With the dawn of Pentium 3 and the fast, crisp graphics of the mighty Voodoo cards, it's surprising to see a game released that relies not on 3D graphics or spectacular sound, but simply great gameplay.
Mark Eveleigh

Considering the likes of Everquest and Warcraft III when given this disc, I was quite daunted by the prospect of reviewing a game that's reverted to 2D turn-based strategy, based in a Civilisation II-esque fantasy world. Had I remembered the sleepless nights I once spent fortifying cities and conquering foreign lands in that once mighty game, I may have recalled the sheer brilliance of turn-based strategy when done well.

For this fantasy-based masterpiece, Take 2 have certainly pulled off the formula that Civilisation II once employed so well. With a storyline crafted from the roots that the likes of Tolkien once helped to establish, Age Of Wonders is a game that every self respecting strategy lover should have in their collection.

Taking on the role of one of the 12 dominant races, your task is to establish peace in a war-ridden world that has descended into a faction-led conquest of the globe. The leading bodies (and the cause of the whole thing) are the Elves and the Dark Elves. Once split into factions by the Humans, the Elves chose to make peace with other species, unlike the Dark Elves who chose to seek vengeance and ascendancy over the Humans.

The storyline then evolves along the standard plot of good versus evil, and you get more and more engrossed as you progress deeper into your quest. However, if you're ready to start a new campaign you'll have to make sure you've got a lot of coffee to hand, as you'll find that even the first scenario of your adventure may take several hours to complete.