Enjoyable but flawed.
This review focuses solely on the single-player game only.
The Good
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It is set in the Warhammer [Fantasy Battle] Universe. Two fairly large story driven campaigns. Decent graphics engine. Atmospheric voice acting. Accurate depictions of units. Unit and leader diversity is good. Very good amount of upgrades and customisations for each unit type. Some scenario replayability with different troop combinations. Beautiful graphics if not ground-breaking, very reminiscent of the table-top look.
The Not-so-Good
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Overall the game feels unbalanced, especially the Empire campaign where units are too powerful. Hence, its too easy on normal difficulty setting, mostly because the amount of gold received is too much. There is some scenario diversity but it does not vary enough. Leader skill trees are too similar across the board. Optional missions don't add much to proceedings, especially the duels. Tactical aspects of battles are too few in number, limiting players to sheparding their units, or piling in en masse. Scenarios are also too heavily scripted, decreasing replability. The interface doesn't lend much when havng to dish out multiple orders to one or several units at a time. Leaders can't be attached to every unit type. No chance to command Dwarven armies, though Orce/Dark Elf armies are available in the expansion pack.
An Opinion
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Overall the game is enjoyable to play, though ultimately there is nothing new to excite experienced players of this genre.
A decent graphics engine provides some well suited visuals bringing the setting to life. This is augmented with some nice touches of voice acting that adds to the overall atmosphere in battles and story telling. Two campaigns provide a dual-look at a specific point in time from the point-of-view of Chaos and Empire (Human) races.
Both campaigns feature fairly interesting stories and are augmented with some rather fine character upgrades as the central character progress in story and experience. Im not entirely sure about the way campaigns allow players control over two different army types: Elves/Human & Chaos/Skaven. I'd have preferred a long campaign based on a particular race. Add to that the ability to split the army for different battles across distance, that would have added an element of strategy that I felt was missing. The campaigns though are too linear in nature and the "optional" components don't really add much to the game, other than allowing players to gain more items, gold and experience for their armies, against the cost of casualties.
Ultimately though the stories will be of more interest to veterans of this franchise rather than strategy gamers. Non-fans of Games Workshop will find that there is little to set each scenario apart though and the only variation in playing the same mission is the make-up of the forces you send in.
Strategy within the game is limited to management of the forces you have, new forces you can obtain, when you can get access to them and the selection of troops as you go into battle. Reward in the form of Gold limits the array of options for the player.
Battles being the main feature of the game are let down by limited tactical options. I found battles to be short of tactical challenges or decision-points, with most of the actions a combination of waiting for the not-to-clever AI to charge into my overwhelming numbers, using the too powerful artillery to destroy the enemy without cost at range, or having powerful magic to make the difference, something the AI was unable to do for much of the battles. Unit and Leader attributes blur across sides/races. Repetition becomes a factor the further you progress. The RTS nature results in some unwanted problems when trying to assign orders and use special abilities in a hurry. Though the biggest negative being that the game doesnt seem balanced enough - despite a cap on the number of units allowed into each battle. Perhaps it would have been better tweaking the amount of gold received after winning a battle, though this is more the case for the Empire/Elves campaign. Having said that, the biggest positives are that combat aspects such as morale and fatigue are implemented.
For me where this game succeeds best of all, is the setting. Having been an original player of Warhammer FB 1st edition rules I have to say that I adore this Games Workshop concept. I love the luch graphical environment, painted units, and wonderful interface, all of which recreates the ambience of the table-top experience. I just wish that the actual strategy element of the game were more dynamic, perhaps providing some really critical decision making and allowed for splitting of forces across a wide frontage. Tactically, I wish that more aspects of combat where implemented such as: flanking, attacking from the rear, the ability to better set-up ambushes. It would have been nicer if rather than use gold, some other logistical aspect were used to limit the armies gathered in-game.
However, I shouldn't let the negative comments outweigh the positive ones. While there isnt really anything new in terms of the RTS genre added here, the game gushes out loads of style and if you like Warhammer FB or are a fan of fantasy RTS then you should definitely give this game a try.