Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Warlords III: Darklords Rising retains the classic turn-based, 4X-style approach of its predecessor while introducing a host of new content. You’ll spend much of your time creating army stacks—each stack can hold up to eight units, and the right combination of unit types and bonuses can turn the tide of war. Cities on the map serve as both recruitment centers and your primary source of gold, so careful planning of which cities to capture and hold is key to sustaining a powerful war machine.

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Heroes in Darklords Rising add an extra layer of strategy. Leading an army with a hero isn’t mandatory, but doing so grants you access to special abilities, subquests and the opportunity to explore mysterious sites such as caves, monoliths and ruins. These side adventures yield experience and artifacts that can significantly bolster your hero’s influence on the battlefield. Balancing when to push your hero into the front lines versus leaving your generals to command pure unit stacks adds a tactical wrinkle to each turn.

Combat in Warlords III is resolved automatically once opposing stacks meet, placing the emphasis on high-level strategy rather than individual unit micro-management. This design choice streamlines play and keeps the spotlight on your long-term campaign decisions: which cities to besiege next, which spells to research, and how to allocate your gold. For players seeking epic, large-scale clashes without the minutiae of hex-by-hex control, Darklords Rising delivers a satisfying, quick-to-learn yet deep strategic experience.

Beyond the core campaigns, the included map and scenario editor lets you craft your own challenges, tweaking terrain, starting conditions and victory goals. Combined with the expanded roster of units, spells and heroes, this tool ensures near-endless replay value, whether you’re replaying official content or diving into fan-made scenarios. With all of Reign of Heroes’ scenarios plus brand-new campaigns, there’s always a fresh campaign to launch.

Graphics

Graphically, Darklords Rising is virtually unchanged from Reign of Heroes, retaining its charming 2D isometric presentation. Unit sprites are colorful and distinct, making it easy to identify armies at a glance. Terrain types—from verdant forests to scorched wastelands—are rendered with clear visual cues, helping you plan your movements and defensive positions.

The user interface, while dated by modern standards, remains intuitive. Icons for units, spells and city actions are neatly organized along the screen edges, and tooltips provide quick reference to unit strengths and terrain modifiers. This familiar layout lets veterans jump right in, though newcomers may need a short learning curve to master the many strategic options at their disposal.

Despite the lack of 3D graphics or advanced effects, the design’s simplicity works in the game’s favor. There are no gimmicky camera angles or flashy particle systems—just clear, functional art that keeps focus on the broad strategic picture. Fans of retro PC gaming will appreciate the nostalgia, and the low system requirements make Darklords Rising accessible on even the most modest hardware.

With the scenario editor, you can also experiment with custom tilesets and terrain features, giving your homemade maps a personal touch. Whether you’re replaying the official campaigns or trying a player-created scenario, the game’s stable performance and straightforward visuals ensure every battle runs smoothly.

Story

Warlords III: Darklords Rising doesn’t rely on cinematic cutscenes or voice acting—instead, it delivers its narrative through text-based introductions and scenario briefings. Each campaign centers around the rise or fall of powerful Darklords, and your objectives range from conquering rival kingdoms to surviving desperate defense missions. The tone is classic high fantasy, replete with wizards, dragons and ominous prophecies.

While the overarching plot is serviceable, story purists may find it secondary to the core strategic gameplay. There are no branching dialogue choices or moral dilemmas—each scenario is tightly focused on conquest, exploration and empire building. That said, the writing does a solid job of setting the mood for each mission, with flavor text that hints at the wider conflicts threatening the realm.

One of the game’s strengths is how it weaves subquests into the narrative flow. Heroes can accept side missions—rescuing artifact-guarding guardians or purging monster lairs—which both advance the story and deepen your hero’s personal saga. These optional adventures break up the march of armies and add character progression elements that encourage you to explore off the beaten path.

With the inclusion of all Reign of Heroes’ scenarios plus new campaigns tailored to Darklords Rising, the game offers a lengthy single-player experience. Each campaign has its own thematic twist—whether it’s rallying rebels against a tyrant or leading undead legions from the shadows—ensuring that the core story never feels stale over multiple playthroughs.

Overall Experience

Warlords III: Darklords Rising is best described as a streamlined, large-scale strategy epic. If you enjoy commanding armies, managing key resources and making high-level decisions without getting bogged down in individual tile combat, this game delivers. The automatic battle resolution keeps the pace brisk, letting you focus on empire expansion, hero development and long-term planning.

The inclusion of a map and scenario editor is a major win for longevity, giving you the tools to extend the game well beyond its official campaigns. With dozens of units, spells and hero classes to experiment with, and all of the Reign of Heroes content built in, Darklords Rising feels like a definitive edition. Multiplayer matches and custom scenarios further enrich the sandbox play.

That said, if you’re seeking the deep tactical combat of Heroes of Might & Magic—hex-by-hex maneuvering, unit flanking and real-time spellcasting—you may find Darklords Rising’s automated battles a bit too hands-off. Victory rests on smart army composition, resource allocation and city capture rather than moment-to-moment tactical wizardry.

Ultimately, Darklords Rising is a robust, enjoyable turn-based strategy game that appeals to fans of classic 4X titles. Its mix of large army engagements, hero-driven sidequests and intuitive scenario design tools makes it a compelling package. For anyone looking to revisit the golden age of PC strategy or explore a battle-heavy fantasy war game with minimal micromanagement, Warlords III: Darklords Rising is well worth adding to the collection.

Retro Replay Score

7.5/10