over the base game. Curses erupt in sickly green clouds, healing spells manifest as ghostly wisps, and ultimate abilities trigger dynamic camera zooms that heighten the drama. The user interface also enjoys subtle refinements—clearer unit icons, concise tooltips, and an improved mini-map that helps you monitor multiple fronts at once.

Story

Servants of the Dark weaves two parallel tales of vengeance and plagues that converge on a looming divine threat. In the Legions of the Damned campaign, you command General Fenrig as she spreads Brethrezen’s plague to undermine mortal kingdoms, all while hunting whispers of the reborn Elven god. Each chapter deepens the mystery: are you purveyors of chaos or unwitting pawns in a larger celestial conflict?

The Undead Hordes campaign places you in the boots of Mortis, a brooding necromancer bent on avenging her fallen lord, Gallean. Mortis’s journey is a visceral descent into unlife—raising skeletons from battlefields strewn with corpses, seeking forbidden artifacts, and facing moral crossroads that challenge your definition of “revenge.” The interplay between Mortis and Fenrig’s arcs builds toward a climactic revelation that ties back to the original Dark Prophecy campaigns.

By including the complete Disciples II campaigns, Servants of the Dark not only expands the lore but allows you to experience the overarching saga from multiple perspectives. Whether you first played the human, dwarven, and elven storylines or are new to the series, the interwoven narratives create a richer tapestry of betrayal, divine machinations, and dark sorcery.

Overall Experience

As a stand-alone expansion, Servants of the Dark offers tremendous value: two full campaigns, additional multiplayer maps, new heroes, spells, and items, plus every mission from Dark Prophecy. Installation is straightforward, and you can jump directly into your preferred faction without needing the original disc. Fans of skirmish battles and hotseat mode will appreciate the increased roster and varied terrain.

Replayability soars with multiple difficulty levels, branching objectives, and the freedom to mix and match factions in custom games. Clans devoted to competitive play still host multiplayer matches, and the expansion’s new arenas provide fresh tactics to explore—chain-casting curses in narrow corridors or swarming foes on open fields.

Disciples II: Servants of the Dark remains a standout for aficionados of dark fantasy turn-based strategy. Its blend of strategic depth, haunting atmosphere, and interconnected storytelling ensures that both newcomers and series veterans will find hours of engrossing gameplay. If you crave a challenge steeped in necromancy, plague-infested lands, and epic rivalries between god and undead, this expansion delivers on every front.

Retro Replay Score

7.2/10