This review confines itself to the tactical, card-game "duel" mode (single-player & multiplayer). If you are a veteran expert of the Magic The Gathering (MTG) non-computer card-game, you will find that EtherLords 1 & 2 have imitated & simplified it way too much. It is not a problem for me, because I do not have the time to build & test complex decks of cards. The EtherLords 2 deck-designing process has been improved (compared to the one in EL 1) : it is now easier and faster to design a deck. Even though EL 1's graphics were (and still are) of a high quality, EL 2 has improved them somewhat. It is more apparent on the close-ups of heroes & creatures during a duel : the look is much more smooth, not blocky, without requiring a Pentium 4 and a recent video-card to run. EL 4 came out over a year before World of WarCraft, which has a similar type of look, but EL 2's graphics are more refined, much less blocky. The developer of the EtherLords series (the Russian shop Nival) has always designed very beautiful games to look at, without requiring the consumer to possess an expensive computer. I can't wait for Nival to complete the upcoming (2005 ?) Heroes of Might & Magic V.
I am completely serious. You will forego sleep and possibly proper hygiene just to do one more battle in campaign mode alone. Etherlords 2 is a turn based strategy game that is primarily based on a card system (deck, ... Read Full Review
Etherlords II is the sequel to Nival Interactive’s Etherlords, a turn-based strategy title that featured a battle system based heavily on trading card games. Players who have played Microprose’s computer rendition of Mag... Read Full Review
