Formidable replayability, great variety, excellent gameplay and well balanced.
First time I tried Age of Wonders shadow magic I wasn´t exactly overwhelmed by it. Just played it for a couple of hours...which only gave me a tiny peek of what this game has to offer.
So a few months ago I decided to give it another run. MAN this game is good!
Graphics: Considering the graphics are about 5 years old (2002-07) they hold up quite well. The game is smooth, and apart from a few times when lots of units stand really close together everything is easy to separate. Units look really cool and they´ve made a great job making every unit seem and look unique.
Sound: Nice sound fx and a nice soundtrack. Nothing that really stands out but it gets the job done.
Gameplay: Here´s where the game really shines. With 15(!) playable races there are just heaps of different units which is awseome. The battles are very strategic, especially the siege battles. The game is pretty easy to get going, and then offers just a myriad of different things to learn. The simultaneous turns is just awesome and makes the game flow at a much faster pace than just turn-based games. Getting to watch the other players battles also gives you something to look at while waiting. Haven´t enjoyed a strategygame this much since Heroes of MM 3. Strongly recommended to all strategy-fans!