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Date |
: Nov 12th, 2001 |
| Genre |
: Strategy |
| Developer |
: Nival Interactive |
| Author |
: Multiple |
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Etherlords Beta Review
Intro
Although we all are well aware of the fact that on the old and new continents some major game developer-companies exists, it seems time that with Etherlords we have to turn our heads to the lands of the old Tsars. Nival looks to make a mark on the history of computer games with it's soon to be released Etherlords, a turn-based strategy game that looks as promising as Tetris did some decades ago. Beta-testers were asked to write about their game experiences, with the promise of freedom of speech ( a lesson for the other software houses ). So saddle up to reach your local vendor, and order this one as soon as you've finished reading.
The Game
As soon as we talk about TBS games ( Turn-based strategy ), our eyes get clouded and we start to think of the good old days of Heroes of Might and Magic and Magic the Gathering / Shandalar. Well, Etherlords is different and merges these two games at the same time. You have heroes to attack monsters and enemy heroes. And yes : Your heroes draw cards, casts spells and summon monsters like you were used to in these type of games. Ok, but what is the difference? First, the game lives up to the top-notch nowadays standard of graphical art. The whole game is beautifully made in a true 3D environment, and zooming in on your heroes makes you wonder if you can see some goose pimples when they are fighting in the snow.
The second and more important difference is the resource management. There is no gold, and the secret of resource management in this game is hidden in its name : Ether. Almost everything you do costs Ether, summoning or maintaining heroes, creating forts, attacking enemies on a distance, you name it - all you need is Ether. So if you summon as many heroes as you can, play and wonder after some time why you can't make a fortress to defend your hard earned conquests, it is because heroes costs Ether and so do fortresses. Balance is the issue in this game. But wait, there is more to learn : Casting and fighting.
Casting and Fighting
This is where the trouble begins. Your hero has a deck consisting of 15 cards with which he can summon monsters, casts bless or doom spells that will affect your creatures or the enemy critters and / or heroes. Sounds easy, but it's hard to master. With a Matrix-movie like automatic camera and enemies that look spookier than Michael Jackson in leather undies, you have to keep your concentration and make decisions when blocking creatures, casting spells and ordering attackers. A miscalculation can be lethal, and people complaining about too easy games will be delighted with this one. Moreover, ordering one of your heroes to attack certain monsters is one of the first major critical decisions you have to make in the campaign mode. Be sure to attack monsters you can handle, earn experience, raise levels and pump up your hero with some skills before you decide to attack the heavier creatures.
Cards, Portals and Shops
As you've read, your hero can gain levels with which you'll be able to make your hero stronger. A second way to make an Ether-kickin'-butt-hero is to visit shops and portals. The shops offer a wide range of cards, which you can buy to alter your deck. With the portals you'll be able to buy runes - required to cast the heavier spells and monsters.
Hang on - Ether, cards and fighting, how can you buy new cards for spells and summoning monsters? Simple : Apart from the Ether, there are plenty and different resources you might need to buy something. Looting defeated enemies or taking mines can obtain these resources. That said, consider you can also upgrade these mines to gather more resources, as you can upgrade portals and shops to buy runes at a reduced price or fill your deck with nastier monsters or spells. Plenty of options and plenty of fun, but it takes hard labor to be able to buy Dragons or other supreme monsters. Not only will the enemy heroes constantly nibble your mines, shops, portals or - worst case scenario - attack your hero, most mines are guarded and getting the reward mostly involves a heavy and difficult fight.
Campaign, Duel or Multiplayer
As can be expected from games developed in this era, a fine multiplayer-mode is included. Best of all is the duel mode, with which you can practice duels; play against the computer or other players over the Internet. New players would like to start with the campaign : Well, know the campaign is steep. After the completion of the first two stages, it is possible you'll be shouting behind your desk not being able to finish it. No worries, switch to the duel mode and practice, practice and practice even more. The game offers four races with entirely different spells, and switching from one race to the other will feel like being born again. Mastering the game with one race really doesn't guarantee that you'll be able to do it again with another race. To make another remark about the campaign mode : It's a pity that the levels in the campaign resemble each other so much, no matter which race you choose. But the duel mode make up to that. In the duel mode you're able to design your own heroes and decks at any level and let them fight controlled by you, another player or the computer.
Verdict
So, do you have to open your wallet and spent money to buy this game, or should you greedily count your dimes and enrich the bartender of an obscure pub? Well, the game has great graphics that are unseen in TBS-games before. The first time I entered a fight I was wildly searching for my joystick, thinking I had to do all the moves by myself. The automatic camera gives the feel and ooze of a special effects movie, and can be turned of to zoom and circle around to your liking. Sadly there is no map-editor in the package, but that's understandable if you consider even the maps are truly made up of a 3D-environment where you also can zoom and circle around.
The game won't wear off due to the fine duel-mode. Also, sad tacticians who are unable to get through the campaign will be able to design a strong hero with undiscovered cards and have their share. Apart from the so-so campaign mode, Etherlords sets a new standard in the TBS-gaming industry, and other developers will have to work very hard to make up the gap that Nival has created. So make sure you grab some money, run to the vendor and spoil yourself with this one.
- J.J. Hermans
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